If you’re looking into becoming a medical administrative assistant, also called a medical receptionist or medical office assistant, you might already know that the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers a certification you can earn by passing their Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam.
Acquiring this certification can boost your job prospects and put you on the higher end of the average medical administrative assistant salary no matter where you live, but only certain states actually require you to pass the NHA’s exam or a similar test before you can legally start working in medical administration.
This guide makes it easy to find out if you’ll need to be certified in your state in order to become a medical administrative assistant.
National Requirements for Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant
According to the NHA, 84% of employers nationwide encourage certification for prospective medical administrative assistants. This means that whether certification is legally required in your state or not, you’ll have a better chance of getting hired if you take the time to get certified.
To do so, you’ll want to find a reputable medical administrative assistant training program to teach you everything you need to know to pass the exam and earn your certification. For example, Stepful’s entirely online program takes only three months to complete and not only prepares you to pass the NHA exam, but also sets you up for success in your new career with effective coursework, job coaching, interview prep, and more.
Requirements for Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant in Every State
Now that you know about the national guidelines for potential administrative assistants, let’s dive deeper into the state-level requirements, as well as what kind of salary and job outlook you can expect once you start working.
Alabama (AL)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $37,400
- Number of jobs: 14,900
- Major job markets: Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, Madison, Mobile
Alaska (AK)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $45,160
- Number of jobs: 2,020
- Major job markets: Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Fairbanks
Arizona (AZ)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,380
- Number of jobs: 17,060
- Major job markets: Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Tucson
Arkansas (AR)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $36,080
- Number of jobs: 2,100
- Major job markets: Benton, Maumelle, Fayetteville, Conway, Little Rock
California (CA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $51,830
- Number of jobs: 112,740
- Major job markets: San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno
Colorado (CO)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,160
- Number of jobs: 11,750
- Major job markets: Denver, Aurora, Englewood, Littleton, Colorado Springs
Connecticut (CT)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $51,090
- Number of jobs: 5,010
Delaware (DE)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,210
- Number of jobs: 16,590
- Major job markets: Newark, Wilmington, Dover
District of Columbia (DC)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,380
- Number of jobs: 1,890
Florida (FL)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $40,140
- Number of jobs: 90,320
- Major job markets: Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
Georgia (GA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,360
- Number of jobs: 18,180
Hawaii (HI)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $48,310
- Number of jobs: 2,490
- Major job markets: Wailuku, Honolulu, Kailua, Aiea
Idaho (ID)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,430
- Number of jobs: 2,470
- Major job markets: Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa
Illinois (IL)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $45,040
- Number of jobs: 24,150
- Major job markets: Chicago, Naperville, Peoria, Joliet, Moline
Indiana (IN)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,670
- Number of jobs: 19,460
- Major job markets: Carmel, Indianapolis, Munster, Fort Wayne, Evansville
Iowa (IA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $41,520
- Number of jobs: 1,290
- Major job markets: West Des Moines, Iowa City, Des Moines, Davenport, Cedar Rapids
Kansas (KS)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $41,340
- Number of jobs: 6,460
- Major job markets: Kansas City, Olathe, Overland Park, Shawnee, Wichita
Kentucky (KY)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $39,380
- Number of jobs: 20,550
- Major job markets: Fort Thomas, Louisville, Edgewood, Crestview Hills, Lexington
Louisiana (LA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $37,340
- Number of jobs: 2,730
Maine (ME)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,100
- Number of jobs: 2,540
- Major job markets: Augusta, South Portland, Lewiston, Portland, Bangor
Maryland (MD)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $45,000
- Number of jobs: 12,980
- Major job markets: Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Baltimore, Columbia
Massachusetts (MA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $51,910
- Number of jobs: 22,110
Michigan (MI)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $40,240
- Number of jobs: 27,180
- Major job markets: Southfield, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Novi, Rochester
Minnesota (MN)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $51,380
- Number of jobs: 16,240
Mississippi (MS)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $34,510
- Number of jobs: 3,480
- Major job markets: Biloxi, Columbus, Jackson, Southaven, Hattiesburg
Missouri (MO)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $41,110
- Number of jobs: 11,790
- Major job markets: Kansas City, Saint Louis, Saint Peters, Chesterfield, Columbia
Montana (MT)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $39,450
- Number of jobs: 4,260
- Major job markets: Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula, Helena, Billings
Nebraska (NE)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,490
- Number of jobs: 4,780
- Major job markets: Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Grand Island, Papillion
Nevada (NV)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,820
- Number of jobs: 6,690
- Major job markets: Reno, North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Henderson
New Hampshire (NH)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $44,170
- Number of jobs: 3,800
- Major job markets: Keene, Salem, Concord, Manchester, Bedford
New Jersey (NJ)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $47,880
- Number of jobs: 17,710
- Major job markets: Newark, Morristown, Princeton, Hackensack, Jersey City
New Mexico (NM)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,410
- Number of jobs: 3,770
- Major job markets: Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Belen, Las Cruces
New York (NY)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $47,170
- Number of jobs: 34,170
- Major job markets: New York City, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester
North Carolina (NC)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $34,870
- Number of jobs: 31,440
- Major job markets: Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte, Greensboro
North Dakota (ND)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $44,360
- Number of jobs: 960
Ohio (OH)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,360
- Number of jobs: 29,970
- Major job markets: Cincinnati, Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton
Oklahoma (OK)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $39,250
- Number of jobs: 8,150
- Major job markets: Edmond, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Broken Arrow, Norman
Oregon (OR)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $52,380
- Number of jobs: 15,530
- Major job markets: Hillsboro, Portland, Beaverton, Eugene, Salem
Pennsylvania (PA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,440
- Number of jobs: 26,270
Rhode Island (RI)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $52,380
- Number of jobs: 15,530
- Major job markets: Providence, East Providence, Warwick, East Greenwich, Cranston
South Carolina (SC)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $40,740
- Number of jobs: 10,180
- Major job markets: Greenville, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Columbia, North Charleston
South Dakota (SD)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $44,240
- Number of jobs: 110
- Major job markets: Sturgis, Sioux Falls
Tennessee (TN)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $41,060
- Number of jobs: 31,780
Texas (TX)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $41,520
- Number of jobs: 72,810
Utah (UT)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $42,940
- Number of jobs: 5,150
- Major job markets: Sandy, Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Provo, Draper
Vermont (VT)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $46,750
- Number of jobs: 2,120
- Major job markets: South Burlington, Bennington
Virginia (VA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $44,810
- Number of jobs: 20,860
- Major job markets: Fairfax, Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake
Washington (WA)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $56,500
- Number of jobs: 11,650
- Major job markets: Seattle, Puyallup, Tacoma, Bellevue, Spokane
West Virginia (WV)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $39,950
- Number of jobs: 1,760
- Major job markets: Martinsburg, Charleston, Wheeling, Triadelphia
Wisconsin (WI)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $47,690
- Number of jobs: 5,800
- Major job markets: Waukesha, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton
Wyoming (WY)
- Certification: Optional
- Education: High school diploma or GED
- Average salary: $43,900
- Number of jobs: 1,060
- Major job markets: Jackson, Casper, Cheyenne, Rock Springs, Sheridan
