The Growth and Future of Medical Assistant Careers (updated 2025)

Demand for medical assistants is rising due to an aging population and a shift to outpatient care. Medical assistants handle clinical and administrative tasks across physician offices, clinics, and hospitals. Formal training and certification (CMA, RMA, CCMA, etc.) boost job prospects. Employment growth is expected to be faster than average; verify current BLS projections and state scope-of-practice rules.

Why demand for medical assistants is growing

The U.S. population is aging and health care is shifting toward outpatient and team-based models. By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be age 65 or older, increasing demand for routine care, chronic disease management, and preventive services. Those trends push more work into clinics, physician practices, and outpatient centers - settings that rely heavily on medical assistants.

Technological advances - electronic health records, telehealth, point-of-care testing - also change workflows and create new support needs. Medical assistants who can work across clinical and administrative tasks make practices more efficient.

What medical assistants do

Medical assistants (MAs) perform both clinical and administrative duties. Clinical tasks can include taking vital signs, collecting specimens, preparing patients for exams, and assisting with procedures under supervision. Administrative duties often include scheduling, medical records management, billing, and patient communication.

Scope of practice varies by state and by employer; some tasks require specific delegation or training.

Where MAs work

Most medical assistants work in outpatient settings such as physician offices, clinics, and ambulatory care centers. Roughly six in ten MAs are employed in physicians' offices, with others in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and public health agencies .

The shift away from inpatient care toward community-based services means steady demand across a range of settings.

Training, certification, and hiring outlook

Employers increasingly prefer candidates with formal training. Typical pathways include certificate or diploma programs (several months), and associate degree programs (about two years). Externships and clinical practicums remain common ways to gain hands-on experience and connect with employers.

Several nationally recognized certifications exist - for example, the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA, AAMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA, AMT), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA, NHA) - and can improve job prospects and earning potential.

Certification requirements and titles vary by credentialing organization and state.

Employment outlook and regulation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical assistants will grow faster than the average for all occupations, driven by the aging population and expanded outpatient services ¹. Exact projected growth rates and timeframes should be checked against the latest BLS release.

State-level rules on permitted MA tasks vary. While most states do not license medical assistants as a single profession, specific procedures (injections, phlebotomy, EKGs) may require certification, supervision, or explicit delegation. Prospective MAs should check state regulations and employer policies.

Bottom line

Medical assisting remains a practical entry point into health care. Demand is supported by demographic shifts and care-delivery trends. Those with formal training, up-to-date technical skills, and recognized credentials tend to have the best job prospects.

1. Confirm the latest BLS projected employment growth rate and timeframe for medical assistants (occupation code 31-9092).
2. Confirm the current proportion of medical assistants employed in physicians' offices (the "six in ten" figure).