Being an assistant is a good way to get an inside look at a real estate office without going to the time and expense of getting licensed.
An agent's assistant can make anywhere from minimum wage up to $30-40,000 per year depending on what they do for their agent.
You don't necessarily need a license to be an assistant but if you become an assistant and like the business your would then be in a great position to get your license and then get some training and experience when you become licensed.