Medical Assistant Degree & Certificate Programs

On-Campus Medical Assistant Degree & Certificate Programs

Education programs for medical assistants are typically available at community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools and take one to two years to complete. Students should verify the accreditation status of their program before enrollment, seeking out programs approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), or other qualified agencies. To learn more about the accreditation process, please visit the section below.

To gain admission into an accredited medical assistant program, students must submit official high school transcripts with proof of specific prerequisite coursework such as biology, chemistry, algebra, English, write a personal statement, and pay an application fee. Some programs may have additional application requirements such as letters of recommendation, hours of experience in a medical setting, or test scores. Here are ten featured medical assistant programs:

Carrington College

This school has campuses across the western United States. This nine-month certificate in medical assisting program prepares graduates for entry-level work in this field. In the initial segment of the program, students learn administrative responsibilities such as accounting, and the final segment imparts the fundamentals of the clinical role of medical assistants.

After this program, students can perform basic diagnostic tests, identify medical supplies, assist with procedures, and perform clerical functions. Carrington offers all course textbooks online and provides various student support services such as scholarships, career placement, and tutoring.

• Location: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon Washington
• Duration: None months
• Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC)
• Tuition: $17,542 for the entire program

McCann School of Business and Technology

McCann School of Business and Technology offers an associate’s of specialized business at their Allentown campus. This is an 18-month on-campus program. Courses include medical law & ethics, pharmacology, and clinical medical assisting.

Since this is an associate’s program, there is more advanced training in medical office systems, medical insurance & medical computer applications, and other administrative courses. Finally, McCann provides lifetime career assistance with services such as externship placement, course refreshers, and career management workshops.

• Location: Allentown, PA
• Duration: 18 months
• Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
• Tuition: $32,240 for the entire program

Coffeyville Community College

This Kansas-based medical assistant program offers a one-year certificate and two-year associate’s degree options. With administrative and clinical training, classes include medical professional issues, patient care, clinical laboratory diagnostics, pharmacology for allied health, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, phlebotomy essentials, and emergency preparedness.

Students also complete a medical assistant externship at a nearby clinic to put their newfound abilities into practice. Graduates can sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants certification exam.

• Location: Coffeyville, KS
• Duration: One to two years
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $6,707 for the entire program

Lakeland Community College

Based in Kirtland, OH, this school offers a 12-month certificate in medical assisting. Courses include the US healthcare system introduction, basic electrocardiography, and blood collection techniques. The program begins in the fall each year, and during the summer, students wrap up their didactic learning with an externship at an affiliated clinic. A part-time program is also available, which generally takes two years to complete.

Students must take medical terminology, English composition, basic pharmacology, blood collection techniques, and electrocardiography classes. Upon graduation, students should be eligible to sit for the clinical medical assistant (CMA) certification exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

• Location: Kirtland, OH
• Duration: 12 months
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $4,833.60 for the entire program

Moore Norman Technology Center

Moore Norman Technology Centers offers a 28-credit-hour diploma program available to high school seniors and adults. Students studying medical law and ethics, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology. They also learn about medical insurance and coding, medical informatics, and medical assistant pharmacology. The program wraps up with a 160-hour externship, allowing students to apply their fresh skills to a clinical site.

Classes are offered in a morning or afternoon block format for more flexibility. Students interested in advancing their education can transfer 28 credits over to Oklahoma City Community College toward an associate of applied science (AAS) degree.

• Location: Norman, OK
• Duration: One to two years
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $3,915.50 for the entire program

South Hills School of Business and Technology

The associate degree program in medical assisting is available at the Altoona and State College campuses of South Hills School of Business and Technology. There is a strong focus on the administrative side of the occupation, and students learn about medical administrative skills, medical transcription, insurance forms, and coding.

In addition to the office skills, students also learn anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, and applied psychology. The program’s final term has a 12-week internship, as well as a certification preparation course. Graduates of this program are prepared for entry-level work as clinical medical assistants, electrocardiograph technicians, medical administrative assistants, phlebotomists, and emergency department technicians.

• Location: College, PA
• Duration: 23 months
• Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Tuition: $17,167 per year

Bryant & Stratton College

With locations across Virginia, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Bryant & Stratton College offers an associate of applied science (AAS) degree in medical assisting. Students learn how to communicate in a healthcare setting with training in physiology, medication administration, terminology, and pathophysiology.

Specific courses include clinical procedures, healthcare reimbursement & billing, pharmacology, medical office procedures, and computing skills. Since this is an associate’s degree program, students must take general education classes such as math, composition, and research.

• Location: Virginia, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin
• Duration: Two years
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $9,315 per semester

City College of San Francisco

There are several options at the City College of San Francisco for completing the education requirements necessary to be a medical assistant. Students can choose to complete a one-year certificate or a two-year associate’s degree. They can also choose to pursue education as a clinical medical assistant or as an administrative one. Classes for each emphasis are tailored to prepare graduates to excel within their chosen focus.

City College has counselors who can talk with students to help them determine which educational path to pursue. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for national certification exams. The college also provides career counselors to help students with their next steps.

• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Duration: One to two years
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $339 per credit

Everett Community College

Students at Everett Community College can complete a certificate, associate’s of technical arts, or associate of applied science in medical assisting. These programs vary in length and intensity, but all prepare graduates for entry-level work as medical assistants. Classes that are required in all three programs include anatomy and physiology, nutrition, ethical considerations, legal implications, and protective practices.

Important skills for successful job placement that students will obtain include good written and oral communication skills and knowledge of anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical terminology, and disease pathology.

• Location: Everett, WA
• Duration: One to two years
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $306 per credit

Daytona State College

Daytona State College medical assisting program trains students to assist in all aspects of medical practice, including administrative and clinical skills. Through classroom lectures and hands-on internships, students will learn the basic medical assisting principles. Graduates from this program are eligible to sit for the national certifying exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the American Medical Technologist (AMT).

To be eligible for admission to this program, candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, complete Basic Cardiac Life Support for Health Care Provider and AED through American Heart Association or American Red Cross, and pass a background check. Recent survey results indicate that, over a five-year period, this program has maintained a 96 percent satisfaction rate among graduates and employers.

• Location: Daytona Beach, FL
• Duration: One year
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Tuition: $398.65 per credit

Accreditation of Medical Assistant Programs

Prospective medical assistants are advised to check the accreditation status of their programs before enrollment. Not only is accreditation important to establish a baseline of excellence in training, but it also may be necessary to qualify for various professional certifications. By illustration, the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers certification to graduates of medical assisting programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Please note that each professional certification agency has its own rules concerning programmatic accreditation.

In addition to the programmatic accreditation bodies, there are also institutional accreditation bodies. There are currently six regional institutional accreditation bodies recognized by the US Department of Labor:

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

The accreditation process typically involves a detailed application, a self-study, and a site visit from an agency official. Each organization has its own approval criteria, but it typically includes factors such as institutional resources, finances, student outcome measures, and quality of facilities. Please visit the individual accreditation websites to examine the detailed criteria.

Licensing & Certification for Medical Assistants

Medical assistants are not required to be certified in most states. However, there can be many benefits to pursuing professional credentials through an established organization. First, it’s no surprise that most employers prefer certified medical assistants since the certification process demonstrates one’s professional skills. Second, certification can enhance a person’s earning potential. Here is an overview of the popular credentials in this field:

Become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

Offered by: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

Prerequisites: CMA candidates must have graduated from a postsecondary medical assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Additionally, candidates must pass the CMA Certification Examination comprising 200 multiple-choice questions.

Renewal: This credential must be renewed every 60 months following the completion of an exam or 60 continuing education units (CEUs) in a combination of administrative, clinical, and general training.

Become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

Offered by: American Medical Technologists (AMA) or American Registry of Medical Assistants (ARMA)

Prerequisites: There are five routes to qualifying for the AMA exam. One common route is to graduate from an accredited medical assistant program with at least 720 hours of training, including 180 hours in a hands-on clinical externship. Other routes include completing a military medical services training program, having at least five years of relevant full-time experience, working as a medical assistant instructor for five years, or having another recognized credential in medical assisting. Similarly, ARMA has various routes to qualify for registration, including graduating from a qualifying, on-campus medical assistant program or completing an online program and having three years of documented full-time experience.

Renewal: The AMA certification lasts for three years and can be renewed after completing 30 “points” of continuing education. The ARMA credential lasts one year and must be renewed after completing 12 CEUs.

Become a National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)

Offered by: National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

Prerequisites: Candidates for the NCMA credential must have either graduated from a NCCT-approved school, worked full-time for two years as a medical assistant, or completed a military medical assistant training program. They must also pass a certification exam.

Renewal: This credential must be renewed annually following the completion of 14 continuing education credits.

Become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) or a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Offered by: National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Prerequisites: Candidates must have either completed a qualifying medical assistant program or the experiential equivalent.

Renewal: The credentials are valid for one year and must be renewed after completing five continuing education (CE) credits. Please note that the CE can be submitted annually or biennially (10 CE credits).

Finally, there are various state credentials for medical assistants as well, such as the five-year certification offered by the California Certifying Board of Medical Assistants (CCBMA). Be sure to check out local credentialing agencies before seeking any certification, registration, or license.