Getting into healthcare always sounds more complicated than it has to be. Whether you’re fresh out of high school, changing careers mid-stream, or using medical assisting as a launchpad to something bigger, the medical assistant prerequisites you need to meet are more manageable than most people expect.
That said, “manageable” doesn’t mean random. The coursework, certifications, and hands-on hours you stack up early will shape where you can go next—so it pays to get the map right before you start walking.
At SCU, students moving toward healthcare careers get the academic grounding and flexible pathways to build that foundation the smart way—from Accelerated Science Courses that compress prerequisite timelines, to a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences that opens doors to graduate programs.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants split their time between the front and back of the clinic. It’s a role that demands range—part clinical technician, part administrative coordinator. A typical day might include:
- Taking and recording patient vital signs
- Assisting a physician during examinations
- Drawing blood or preparing lab specimens
- Updating electronic health records
- Scheduling appointments and handling insurance paperwork
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 811,000 medical assistants were employed across the country as of 2024, with projected growth of 12 percent through 2034—well above the national average for all occupations.
Medical Assistant Prerequisites: The Foundation You Need
High School Diploma or GED
Every accredited medical assistant program requires a high school diploma or equivalent as the starting point for enrollment. If you’re still in secondary education, prioritizing biology, chemistry, and basic math will give you a head start when the science-heavy coursework arrives.
Science Coursework
Most programs expect applicants to arrive with at least a foundational understanding of life sciences. Anatomy, physiology, and introductory biology commonly appear as formal prerequisites before clinical training begins.
Students who need to complete those credits efficiently can do so through SCU’s Accelerated Science courses. Relevant options include Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II with online and on-ground lab options, General Biology I for foundational life science coverage, and Intro to Medical Terminology for the clinical vocabulary that medical assisting demands from day one. All courses are accredited, transferable, and available online every five weeks.
CPR and Basic Life Support Certification
Many programs require proof of current CPR certification before students can begin hands-on clinical training. The American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support (BLS) course for Healthcare Providers is the standard most programs accept. It’s a short course, but programs with waitlists sometimes require it just to secure your spot—so don’t leave it to the last minute.
Background Check and Drug Screening
Standard across nearly every clinical program. Healthcare settings hold patient safety above all else, and programs take that seriously at the admissions stage.
Program Options: Certificate, Associate Degree, or Bachelor’s?
Once you clear the basics, you’ll choose your entry point into formal training.
Certificate Programs (9–12 months) skip general education requirements and focus entirely on clinical and administrative skills. Best for students who need to enter the workforce quickly or who already hold a degree in another field.
Associate Degree Programs (2 years) include the core medical assisting curriculum alongside general education coursework—a useful foundation for students planning to eventually pursue nursing or a bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is the right move for students with eyes on advanced healthcare careers. PA school, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic programs all require the prerequisite depth that a health sciences bachelor’s provides. SCU’s BSHS program is fully online with multiple concentration options and accelerated pathways. Graduates who meet specific requirements are guaranteed an interview with SCU’s Master of Science: Physician Assistant Program—a meaningful edge in a competitive admissions field.
Certification: What It Is, Why It Matters
Completing a training program gets you to the door. Certification is what gets you hired.
The two most widely recognized credentials are:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) – Awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) after passing a 200-question examination. Requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited program.
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) – Administered by American Medical Technologists (AMT), with eligibility through accredited program completion or qualifying work experience.
A few things worth knowing about certification:
- Washington is the only state that legally requires licensure before practicing
- Everywhere else, certification is technically voluntary
- Most employers treat it as a de facto requirement anyway
- Certified candidates consistently have an edge in hiring and salary negotiations
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here’s where medical assistant compensation and demand currently stand:
- Median annual wage (May 2024): $44,200
- Entry-level earnings: Starting around $35,020
- Top 10% of earners: $57,830 or more
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 12 percent — much faster than average
- Projected annual openings: ~112,300 per year through 2034
Higher wages tend to cluster in specialty practices and urban markets. The growth itself is driven by an aging population, the expansion of outpatient clinics, and a broader shift toward team-based care.
Medical Assisting as a Career Stepping Stone
Many students treat medical assisting as an entry point rather than a destination—and that’s a sound strategy. The clinical exposure and patient interaction hours you accumulate translate directly into application requirements for more advanced health careers.
PA programs routinely require thousands of direct patient care hours. Working as a medical assistant is one of the most common ways applicants build that record. The same logic applies to nursing, physical therapy, and chiropractic applicants who want real-world clinical context before committing to a doctoral program.
At SCU, students thinking several moves ahead can explore the Master of Science in Medical Science—a bridge program that strengthens academic standing and provides guaranteed interview consideration for the MSPA program—or pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy or Doctor of Occupational Therapy once the foundational credits are in place.
Starting as a medical assistant doesn’t close doors. Done with intention, it opens them.
Ready to Build Your Healthcare Foundation?
Every healthcare career starts somewhere. For a lot of people, that first step is getting the right prerequisites in place—efficiently, without wasting time on courses that don’t transfer or programs that don’t align with where you’re headed.
Whether you need to finish science prerequisites, build toward a bachelor’s degree, or position yourself for graduate school, SCU’s academic programs are built to meet you at your current level and move you forward. Request information today and start mapping a path that fits your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic medical assistant prerequisites?
A high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement for any accredited program. Beyond that, expect to complete some science coursework (biology, anatomy basics), obtain CPR certification, and pass a background check. Specific requirements vary by institution.
Do I need a college degree to become a medical assistant?
Not necessarily. Certificate programs are the most common entry point and can be completed in under a year. However, students planning to advance toward PA school, nursing, or other health professions will need a bachelor’s degree, as most graduate programs require one.
How long does medical assistant training take?
Certificate programs run about 9–12 months. Associate degree programs take roughly two years of full-time study. Students who need to complete prerequisite science courses first can shorten that timeline through SCU’s Accelerated Science Courses, which run in five-week online sessions.
Is certification required to work as a medical assistant?
Only Washington State legally requires licensure. That said, most employers strongly prefer certified candidates. The CMA (through AAMA) and RMA (through AMT) are the most recognized credentials, both requiring a formal examination after completing an accredited program.
What’s the job outlook for medical assistants?
Strong. The BLS projects 12 percent job growth from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 112,300 openings expected annually. Demand is driven by an aging population and the continued expansion of outpatient healthcare settings.
Can medical assisting experience count toward PA school applications?
Yes—it’s one of the most efficient ways to build patient care hours. PA programs typically require 1,000 to 4,000 hours of direct patient care experience, and medical assisting qualifies directly. Students pursuing PA school should document hours carefully and consider SCU’s BSHS or MSMS programs for academic preparation alongside that clinical foundation.