How to Become a Medical Assistant: Requirements by State
Checked against official state sources ·
Medical assistants work in clinics and physician offices under a licensed provider, handling both clinical tasks (vital signs, injections where allowed, specimen collection) and front-office work. Most states do not license medical assistants: national certification such as the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT) or CCMA (NHA) is voluntary, though many employers ask for it. What changes from state to state is what a provider may delegate to you, and whether extra tasks — like taking x-rays — need a separate state permit.
Of the 49 states covered here, 2 require an exam and 5 require a set training program for medical assistants. Only states whose rules we have checked against official sources are listed so far.
The steps most states share
- Finish a medical assistant program (certificate or associate degree) or on-the-job training with your employer.
- Consider national certification — CMA, RMA, CCMA or NCMA. It is voluntary in most states but many employers require it.
- Check your state's rules: some tasks, like taking x-rays, need a separate state permit, and some states require a credential or extra training before you give injections.
- Work under the supervision your state requires, doing only tasks a licensed provider may delegate to you.
- Keep any certification or state credential current with continuing education.
Requirements by state
| State | Exam | Training | Term | State fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | No | — | — |
| Alaska | No | No | — | — |
| Arizona | No | Yes | — | — |
| Arkansas | No | No | — | — |
| California | No | Yes | — | — |
| Colorado | No | No | — | — |
| Connecticut | No | No | — | — |
| Delaware | No | No | — | — |
| Florida | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Florida radiologic technology certificates renew every two years and expire on the last day of your birth month. | None for medical assistants. Basic X-ray Machine Operator: $50 application fee by exam ($35 re-exam, $45 by endorsement). |
| Georgia | No | No | — | — |
| Idaho | No | No | — | — |
| Illinois | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Limited Diagnostic Radiography accreditation lasts 2 years and must be renewed on or before its expiration date (32 Ill. Adm. Code 401.100). | None for medical assistants. Limited Diagnostic Radiography accreditation: $120 per initial or renewal application, plus a $140 exam fee (32 Ill. Adm. Code 401.130). |
| Indiana | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Indiana radiology licenses (such as limited chest radiography) expire on the last day of the month two years after issuance; you may not take x-rays on an expired license (410 IAC 5.2-4-2). | None for medical assistants. Radiology license (including limited chest): $60; renewal $60; late renewal fee $60; provisional and student permits are free (410 IAC 5.2-4-8). |
| Iowa | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Iowa Limited Radiologic Technologist permits renew annually ($75), and you must report 12.0 hours of continuing education each two-year cycle (641 IAC 42.9(3)). | None for medical assistants. Limited Radiologic Technologist permit: $100 nonrefundable application fee; $75 annual renewal (641 IAC 42.9). |
| Kansas | No | No | — | — |
| Kentucky | No | No | Only the limited x-ray machine operator license has a term: it is renewed every year and expires on the last day of your birth month. | — |
| Louisiana | No | No | — | Private radiologic technologist certificate application: $35, of which $25 is a nonrefundable processing fee (LAC 46:XLV.2913). Submitted by the supervising physician. |
| Maine | No | No | Only the limited radiographer license has a term: it renews every two years, on or before August 31 of each even-numbered year. | — |
| Maryland | No | No | Only LXMO registration has a term: you renew it every 2 years and need 24 hours of approved continuing education per cycle. | — |
| Massachusetts | No | No | — | — |
| Michigan | No | No | — | — |
| Minnesota | No | No | — | $25 MDH processing fee to register for the limited scope x-ray operator exam (Minn. Stat. 144.121, subd. 5(f)). |
| Mississippi | No | No | Only the LXMO permit has a term. It is valid until the second June 30 after it is issued, or the third June 30 if issued after April 1. Renew every 2 years in MELS with 12 hours of Board-approved continuing education (6 in radiation protection) and the renewal fee. | LXMO permit: $50 application fee, paid when you complete the online application; renewal is $50 plus a convenience fee every two years through MELS. |
| Missouri | No | No | — | — |
| Montana | No | No | Only the x-ray limited permit has a term: up to 12 months, renewable under Board rules (MCA 37-14-306). There is no medical assistant credential to renew. | No fee to work as a medical assistant. X-ray only: $100 nonrefundable limited permit application fee to the Board; the Board also lists a $15 State Combined Exam fee and a $15 re-examination fee. |
