Best Medical Assistant Programs – 2024

Location: White Bear Lake, MINNESOTA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma (2 Years)

Century College in the Minneapolis suburb of White Bear Lake is one of the largest community colleges in Minnesota. The school’s excellent medical assistant program is one of several health care-related training options: Century College also offers certifications and degrees for aspiring emergency medical technicians, mental health behavioral aides, nurses, nursing assistants, and medical billers and coders.

The two-year, 51 credit-hour curriculum has a fall class with daytime and online cohorts, and a spring class with daytime, evening and online cohorts. The application deadline for fall admissions is June 1 and for spring admissions is August 31. Admission into this medical assisting school is highly competitive, and students must maintain an average grade of C or higher to earn their diplomas. Students must also perform 25 hours of service learning during which they will work with elderly patients. Following the completion of the classroom component of training, students are assigned an unpaid 300-hour externship where they will assist a physician practicing in the Twin Cities area.

Location: Mesa, Phoenix North & Tucson – ARIZONA | Citrus Heights, Pleasant Hill, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro & Stockton – CALIFORNIA | Boise, IDAHO | Portland, OREGON | Spokane, WASHINGTON

Accreditation: ABHES & CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate (36 Weeks) & Associate (66 Weeks)

Carrington College is a network of for-profit schools that’s headquartered in Sacramento, California, but operates in 20 other locations throughout the U.S. as well. The school prepares students for careers as ancillary personnel in the medical, dental, veterinary and criminal justice fields.

You can attain a medical assistant Certificate of Achievement in 36 weeks at Carrington College, but if you want to earn an associate degree, you will have to complete the entire 66-week program. The curriculum focuses on clinical skills such as phlebotomy, specimen collection, basic laboratory testing and keeping electronic health records as well the office skills, you will need to function effectively as an MA. The final segment of your training will involve a 180-hour externship at a physician’s office where you will practice the skills you’ve learned under the supervision of a Carrington College faculty member.

Location: Anderson, Columbus, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lawrenceburg, Madison, Marion, Michigan City, Muncie, Richmond, Sellersburg, South Bend, Terre Haute, INDIANA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate (12 Months) & Associate (24 Months)

Ivy Tech Community College is the largest community college system in the U.S. with more than 40 locations across all parts of Indiana. Despite the size of the population it serves, however, the college strives to keep class sizes small so that students can benefit from personalized interactions with faculty members. The average class size throughout the community college system is 22.

Like many medical assistant schools, Ivy Tech Community College offers two MA tracks: a three-semester, 33 credit-hour curriculum that leads to a technical certificate and a four-semester, 60 credit-hour course that leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree. Classes focus on the practical skills necessary for success in this field, and students have access to a computer lab, a phlebotomy lab, a laboratory skills lab and a clinical skills lab where they learn the basics of patient care, venipuncture, electrocardiogram administration, medical coding, electronic charting, how to take vital signs and how to give injections.

Location: Grand Rapids & Lansing – MICHIGAN

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: AAS – Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy

Davenport University prides itself on its ability to integrate new information, technology and trends into its curriculum. The University’s main campus is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but it maintains satellite campuses in Holland, Lansing, Midlands, Warren, Flint, Kalamazoo, Traverse City and Detroit.

The University’s 61 credit-hour medical assistant associate degree program is designed to give students a foundation in patient care, basic laboratory skills and medical office procedures. Students may also choose to pursue an additional six credits of coursework focusing upon venipuncture techniques that will qualify them to sit for the Phlebotomy Technician Certification exam. The AA degree requires 180 hours of field experience while the phlebotomy subspecialty requires an additional 120 hours of clinical experience. Students must submit to a criminal background check and drug screening before they will be admitted into this major.

Location: Pasadena, CALIFORNIA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate

Pasadena College, the third-biggest community college system in the U.S., is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year, post-secondary schools in California. Its main campus is in downtown Pasadena, but its Health Sciences Division is located at its satellite Foothill College, which is nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The Health Sciences Division prepares students for careers as emergency medical technicians, anesthesia technicians, dental assistants, vocational nurses and radiology techs as well as medical assistants.

The College offers three MA programs: one in clinical medical assisting, one in medical office administration and one in medical office insurance billing. Applicants to the clinical medical assisting training course have top priority for admission. Upon acceptance, students will be required to undergo a background check and obtain an American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers card and a First Aid certificate. Once classroom courses are complete, clinical medical assistant students must complete a six-week, unpaid practicum to order to earn their Certificate of Achievement.

Location: Charlotte, Greensboro & Raleigh – NORTH CAROLINA | Columbia, Greenville & North Charleston – SOUTH CAROLINA | Manassas, Newport News, Richmond, Roanoke & Virginia Beach – VIRGINIA

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Diploma (12 Months) & Associate (15 Months)

ECPI University began its existence as a technical college specializing in computer science and programming but expanded to include health care-related offerings such as medical assisting and nursing as demand for those services increased. The University has 19 campuses scattered throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Florida.

Accredited medical assistant programs are offered at ECPI University’s campuses in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina; Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina; Newport News, Richmond, Northern Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia; and San Antonio, Texas. Students pursuing the 12-month MA diploma option and students pursuing the 15-month MA associate degree follow the same MA-related curriculum, which includes a medical assisting externship. Aspiring associates supplement this curriculum with additional semester credit hours in arts, sciences and computer literacy.

Location: Mesa, Phoenix & Tucson – ARIZONA |Chula Vista & San Marcos – CALIFORNIA | Aurora, Colorado Springs & Denver – COLORADO | Albuquerque & Albuquerque West – NEW MEXICO | Las Vegas, NEVADA | El Paso & Houston – TEXAS | Renton & Seattle – WASHINGTON

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Certificate (9 Months)

Pima Medical Institute is the largest for-profit training school for allied health professionals in the U.S. The institute operates 17 campuses in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Washington. The Institute provides certificate-, associate degree- and bachelor’s degree-level training for aspiring dental assistants, nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians, paramedics and surgery techs in addition to certificate-level training for aspiring MAs.

You can complete a medical assistant certificate program through Pima Medical Institute in just nine months at campuses located in East Valley, Mesa, Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona; Chula Vista and San Marcos, California; Colorado Springs, Denver and Aurora, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico; Houston and El Paso, Texas; and Renton and Seattle, Washington. Coursework includes basic patient skills as well introductions to medical office management and billing. Students get to hone the skills they’ve mastered through clinical externships in the offices of local physicians.

Location: Daytona Beach, FLORIDA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Associate

“Community College Week” ranked Keiser University second in the nation among colleges offering associate degrees in the health sciences. The Florida-based system is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale but maintains 18 campuses throughout Florida. The school also has regionally accredited sites in international locations, including San Marcos – Nicaragua and Shanghai – China.

The Associate of Science degree in Medical Assisting prepares students to function in an administrative capacity as well to perform patient care duties under the supervision of a physician. The University prioritizes small class sizes so that students can benefit from personalized interactions with instructors. The medical assistant course includes credit hours of science and medical procedure coursework as well as 24 credit hours of general education classes, and most students finish the program in two years. At the conclusion of their classroom work, all students complete a clinical externship.

Location: Renton, WASHINGTON

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate & Associate

Since World War II, Renton Technical College has been providing customized vocational training and services to businesses and industries headquartered in the Pacific Northwest. The College, which is located in a suburb near Seattle, places high in several rankings of the top community colleges. It’s administered by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Renton Technical College offers both a 75-credit medical assistant certificate degree program and a 95-credit medical assistant associate degree program. Twenty credits of additional general education classes are required for the latter. Classes begin in the fall and the winter. All incoming students must pass a nationwide criminal background check, be fluent in English and be evaluated by a primary health care provider on their ability to lift 50 pounds or more safely.

Location: La Crosse, WISCONSIN

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma (30 Weeks)

Western Technical College is an open enrollment college, serving 11 Wisconsin counties. This means that so long as you meet the College’s residential requirements, you are guaranteed acceptance. Its main college is in La Crosse, but it also offers classes in Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Sparta, Tomah and Viroqua.

As a student at Western Technical College, you can complete your MA training in as little as 30 weeks. When you complete your MA education, you will receive a technical diploma. Training focuses on laboratory and clinical procedures, and skills such as medical terminology and insurance billing that will help keep a physician’s practice running smoothly. Students can earn their MA certification without completing a clinical externship.

Location: Akron – OHIO | New Orleans – LOUISIANA

Accreditation: ABHES & CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma in Medical Assisting Services (12 Months), Online & On-Campus Associate Degree in Medical Assisting Services (16-20 Months) & 100% Online Diploma in Medical Assisting (10 Months)

When Herzing Institute was founded in 1965, it focused on computer training; but the school diversified over the years and changed its name to Herzing University in 2009. Headquartered in Menominee, Wisconsin, the University maintains 11 campuses in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Louisiana, Florida and Ohio.

Three traditional medical assistant training tracks are offered through Herzing University: a 60-credit associate degree that typically takes between 16 and 20 months to complete and is offered 100% online or at the University’s Akron and New Orleans campuses; a 42-credit diploma in medical assisting services that typically takes 12 months to complete is offered at the University’s campus in Akron, Ohio; and a 34-credit fully online 10-month Diploma in Medical Assisting. At the conclusion of the course, students participate in an externship to familiarize them with the duties for which they will be responsible in a workplace environment.

Location: Hayward, CALIFORNIA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate (35 Weeks)

Chabot College is located in Hayward, California. The College offers more than 100 associate degrees and certificates in Applied Technology and Business, Language Arts, Math and Sciences, Physical Education and Health, the College of the Arts, and Social Sciences.

The College’s MA associate degree focuses on preparing graduates to perform the administrative and clinical duties they will be responsible for as professionals working in physicians’ offices. The 31-unit curriculum usually takes 35 weeks to finish. Classes begin every fall, and there are no special requirements beyond Alameda County residency. However, each class size is capped at 25, and once that number is reached, no further students will be admitted. Students participate in a clinical practicum at a local doctor’s office once their class work is completed.

Location: Wilsonville, OREGON

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate (1 Year)

With an enrollment of more than 38,000 students, Clackamas Community College is one of the largest community colleges in Oregon. The college primarily focuses on workforce development and career education at its Oregon City, Milwaukie and Wilsonville campuses. Health sciences education, including MA training, takes place at the community college’s New Harmony campus in Wilsonville.

Aspiring medical assistants can earn a medical assistant certificate of completion from Clackamas in just one year. Applicants must complete a course in medical terminology with a grade of C or better before they can be admitted into the program. Applicants are also required to submit to drug screening and a criminal background check. Once academic coursework is complete, students will spend five weeks in an externship where they’ll have the opportunity to sharpen their clinical skills. Over the last five years, graduates of Clackamas Community College’s MA program have recorded a 100% pass rate on the CMA exam.

Location: Everett, WASHINGTON

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate

Everett Community College primarily serves students throughout the Seattle, Washington metropolitan area. The College offers associate degrees in nearly 100 different majors and certifications completion in more than 30 technical and career fields. Approximately 80 percent of Everett Community College’s students stay in the area to pursue careers once they’ve finished their education.

MA students can earn a Certificate in Medical Assisting (85 credits), an Associate in Technical Arts (90 credits) or an Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (105 credits). The associate degrees require general education classes in addition to specific MA-focused coursework. All MA students complete 160 clinical rotation hours once they have successfully completed the classroom curriculum. Clinical rotations are scheduled Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, for approximately one month.

Location: Des Moines, WASHINGTON

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate & Associate

When Highline College was founded in 1961, it was one of Washington State’s first community colleges. The College offers training for a number of ancillary health care professionals, including nurses, respiratory therapists and medical assistants. Central Washington University maintains a facility on Highline College’s campus in Des Moines, and this makes it possible for Highline students to take university-level classes.

The College offers a Medical Assistant certificate, which can be completed in five quarters, and a Medical Assistant associate degree, which can be completed in two years. Completion of the MA certificate is a prerequisite for enrollment in the medical assistant associate degree program. Both these medical assisting education tracks require the completion of a single 180-hour clinical externship.

Location: Rosemount, MINNESOTA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma & Associate

Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minnesota is famous for the educational opportunities it offers to students who are interested in nanoscience technology. The school partners closely with local industries in unique Customized Training programs that are often funded by local businesses.

Dakota County Technical College offers both an MA certificate program and an MA associate degree. To be accepted into either track, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in both reading and arithmetic skills on the ACCUPLACER test. Students in both tracks will be required to complete a clinical externship and write a paper for a capstone class, but aspiring MAs pursuing the associate degree option will also be required to complete 18 general education credits.

Location: Daytona Beach, FLORIDA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate (36 Weeks)

Founded in 1957, Daytona State College was one of the first colleges in Florida’s comprehensive junior college system. The college partners with local school districts on courses that allow high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits via dual enrollment. The College transitioned to a four-year school in 2006, and in addition to associate degrees, it now offers workforce baccalaureate degrees such as bachelor’s degrees in nursing.

The 43-credit-hour MA program takes approximately 36 weeks to complete. The application process begins in July, and applicants are accepted on a first-come basis until the class quota is met. Academic coursework is scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All students are required to complete a 6-week clinical externship in a local physician’s office following the conclusion of the classroom portion of their training.

