Can I work while in school?

Yes, but be realistic. If you’re going part-time, working is totally doable. Full-time programs are more intense, especially once clinicals start. Many students take on weekend or evening shifts, just make sure your job doesn’t burn you out or mess with your study time.

Is there an age limit to start?

Yes, students must be at least 18 years old to enroll. But that’s it. We don’t require a high school diploma or GED. Whether you’re fresh out of school or making a career change in your 40s or 50s, you’re welcome here. It’s never too late to start something new.

What if I already have clinical experience?

It’ll definitely help you feel more confident during training. However, for our Medical Assisting program, all students are required to complete the full coursework. Prior experience can give you a head start in understanding the material, but it won’t replace any part of the program.

How Long to Become a Medical Assistant in California

By Nick Montes, MBA, Montes HealthCare College · Last updated October 29, 2026

Most medical assistant certificate programs take 9 to 12 months, and accelerated programs that still include hands-on labs and an externship take about 6 to 8. At Montes HealthCare College in Gardena, the 720-hour Medical Assistant program takes about 6 months on campus or about 8 months in the hybrid evening format, externship included.

Key takeaways

Certificate programs are the fastest formal route into medical assisting. Associate degrees take 18 to 24 months because they add general education.

A legitimate accelerated program still includes hands-on labs, supervised skills practice, and an externship. It moves faster; it does not skip steps.

MHCC’s program is 720 clock hours, including a 160-hour externship: about 6 months in person, or about 8 months hybrid.

California does not license medical assistants, and national certification is optional, but state rules require specific training before an MA can give injections or draw blood.

How long do medical assistant programs take?

The answer depends on the path you choose. Here is how the three common routes compare:

Path	Typical length	What it includes	Best for
Accelerated certificate	About 6 to 8 months	Core clinical and administrative training, labs, externship	Career-changers who want to start working sooner
Standard certificate or diploma	About 9 to 12 months	The same core training at a slower pace	Students who want more time per module
Associate degree	About 18 to 24 months	Core training plus general education courses	Students planning further college study

For most entry-level jobs, employers care about your skills, your externship experience, and often a national certification, not whether you hold a degree. If your goal is to start working in healthcare, a certificate program is usually the most direct path.

How fast can you become a medical assistant at MHCC?

MHCC offers two formats with the same 720-hour curriculum, the same hands-on skills training, and the same 160-hour externship. The choice comes down to your schedule.

	In-person (day)	Hybrid (evening)
Length	About 6 months	About 8 months
Schedule	Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm	Monday to Friday, 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where	100% on campus	2 evenings on campus, 3 evenings online
Externship	160 hours at an approved site	160 hours at an approved site
Best for	Students who can commit to daytime classes	Working adults and parents

The day program runs as four 140-hour classroom and lab modules followed by the externship. The hybrid program spreads the same material across seven modules plus the externship, so you can keep your job while you train.

Want an even shorter, clinical-focused option? MHCC’s Clinical Medical Assistant program takes 20 weeks (440 clock hours, including an 80-hour externship) and prepares you for the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. Compare the two in Clinical Medical Assistant vs Medical Assistant.

Are accelerated medical assistant programs legit?

They can be, if what is included matches what employers expect. A short calendar is fine. A short list of skills is not. Use this checklist when you compare programs:

State approval. In California, private vocational schools must be approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). MHCC is BPPE-approved.
Hands-on labs. Vital signs, injections, and blood draws take supervised practice on real equipment, not just online modules.
A supervised externship. You should finish with documented clinical hours in a real medical office.
Certification eligibility. The program should qualify you for a recognized national exam, and say which one.
Published outcomes. California private schools must give you a School Performance Fact Sheet with completion and placement rates before you enroll. Read it.

Be cautious with fully online programs that offer no externship, or programs that are vague about which exam you can take.

What does California require to work as a medical assistant?

California does not license medical assistants, so no state exam stands between you and your first job. It does set training rules for certain tasks. Under California regulations, a medical assistant needs at least 10 clock hours of training in giving injections and skin tests, and at least 10 clock hours in venipuncture and skin puncture, before performing them. Trainees must also complete at least 10 of each procedure satisfactorily.

MHCC’s curriculum covers those skills directly, along with vital signs, patient intake, EKG, lab procedures, electronic health records, and front-office work. You practice in the lab first, then use the same skills with real patients during your externship. You also earn an American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) card during the program.

How long does it take to get certified after training?

Certification is optional in California, but many employers prefer it. MHCC graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). Learn more in What Is a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)?

Plan for a few extra weeks after graduation, depending on exam dates and your study time. Two things to know early:

Bring proof of education. NCCT and NHA require proof of high school or GED completion to certify, even though MHCC does not require a diploma to enroll in the MA program.
Study during externship. Reviewing while your skills are fresh shortens the gap between graduation and your exam date. Book your exam as soon as you are eligible.

Is becoming a medical assistant worth the time?

For many career-changers, the math works. Medical assistants earned a national median wage of $45,690 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 109,700 openings each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At MHCC, 92.86% of 2024 Medical Assistant graduates available for employment (13 of 14) were working in the field, according to the school’s School Performance Fact Sheet. Wages vary by employer, location, and experience, and no school can promise a specific job or salary. What a program can do is prepare you well and support your search, starting with an externship site that can become your first reference.

Why train at MHCC in Gardena

BPPE-approved private postsecondary school
Small classes with hands-on lab practice on real clinical equipment, plus an American Heart Association BLS (CPR and AED) card
92.86% of 2024 MA graduates employed in the field (13 of 14), per MHCC’s School Performance Fact Sheet
Tuition: $7,500 full program price, with discounted pricing when you pay upfront or choose the 20-month payment plan. Includes textbooks, lab supplies, a uniform, a stethoscope, study guides, and tutoring
Payment options: upfront payment, a 20-month payment plan, and Climb Credit
Location: 555 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Suite 108, Gardena, CA 90248
Call: (424) 373-8211

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to become a medical assistant in California?

Complete an accelerated certificate program that includes hands-on labs and an externship. At MHCC, the in-person Medical Assistant program takes about 6 months, including a 160-hour externship. Certification is optional in California and can follow within a few weeks of graduating.

Can I work while I’m in the Medical Assistant program?

Yes. MHCC’s hybrid format runs Monday to Friday from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm, with two evenings on campus and three online, and takes about 8 months. Many students keep a daytime job while they train.

Do I need a high school diploma to enroll?

Not for MHCC’s Medical Assistant program. You do need to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., and meet the Wonderlic basic skills minimum. National certification bodies such as NCCT and NHA require proof of high school or GED completion to certify.

Is certification required to work as a medical assistant in California?

No. California does not license or require certification for medical assistants. Many employers prefer certified candidates, so MHCC graduates are prepared to sit for the NCCT National Certified Medical Assistant exam.

Can I use FAFSA to pay for the program?

No. MHCC does not participate in federal student aid programs. Students can pay upfront or choose MHCC’s 20-month payment plan, both discounted from the $7,500 full program price, or finance through Climb Credit. Admissions can walk you through both before you enroll.

How long is the externship?

The externship is 160 hours at an approved clinical site, and it is part of the 720 total program hours. MHCC arranges your placement, and your site supervisor signs off on your hours.

See the program before you decide

The fastest way to know whether six months or eight fits your life is to see the lab, meet the instructors, and ask every question on your list. Schedule a campus tour and leave with a clear timeline.

Schedule a campus tour or apply now. Questions? Call (424) 373-8211.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant?