by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Medical/Clinical Assistant explores Medical/clinical Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians, To Provide Medical Office Administrative Services And Perform Clinical Duties Including Patient Intake And Care, Routine Diagnostic And Recording Procedures, Pre-Examination And Examination Assistance, And The Administration Of Medications And First Aid. Includes Instruction In Basic Anatomy And Physiology; Medical Terminology; Medical Law And Ethics; Patient Psychology And Communications; Medical Office Procedures; And Clinical Diagnostic, Examination, Testing, And Treatment Procedures. Continue reading for the essential details every medical/clinical assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medical/clinical assistant programs.
In the U.S., medical/clinical assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 52,819 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medical/Clinical Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 1,064 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medical/clinical assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medical/clinical assistant programs later in this article.
Coursework for Medical/Clinical Assistant build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medical/clinical assistant graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a medical/clinical assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a medical/clinical assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medical/clinical assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 37,184 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,799 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10,056 |
People currently working in careers related to medical/clinical assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 24.2% |
| Master’s degree | 17.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.4% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medical/clinical assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in medical/clinical assistant opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to medical/clinical assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical/clinical assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical Assistants | 1,226,184 | -2.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of medical/clinical assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for medical/clinical assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medical/clinical assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Medical Assistants | $32,137 |
With 1,064 different medical/clinical assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medical/clinical assistant school rankings to help you.
Those considering medical/clinical assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,541 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,633 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,178 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 614 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 431 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 423 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
