At-home clinical kit included




Medical assisting is a growing field that offers strong job prospects and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patient care. Stepful's 5-month online program prepares California residents to pass the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. This nationally recognized credential makes you a more competitive job candidate and ensures you're job-ready on day one.
Join live, 90-minute classes twice a week with expert instructors. Complete daily assignments, mock exams, and simulations—100% online. Pass your national medical assistant certification exam with confidence.
Complete 80 to 160 clinical hours. Use Stepful's Externship Booking Platform to secure interviews at local clinical sites, typically within 1 to 3 months after passing your certification exam.
Join our 8-week Job Coaching Program with mock interview workshops and 1:1 coaching. Receive curated full-time Medical Assistant openings in your area. We're with you every step of the way.

Completing a training program like Stepful's is the fastest way to launch your career as a medical assistant in California. All you need is a high school diploma or GED. There are no licensing requirements for medical assistants in California, and while certification isn’t required, many employers prefer or require it.
Stepful's 5-month program prepares you to earn your Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential. Stepful students also do an externship to get real-world, hands-on experience. When you're ready to apply for jobs, Stepful is right there with you, with resume help, mock interviews, and job search assistance. At Stepful, we support you every step of the way — from enrollment through employment.

Learn the foundational healthcare knowledge needed to become a well-rounded Medical Assistant. Topics include healthcare systems, medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
Master the ins and outs of providing great patient care and handling tasks in a clinical lab setting. OSHA & HIPAA training and certification.
Master the ins and outs of providing great patient care and handling tasks in a clinical lab setting.
Practice the hands-on skills you’ll use every day as an MA with your Clinical Kit. You’ll also explore medical law and ethics and strengthen your communication skills when working with patients.
Prepare for your national certification exam, get certified, and work with your dedicated coach to find an externship and then a full-time job.
Prepare for your national certification exam, get certified, and work with your dedicated coach to find an externship and then a full-time job.

One of the best things about starting a career as a medical assistant in California is the great job outlook. California has the highest number of medical assistant jobs in the country.
There are more than 110,280 medical assisting jobs in California, or 6.15 for every 1,000 jobs in the state.
California cities with the highest number of medical assistants are:
Medical assistants in California earn a good salary, with an average pay of $49,185 per year, or $23.65 per hour. In fact, California ranks 4th on the list of highest-paying states for medical assistants.
Nationally, medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. Job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to increase by 12% between 2024 and 2034. That’s four times the rate for all other jobs in the US.
This high demand means certified medical assistants should be able to find a job more easily and may be able to negotiate for higher starting wages.
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The state of California has no certification requirements for medical assistants. However, some employers will require certification from a nationally recognized group. A certification, such as the CCMA, which you’ll test for after completing our California Medical Assistant Training Program, may help you get a job and earn a higher salary.
Many healthcare careers in California must be licensed, such as physician assistants and dental hygienists, but medical assistants do not have to be licensed.
Everything required to complete the program in California is built into one tuition price. That includes access to the online learning platform, live instructor-led Zoom classes, clinical sessions, NHA CCMA certification exam prep, one-on-one coaching, career services, and an at-home Clinical Kit so you can practice hands-on skills wherever you are in California. No textbooks or extra materials to buy.
Stepful offers partial scholarships to qualifying students plus flexible, interest-free payment plans that make the program affordable. Submit an application to find out what financial assistance is available to you in California.
After certification, the hands-on requirement is 80 to 160 clinical hours completed in person. Through the Externship Booking Platform, Stepful helps you land interviews at clinical sites across California. You can also tap into local networks like the California Society of Medical Assistants as you build your career.
Just two things: a high school diploma or GED, and a stable internet connection. No prior healthcare experience is needed to enroll in Stepful's California program.
Medical assistants in California commonly perform both clinical and administrative tasks. California has specific language regarding what a medical assistant is allowed to do, including: taking vital signs, observing and reporting patients’ signs or symptoms, administering basic first aid, assisting with patient examinations, removing sutures, and performing basic laboratory procedures.
California also requires specific training hours for medical assistants who administer medications or perform venipuncture. Administrative duties include scheduling appointments, managing patient records, performing medical billing and coding, and more.
Stepful partners directly with the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and readies you for the CCMA exam — a nationally recognized certification accepted by California clinics, hospitals, and physician offices alike. TIME also voted Stepful the #1 Education Technology Company in the US.
Pricing varies because a lot of California students qualify for grants that reduce the total. The best way to get your number is to apply. A $49 enrollment fee (non-refundable) secures your seat, with a 3-day full-refund window. For context, medical assistants in California earn around $46,690 per year (about $23.65/hour), so the program is designed to pay for itself quickly.
Certification isn't legally required to work as a medical assistant in California, and there's no state license or registration to obtain. But because 87% of employers prefer certified candidates (per the NHA), most students find the CCMA well worth earning.
No experience required. Stepful takes complete beginners to certified and job-ready through Stepful's 5-month program, all you need to start is a high school diploma or GED and a stable connection. Demand is strong statewide, Vallejo is among the top-paying areas for medical assistants in California, at roughly $62,050 per year, with San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Jose also offering solid opportunities.
Medical assistants are unlicensed individuals who work under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse or medical doctor. They cannot examine, diagnose, or treat patients independently. They may not administer medications unless they have completed the required training hours, and may not perform procedures other than those for which they have received training.