Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for PA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$42,810

trending_down -3.1% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Pennsylvania.

engineering

23,650

Jobs (PA)

monitoring Surging

+12.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$125

Licensing fees

schedule

4-24 months (program dependent)

Time to complete

route How to become a medical assistant in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, Medical Assistants are not licensed by the state. The Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine provides oversight regarding the scope of practice and delegation of tasks to medical assistants, who must work under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. While not state-mandated, obtaining a national certification (such as CMA, RMA, or CCMA) is an industry standard and often a requirement for employment. Education prerequisites typically involve completing an accredited medical assistant program, which can range from 4 to 24 months depending on the program type.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $35,720

25th percentile $37,780

50th (median) $42,810

75th percentile $46,480

90th (experienced) $49,890

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Pennsylvania. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Pennsylvania requirements

Licensing body	Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine (oversight, not licensing)
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 the industry standard; not state-mandated. ($125)
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	10.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Medical assistants in Pennsylvania 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. While not state-mandated, national certification is often required or preferred by employers. Background checks (PA State Police Criminal History, PA State Child Abuse, and DPW FBI Criminal History) and drug screenings may be required by employers or externship facilities. Minimum age is not specified by the state.

Source: Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine (oversight, not licensing)

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+12.5%

Much faster than average

Annual openings

112,300

Nationwide per year

Total employment

811,000

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure 0.15/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

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

psychology

Wondering if a medical assistant career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming a medical assistant in Pennsylvania? expand_more

Pennsylvania requires medical assistants to complete the required education (High school diploma or equivalent; accredited MA program often required by employers.), and pass the National certification (e.g., CMA, RMA, CCMA) is the industry standard; not state-mandated..

Is a state license required for medical assistants in Pennsylvania? expand_more

No state license is needed to work as a medical assistant in Pennsylvania. Note: Medical assistants in Pennsylvania 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. While not state-mandated, national certification is often required or preferred by employers. Background checks (PA State Police Criminal History, PA State Child Abuse, and DPW FBI Criminal History) and drug screenings may be required by employers or externship facilities. Minimum age is not specified by the state.

How much does a medical assistant make in Pennsylvania? expand_more

In Pennsylvania, the median pay for medical assistants comes to $42,810/year. — within a few percent of the $44,200 national figure. The range spans from $35,720 at the entry level to $49,890 for top earners.

What are the fees to become a medical assistant in Pennsylvania? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about varies, factoring in exam fee ($125) and required training.

How long does it take to become a medical assistant in Pennsylvania? expand_more

The typical timeline in Pennsylvania is 4-24 months (program dependent). This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

What are the continuing education requirements for medical assistants in Pennsylvania? expand_more

To keep your license active, Pennsylvania mandates 10.0 CE hours every 2.0 years.