Certificate in Practical Nursing: A Certificate in Practical nursing other wise known as a Medical Assistant certificate requires on the job training and or can take 1 or 2 years of education to complete. Almost all Medical Assistants have at least a high school diploma, although there is no formal education or training requirements. A Medical Assistant can find jobs in public and private hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities; chiropractors and optometrists. Most of the remainder works in other healthcare industries, such as outpatient care centers and nursing and residential care facilities.