Verified October 2026

Accelerated Medical Assistant Programs

How Fast Can You Finish an Accelerated Medical Assistant Program?

Accelerated medical assistant programs run a median of 30 weeks, and the shortest complete programs take 8 to 16 weeks, such as Contra Costa Medical Career College's 10-week certificate with a 160-hour externship. Across 163 accelerated programs at 156 schools, the median still includes 720 clock hours and a 180-hour externship. Only 22 are CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited for the CMA (AAMA) route, so check the exam you want before you pick the fastest start date.

Researched and edited by · Updated

programs
163
schools
156
CAAHEP or ABHES accredited
22
median length
30 wk
median cost (129 priced)
$8,487
median externship
180 hr
A clinician in green gloves gives an injection in the upper arm of a smiling man who holds up his sleeve
Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich / Pexels

What Makes an Accelerated Medical Assistant Program Fast

Accelerated medical assistant programs cut calendar time, not usually content. Many ask for full-time daytime study: Holyoke Community College’s Jump Start runs Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Mt. Diablo Adult Education’s program Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The 163 programs in this set have a median length of 30 weeks, about seven months, against a median of 40 weeks for medical assistant programs overall.

The training inside is close to standard. The median accelerated program still includes 720 clock hours, and 129 of them build in an externship with a median of 180 hours. Phlebotomy appears in 100 of these programs and EKG in 91. What you give up is flexibility: a fast program expects your days.

A typical example is Ross Medical Education Center-Huntsville: 720 clock hours in 30 weeks by day, including a 180-hour externship, for a published $16,297 that covers books and a laptop kit.

Fastest Medical Assistant Programs, Compared

These are the shortest complete programs in the set. Read the hours column as closely as the weeks.

Program Length Total hours Externship or clinical Exam named Cost
Charles A Jones Career and Education Center (CA) 8-10 weeks 160 40 hours CPR certification included $2,995 published
Contra Costa Medical Career College (CA) 10 weeks 320 160 hours CCMA $6,942 published
Manchester Community College (NH) 12 weeks 480 160-hour practicum CCMA $5,800 published
Academy of Allied Health Careers (TN) About 16 weeks by day 529 220 clinical hours CCMA $5,900 published
Holyoke Community College Jump Start (MA) 16 weeks 140 classroom 160 hours CCMA Grant funded
Pike County Career Technology Center (OH) 17 weeks 252 60 clinical hours CCMA $2,100 published

Two things stand out. First, externship hours vary more than length: Charles A Jones includes 40 externship hours and Contra Costa 160, in about the same 10 weeks. Advantage Career Institute in New Jersey adds a 180-hour internship to 14 weeks of day classes and names the CMA. Second, the CCMA is the usual target, because NHA only asks that you finished a training program.

The Fastest Medical Assistant Programs

How this list is ranked: shortest stated length first, from each school's program page (October 2026), converted to weeks (months x 4.33, semesters x 16, quarters x 11). Ties go to the lower cost; one program per school; non-credit training is left out.

  1. Charles a Jones Career and Education Center: Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) Program Including CPR CertificationClinical Medical Assistant (CMA) Program Including CPR Certification

    10 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Sacramento, with an externship included

    Charles A Jones Career and Education Center (Sacramento, CA, public) runs this on campus certificate (8-10 weeks). The school publishes a program total of $2,995. Externship: 40-hour externship. Evening classes are offered.

    Cost
    $2,995published total, 2026-27
    Length
    10 wk8-10 weeks
    Externship
    40 hours

    Charles A Jones Career and Education Center certificate: cost, length and externship

  2. Contra Costa Medical Career College: Clinical Medical Assisting (Certificate of Completion)Clinical Medical Assisting (Certificate of Completion)

    10 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Antioch, with an externship included

    Contra Costa Medical Career College (Antioch, CA, private for-profit) runs this certificate (10 weeks). The school publishes a program total of $6,942. Externship: 160-hour clinical externship.

    Cost
    $6,942published total, 2026-27
    Length
    10 wk10 weeks
    Hours
    320clock hours
    Externship
    160 hours
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG
    Prepares for
    • CCMANHA

    What the Contra Costa Medical Career College certificate covers · Every MA option at Contra Costa Medical Career College, side by side

  3. Advantage Career Institute: Medical Assistant Certification Program With Phlebotomy, EKG and Patient Care TechnicianMedical Assistant Certification Program With Phlebotomy, EKG and Patient Care Technician

    14 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Eatontown, with an externship included

    Advantage Career Institute (Eatontown, NJ, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (Day: 14 weeks plus 180-hour internship (Mon-Thu 8:30-3:30, Fri 8:30-12:30); evening: 35 weeks plus 180-hour internship (one evening is a remote live lecture)). Externship: 180-hour on-site internship. Evening classes are offered.