| Nebraska | No | No | Only the x-ray limited radiographer license has a term. All Nebraska radiography licenses expire December 1 of even-numbered years (next: December 1, 2026). | No fee to work as a medical assistant. X-ray only: $146 DHHS limited radiographer initial license. |
| Nevada | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Only the x-ray limited license has a term: it expires 2 years after it is issued and must be renewed on or before that date (NRS 653.510). | None for medical assistants. X-ray only: $200 for issuance or renewal of a limited license from the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (NAC 653.200). |
| New Hampshire | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Only the x-ray limited x-ray machine operator license has a term: 2 years. | None for medical assistants. X-ray only: OPLC limited x-ray machine operator license, 2 years: $170 under Plc 1002.26 (effective July 1, 2025); OPLC's fee page lists $155. |
| New Jersey | No | No | — | — |
| New Mexico | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Only the x-ray limited practice of radiography license has a term: 24 months, ending on the last day of the month it was issued (or of the following month if issued after the 15th). | None for medical assistants. X-ray only: $10 application fee per application, $150 state limited radiography exam fee, and $100 initial license fee to the New Mexico Environment Department (20.3.20.501 NMAC). |
| New York | No | No | — | — |
| North Carolina | No | No | — | — |
| North Dakota | No | Yes | Initial registration runs to June 30 of the second year, then renews every two years. | UAP registry: $40 application and $40 renewal every two years (NDAC 54-07-02-01, 54-07-02-01.1); the renewal fee doubles if received after expiration. MAIII: $40 application. When you renew MAIII with your UAP registration, NDAC 54-07-05-06 lists a $30 UAP renewal fee plus the $40 MAIII renewal fee. Reactivation adds a $30 fee. |
| Ohio | No | No | — | — |
| Oklahoma | No | No | — | — |
| Oregon | No | No | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | No | No | — | — |
| Rhode Island | No | No | — | — |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| South Dakota | No | No | — | — |
| Tennessee | No | No | No medical assistant credential. X-ray Operator certificates renew every two years in your birth month. | None for medical assistants. X-ray Operator certification (rule 0880-05-.02): $100 limited or $50 full application and certification fee, plus a state regulatory fee ($10 every two years). |
| Texas | No | No | No medical assistant credential. The NCT Registry renews every two years and expires June 30. | None for medical assistants. X-ray: NCT Registry application $110 (includes jurisprudence exam); LMRT certificate $130; temporary LMRT $80. Surcharges for the data bank and Physician Health Program are added. |
| Utah | No | No | No medical assistant credential. Radiology Practical Technician licenses expire May 31 of odd years. | None for medical assistants. Radiology Practical Technician: $70 application fee and $47 renewal fee on the current DOPL fee schedule (fees can change each July 1). |
| Vermont | No | No | — | — |
| Virginia | No | No | — | None for medical assistants. RTL license: $90 application (18VAC85-101-25); optional traineeship application $25. |
| Washington | Yes | Yes | Credentials renew every two years on your birthday after the first renewal. A credential issued within 90 days of your birthday expires on your birthday the following year. | WAC 246-827-990 (effective 8/1/2025): MA-C, MA-hemodialysis technician, MA-phlebotomist and MA-EMT $145 initial and $145 renewal; MA-R $115 initial and $110 renewal. |
| West Virginia | No | No | — | None for medical assistants. Podiatric Medical Assistant permit (podiatry x-rays): the Medical Imaging Board rule (18 CSR 1, effective July 1, 2026) sets a $92 application fee and a $60 annual renewal fee; it lists no separate amount for this permit. |
| Wisconsin | No | No | No medical assistant credential. LXMO permits renew every two years and expire August 31 of even years. | None for medical assistants. LXMO permit: $65 initial, $65 renewal (DSPS credential fee list). |
| Wyoming | No | No | No medical assistant credential. A restricted x-ray (radiologic technician) license expires 12 months after it is issued. | None for medical assistants. Restricted radiologic technician license application: $160 (cashier's check or money order). |
More states are added only once their rules are checked against the state's own commissioning office.
General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with your state's commissioning office before you apply.