Location: Dothan, Foley, Mobile & Montgomery – ALABAMA | Pensacola & Port St. Lucie – FLORIDA | Smyrna, GEORGIA | Indianapolis, INDIANA | Baton Rouge, LOUISIANA | Towson, MARYLAND | Lawrenceville & Wayne – NEW JERSEY | Cincinnati & Westerville – OHIO | Columbia, SOUTH CAROLINA | Nashville, TENNESSEE | Dallas, TEXAS

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Diploma & Associate

Fortis Institute is a for-profit technical training school with 42 campuses in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. The Institute’s focus is on career training, and it offers a number of certificate and degree tracks for ancillary health care professionals.

The Institute offers diploma and associate medical assisting programs at more than 30 locations. Admissions requirements differ by campus, but in general, you must be a high school graduate. Students learn the basics of medical office administration and customer service skills as well as patient management essentials.

Location: Appleton, Waupaca & Oshkosh – WISCONSIN

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma (1 Year)

Fox Valley Technical College focuses on occupational training. The school offers more than 200 associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs at its campuses in Appleton and Oshkosh, Wisconsin and at its regional sites in Chilton, Clintonville, Waupaca and Wautoma.

MA applicants must pass an assessment before they will be admitted into Fox Valley Technical College’s one-year medical assisting diploma program. Core courses are offered at the Appleton and Waupaca locations in the fall and at the Appleton and Oshkosh locations in the spring. Students must participate in a clinical externship in order to complete diploma requirements. Before a student can be enrolled in a clinical externship, he or she will have to pass a criminal background check.

Location: Bettendorf, IOWA | Bowling Green, Erlanger, Hopkinsville & Owensboro – KENTUCKY | Canton, Cincinnati, Dayton, Elyria, Niles, Ontario & Sylvania – OHIO | Huntsville, ALABAMA | Evansville, Fort Wayne, Granger, Kokomo, Lafayette & Muncie – INDIANA | Ann Arbor, Brighton, Canton, Davison, Flint, Grand Rapids North, Kalamazoo, Kentwood, Lansing, Madison Heights, Midland, New Baltimore, Port Huron, Portage, Roosevelt Park, Saginaw & Taylor – MICHIGAN | Johnson City & Knoxville – TENNESSEE | Charleston & Morgantown – WEST VIRGINIA

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Certificate, Diploma & Associate

Ross College is an online career-training institute associated with Ross Medical Education Center. Ross Medical Education Center is a for-profit system of schools with 40 locations throughout seven states.

The College offers certificate, diploma and associate MA training at sites in Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The medical assisting program curriculum has different tracks for day students and evening students; day students should be able to complete the curriculum in 30 weeks while afternoon and evening students will require 36 weeks. Learning takes place through a series of modules that combine hands-on practice and informational topics. Students in all three academic tracks will be required to complete a clinical externship.

Location: Mitchell, SOUTH DAKOTA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Associate

Mitchell Technical Institute, which is located in Mitchell, South Dakota, is widely hailed as one of the best community colleges in the nation. The school offers nearly 40 on-campus and online technical training programs as well as a number of regionally unique training modules.

The Institute provides aspiring MAs with two learning experiences: a medical office assistant certificate and a medical office assistant associate degree. Students will learn basic nursing, laboratory and office management skills using classroom instruction and experiential, hands-on learning in state-of-the-art simulation labs. Students complete their medical assistant education by participating in an externship with a physician practicing in the local area.

Location: Paramus, NEW JERSEY

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certificate (Medical Office Assistant); Associate (Medical Office Administrative Assistant)

Bergen Community College has three New Jersey campuses: one in Paramus, one in Hackensack, and one in Lyndhurst. In addition to basic education programs aimed at aspiring ancillary health care providers, the College has a well-known theater program.

Students can earn either an MA certificate or an associate degree. The certificate focuses on office administration skills and does not involve a clinical externship; the degree track requires general education classes as well as courses that focus on teaching specific patient-related skills.

Location: Los Angeles, Orange County & Ontario – CALIFORNIA

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Diploma (9 Months)

American Career College is a for-profit system of educational centers that specializes in preparing students for careers as ancillary health care professionals. The College markets its services primarily to students in Southern California with campuses in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Ontario.

The school offers an MA diploma program that aspiring medical assistants can complete in as little as nine months. The medical assistant curriculum is offered at the Los Angeles, Ontario and Orange County campuses. Education aims at helping students become proficient in administrative office procedures as well as in basic patient management skills.

Location: Chicago, ILLINOIS

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Diploma (10 Months)

Chicago-based Coyne College specializes in preparing students for a variety of careers in the construction and allied health care professions. The for-profit school first opened its doors in 1899.

The College offers students an opportunity to earn a medical assisting diploma in 10 months. Students are taught a blend of clerical and clinical skills. Six weeks of intensive coursework that focuses on electronic health record management helps graduates become experts in this niche. At the conclusion of coursework, all students must complete an externship at a physician’s office, medical billing office or hospital in the area.

Location: Woodland Park, NEW JERSEY

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certification & Associate

Berkeley College is a for-profit system of schools that offers both liberal arts education and career-focused training at campuses in New York and New Jersey. The College offers diploma certificates as well as associate, bachelor’s and graduate-level degrees.

The Associate degree in Applied Science with an emphasis in medical assisting is an extension of the College’s career-track, certificate-level programming. Both programs teach patient care procedures and office administration skills, but the associate degree curriculum also includes more background science and general education classes. All students must complete a faculty-monitored practicum at the conclusion of their academic coursework.

Location: Anchorage, ALASKA

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certification & Associate

The Anchorage campus of the University of Alaska is the largest component of the statewide university system. Community colleges in Valdez, Soldatna, Kodiac and Mat-Su are affiliated with this campus as well. Approximately 20,000 students are enrolled at the University’s eight on-campus colleges.

Medical assisting is a University major, and the application process is quite competitive. Classes begin in the fall semester, and the application deadline is May 15. The certificate curriculum in MA takes a year to complete at this medical assistant school while the Associate’s degree takes two years. Irrespective of the track MA students choose to pursue, they will need to complete a five-credit externship the summer after they have completed their academic class work in order to graduate.

Location: Portland, OREGON

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Certification (1 Year)

As Oregon’s premier community college, Portland Community College serves more than 80,000 students every year in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas and Columbia counties. Classes are taught at four main campuses that are scattered throughout Portland. Additionally, the college maintains smaller facilities in the municipal area, which are dedicated to specialized training programs.

The College offers a certificate in medical assisting, which should take one year to complete. The curriculum is based on the Patient-Centered Model Home theory. Students can begin their MA training in either the spring or the fall, and they will need to pass a criminal background check and a drug screening. Classes and skill labs will prepare students for both the clinical and administrative responsibilities they will be called upon to undertake once they begin their professional careers. All students will complete a clinical externship.

Location: Eau Claire, WISCONSIN

Accreditation: CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma (1 Year)

The largest campus in the Chippewa Valley Technical College system is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The College focuses on career-oriented training and offers technical diploma programs as well as associate degrees.

Chippewa Valley Technical College is one of several medical assistant colleges that award an MA diploma alone. The MA program takes place at the campus in Eau Claire. Classes begin in August and January, and the curriculum takes most students one year to complete. Students will have the opportunity to practice clinical, laboratory and administrative skills they’ve learned through an externship at a local physician’s office.

Location: Tampa, FLORIDA | Norcross, GEORGIA| Houston, TEXAS

Accreditation: ABHES & CAAHEP

Program Type: Diploma (10 Months)

Altierus Career College specializes in career training and offers associate degrees and career diplomas in health care, trade, technical and business sectors. The College has made a commitment to keeping classes small so that students will have the opportunity to get personalized attention from their instructors. Campuses in Tampa, Florida; Norcross, Georgia; and Houston, Texas serve the needs of a diverse student population.

All three Altierus Career College campuses offer MA education. The 10-month medical assistant diploma program eschews traditional classroom lectures in favor of iPad-powered learning modules with interactive diagrams, classroom polls and real-time feedback. Once coursework is complete, students will be placed in a local physician’s office for a 200-hour externship. Preparation and testing for either the Certified Medical Assistant Exam or the Registered Medical Assistant Exam are included as a part of the program.

Location: Fort Myers, New Port Richey, Ocala & Tampa – FLORIDA | Aurora, Mokena, Rockford & Romeoville – ILLINOIS | Overland Park, KANSAS | Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Lake Elmo, Mankato & Saint Cloud – MINNESOTA | Green Bay & Wausau – WISCONSIN

Accreditation: ABHES

Program Type: Diploma (12 Months)

Rasmussen College is a for-profit educational system headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, that offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates and diplomas in career-focused areas. The school has 22 campuses throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois and Kansas.

The College’s Medical Assisting Diploma training takes 12 months to complete. The curriculum combines on-campus lectures and online learning opportunities. You will round out your coursework at the medical assisting college where you’re enrolled by completing a clinical rotation working under the supervision of a practicing physician in your area. Preparation and MA certification testing are included as part of the course.