    Length
    14 wk
    Externship
    180 hours
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG
    Prepares for
    • CMAAAMA

    How long the Advantage Career Institute certificate takes

  4. Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Medical Assisting Clinical Certificate (MACC)Medical Assisting Clinical Certificate (MACC)

    15 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Cincinnati

    Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Cincinnati, OH, private nonprofit) runs this on campus certificate (One semester (15 weeks)). The school publishes a program total of $5,040. Evening classes are offered.

    Cost
    $5,040published total
    Length
    15 wkOne semester (15 weeks)
    Credits
    16
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG
    • Pharmacology

    Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences certificate schedule and exams

  5. Mt San Jacinto Community College District: Medical Assisting Preparation Employment ConcentrationMedical Assisting Preparation Employment Concentration

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near San Jacinto

    Mt San Jacinto Community College District (San Jacinto, CA, public) runs this certificate (1 semester). At the published rate of $46 per credit, the program comes to about $598 (estimated).

    Cost
    $598estimated: $46/credit × 13
    Length
    16 wk1 semester
    Credits
    13

    Admission and cost of the Mt San Jacinto Community College District certificate · Every MA option at Mt San Jacinto Community College District, side by side

  6. Crowder College: Certified Medical Assistant CertificateCertified Medical Assistant Certificate

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Neosho, with an externship included

    Crowder College (Neosho, MO, public) runs this on campus certificate (16 weeks). At the published rate of $110 per credit, the program comes to about $1,760 (estimated). Externship: Clinical component.

    Cost
    $1,760estimated: $110/credit × 16
    Length
    16 wk16 weeks
    Credits
    16
    Externship
    Included
    • Phlebotomy
    Prepares for
    • CMAAAMA

    Crowder College certificate: cost, length and externship

  7. Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training: Healthcare Experience Medical AssistantHealthcare Experience Medical Assistant

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Marietta, with an externship included

    Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training (Marietta, OH, public) runs this on campus certificate (16 weeks). The school publishes a program total of $2,128. Externship: 26 hours of clinical experience. Evening classes are offered.

    Cost
    $2,128published total, 2026-27
    Length
    16 wk16 weeks
    Externship
    Included
    Prepares for
    • CCMANHA

    What the Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training certificate covers · All 2 medical assisting programs at Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training

  8. Academy of Allied Health Careers: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Chattanooga, with an externship included

    Academy of Allied Health Careers (Chattanooga, TN, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (About 16 weeks (day) or 25 weeks (evening)). The school publishes a program total of $5,900. Externship: 220 hours of clinical work in rotations of about 6 weeks. Evening classes are offered.

    Cost
    $5,900published total, 2023-24
    Length
    16 wk
    Hours
    529clock hours
    Externship
    220 hours
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG
    • Pharmacology
    Prepares for
    • CCMANHA

    How long the Academy of Allied Health Careers certificate takes · Every MA option at Academy of Allied Health Careers, side by side

  9. ETI Technical College: Hybrid Online Medical Assistant DiplomaHybrid Online Medical Assistant Diploma

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Niles, with an externship included

    ETI Technical College (Niles, OH, private for-profit) runs this hybrid diploma (8 months (2 semesters of 16 weeks)). Externship: Internship, 90 clock hours / 2 credit hours.

    Length
    16 wk8 months (2 semesters of 16 weeks)
    Hours
    555clock hours
    Externship
    90 hours
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG

    ETI Technical College diploma schedule and exams · ETI Technical College school profile and federal awards

  10. Lewis-Clark State College: Medical Assistant ITC (Intermediate Technical Certificate)Medical Assistant ITC (Intermediate Technical Certificate)

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Lewiston

    CAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible

    Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston, ID, public) runs this certificate (One semester of prerequisites plus two semesters of professional courses).

    Cost
    $4,113per term, 2026-27
    Length
    16 wk
    Credits
    39
    Prepares for
    • CMAAAMA

    Admission and cost of the Lewis-Clark State College certificate · All 2 medical assisting programs at Lewis-Clark State College

  11. Southern Regional Technical College: Medical Assisting, Diploma (MA22)Medical Assisting, Diploma (MA22)

    16 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Thomasville, with an externship included

    CAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible

    Southern Regional Technical College (Thomasville, GA, public) runs this diploma (One semester of prerequisites and two semesters of occupational courses). Externship: MAST 1130 Medical Assisting Externship and Seminar.

    Cost
    $1,391per term, 2026-27
    Length
    16 wk
    Externship
    Included

    Southern Regional Technical College diploma: cost, length and externship · Every MA option at Southern Regional Technical College, side by side

  12. Pike County Career Technology Center: Medical AssistantMedical Assistant

    17 weeksstated length

    Best for finishing fast near Piketon, with an externship included

    Pike County Career Technology Center (Piketon, OH, public) runs this on campus certificate (17 weeks (February 17 to June 9, 2027)). The school publishes a program total of $2,100. Externship: Externship providing clinical experience (60 clinical hours). Evening classes are offered.

