Have you been considering a career in healthcare? You might be deciding whether to go to school to become a nurse or a medical assistant. If you’re torn between the two, but still undecided, there are some compelling reasons you might want to become a medical assistant. Take a look, and you can decide if this is the right career option for you.
You Can Finish School Much Faster
The biggest initial difference between medical assistant school and nursing school is the amount of time it takes to earn your certification. Medical assisting programs are typically somewhere between 6 and 12 months long, while nursing school can be anywhere from 18 months long for an LVN program, and between 2 to 4 years for an RN program. Note: The Medical Assisting program at Campus Sacramento is between 33 and 37 weeks long, depending on the class schedule you choose.
If you’re looking for a way to start working in healthcare without waiting several years, medical assisting is a solid choice.
Predictable Hours and Work-Life Balance
One of the biggest reasons people choose to become a medical assistant is the hours are stable and predictable, and you can plan your life around your schedule. Most medical assistants work in medical offices and clinics, some work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Usually, your work schedule is business hours on weekdays. This allows you to have a work-life balance that lets you spend time with your family or on activities. If you have kids, this can make it easier to plan child care. Now compare that to working as a nurse in a hospital. RNs work long shifts, and don’t get much time to sleep or have free time. The hours and the type of life you want to build away from work is a big part of deciding whether to become a medical assistant instead of a nurse.
Job Opportunities
Most every community has medical offices, a hospital or medical center, and healthcare clinics. These are all places that require qualified medical assistants to help them with clinical and administrative tasks each day. Because there are many different workplaces that need medical assistants, there are always job opportunities for qualified candidates.
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Job Security
Did you know medical assistants are projected to be one of the faster growing jobs over the next decade? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for medical assistants will grow 12% between 2024 and 2034.[1][ 2] Medical assistants are in demand because every medical office, clinic, and hospital needs qualified medical assistants. These healthcare offices are hiring because they need your expertise. There’s lots of work to be done, especially if you can work well with a team.
Pay and Specializations
In California, medical assistants earn above the national average, and in Sacramento in 2024 [1] [2] medical assistants earned a median annual salary of $62,570 and a mean annual salary of $61,380. The national average for all medical assistants in 2024 was an annual median salary of $44,200, according to the BLS.
There are ways to earn even more than the average, by going into specialized medical fields. Certain specialities for medical assisting may pay higher salaries than general practice medical assisting. Sometimes, this may require getting additional certifications for the given specializations.
Making a Difference
When you work as a medical assistant, you make a real impact in your local community. You work with real people, real patients, and you have a chance to make a difference in their quality of life. By offering friendly, compassionate service, you help ensure their doctor’s appointments are focused, relaxed, and the medical team can provide them the best healthcare possible. You also have the opportunity to form friendships with your regular patients as you see them for repeat visits. Being there for them during their medical visits will help lift their spirits. You’re a true professional, making sure all your patients are seen with the right amount of care, time, and focus, ensuring their healthcare concerns are addressed and treated correctly. Your work supports the physicians, and you also are the patient liaison, helping communicate their concerns to the physician.
You Can Become a Certified Medical Assistant at Campus Sacramento
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a medical assistant, there’s never been a better time to enter the field. Campus Sacramento has a Medical Assisting program that can help you earn your certification and get your first medical assisting jobs. We offer a flexible schedule that will help you accommodate your existing life. For more information on start dates, schedules, and financial aid, contact our friendly Admissions department or call 888-675-2460.
[1] Note: The data provided in this article is from sources unaffiliated with Campus, formerly known as MTI College, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.
[2] ] Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm , Retrieved December 11, 2025 .