Medical Assistant in Illinois
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IL. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Illinois.
Jobs (IL)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a medical assistant in Illinois
In Illinois, Medical Assistants are not required to be licensed by the state. They practice under the direct supervision of a licensed physician, who is responsible for ensuring the MA's competence. While not state-mandated, obtaining a national certification (such as CMA, RMA, or CCMA) is highly recommended by employers and can significantly enhance job prospects. Most certification programs require a high school diploma or GED and typically take 9-24 months to complete, including coursework and a clinical externship.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Illinois. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Illinois requirements
| Licensing body | Illinois does not have a state licensing body for Medical Assistants. |
| State license | Not required |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent; accredited MA program often required by employers. |
| Exam | National certification (e.g., CMA, RMA, CCMA) is not state-mandated but is the industry standard. ($125) |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Notes | Medical assistants in Illinois are not licensed by the state. They practice under the direct supervision and delegation of a licensed physician. The delegating physician is responsible for ensuring the MA is competent. Most training programs require students to be at least 18 years old by the time they start the clinical portion, and often require a clean criminal background check, up-to-date immunizations, and negative Hepatitis and TB tests. |
Source: Illinois does not have a state licensing body for Medical Assistants.
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
- check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+12.5%)
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk