According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of 2011 no degree requirement applies for medical assistants. Several training programs are available, but the minimum requirement for employment as a medical assistant is a high school diploma. The Department of Labor says many medical assistants are hired without experience and trained on the job.
Some colleges offer one-year programs that teach the skills that a medical assistant needs. These programs may require courses in human anatomy, ethics, bookkeeping, record keeping, patient relations, medicines and first aid. One-year programs can lead to a degree or a certificate.
Two-year educational programs, which can lead to an associate's degree, provide more in-depth knowledge to prospective medical assistants. Many of the classes are the same as in a one-year program, but the subject matter is expanded into other areas. One-year and two-year programs may require an internship or volunteer work in a medical office.
Local state law dictates the extent of the procedures that a medical assistant is allowed to perform. In some states, medical assistants can pass a test or take a course that will authorize them to perform a wider range of procedures, such as giving injections or taking X-rays.
Medical assistants can earn certificates issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants or Association of Medical Technologists. A certificate demonstrates a certain level of knowledge and can be used to earn pay increases or promotions.