    Cost
    $2,100published total, 2026-27
    Length
    17 wk17 weeks (February 17 to June 9, 2027)
    Externship
    Included
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG
    Prepares for
    • CCMANHA

    What the Pike County Career Technology Center certificate covers

Most Affordable Accelerated Medical Assistant Programs

How this list is ranked: lowest cost first. Cost is the school's published program total where it gives one, or its published per-credit rate times the program's stated credits (labelled "estimated"), read on each school's site in October 2026. Totals and estimates usually exclude some fees, books and exam costs; one program per school.

  1. Mt San Jacinto Community College District: Medical Assisting Preparation Employment ConcentrationMedical Assisting Preparation Employment Concentration

    $598estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost certificate near San Jacinto

    Mt San Jacinto Community College District (San Jacinto, CA, public) runs this certificate (1 semester). At the published rate of $46 per credit, the program comes to about $598 (estimated).

    Cost
    $598estimated: $46/credit × 13
    Length
    16 wk1 semester
    Credits
    13

    Mt San Jacinto Community College District certificate: cost, length and externship · All 3 medical assisting programs at Mt San Jacinto Community College District

  2. Cerro Coso Community College: Clinical Medical Assisting Certificate of AchievementClinical Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement

    $943estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost certificate near Ridgecrest

    Cerro Coso Community College (Ridgecrest, CA, public) runs this certificate (2 semesters). At the published rate of $46 per credit, the program comes to about $943 (estimated). Externship: Clinical Medical Assistant Externship (1.5 units).

    Cost
    $943estimated: $46/credit × 20.5
    Length
    32 wk2 semesters
    Credits
    20.5
    Externship
    Included
    • Pharmacology

    What the Cerro Coso Community College certificate covers · Every MA option at Cerro Coso Community College, side by side

  3. Carteret Community College: Certificate - Medical AssistingCertificate - Medical Assisting

    $1,064estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost, CMA-eligible certificate near Morehead City

    CAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible

    Carteret Community College (Morehead City, NC, public) runs this on campus certificate (2 semesters (fall, spring)). At the published rate of $76 per credit, the program comes to about $1,064 (estimated).

    Cost
    $1,064estimated: $76/credit × 14
    Length
    32 wk2 semesters (fall, spring)
    Credits
    14

    How long the Carteret Community College certificate takes · Carteret Community College school profile and federal awards

  4. Stanly Community College: Medical Assisting Certificate (C45400)Medical Assisting Certificate (C45400)

    $1,216estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost, CMA-eligible certificate near Albemarle

    CAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible

    Stanly Community College (Albemarle, NC, public) runs this on campus certificate (2 semesters). At the published rate of $76 per credit, the program comes to about $1,216 (estimated).

    Cost
    $1,216estimated: $76/credit × 16
    Length
    32 wk2 semesters
    Credits
    16

    Stanly Community College certificate schedule and exams · All 3 medical assisting programs at Stanly Community College

  5. South Piedmont Community College: Medical Assisting CertificateMedical Assisting Certificate

    $1,368estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost, CMA-eligible certificate near Polkton

    CAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible

    South Piedmont Community College (Polkton, NC, public) runs this hybrid certificate (6 months). At the published rate of $76 per credit, the program comes to about $1,368 (estimated).

    Cost
    $1,368estimated: $76/credit × 18
    Length
    26 wk6 months
    Credits
    18

    Admission and cost of the South Piedmont Community College certificate · Every MA option at South Piedmont Community College, side by side

  6. Orange Coast College: Medical Assisting CCMA Eligible Program, Certificate of AchievementMedical Assisting CCMA Eligible Program, Certificate of Achievement

    $1,472estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost certificate near Costa Mesa

    Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa, CA, public) runs this certificate (Two semesters). At the published rate of $46 per credit, the program comes to about $1,472 (estimated). Externship: 160-hour on-the-job experience in a medical office or clinic.

    Cost
    $1,472estimated: $46/credit × 32
    Length
    32 wkTwo semesters
    Credits
    32
    Externship
    160 hours

    Orange Coast College certificate: cost, length and externship · Orange Coast College school profile and federal awards

  7. Pioneer Technology Center: Medical AssistingMedical Assisting

    $1,500published total

    Best for a low-cost certificate near Ponca City

    Pioneer Technology Center (Ponca City, OK, public) runs this on campus certificate. The school publishes a program total of $1,500. Externship: Medical Assistant Clinical Experience course.

    Cost
    $1,500published total
    Hours
    600clock hours
    Externship
    Included
    • Phlebotomy
    • EKG
    • Billing and coding
    • Pharmacology
    Prepares for
    • CMAAAMA
    • NCMANCCT

    What the Pioneer Technology Center certificate covers

  8. Laredo College: Medical Assistant, Certificate IMedical Assistant, Certificate I

    $1,600estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost certificate near Laredo

    Laredo College (Laredo, TX, public) runs this on campus certificate (Prerequisite semester plus 2 semesters). At the published rate of $50 per credit, the program comes to about $1,600 (estimated). Externship: Clinical I and Clinical II - Medical/Clinical Assistant rotations.

    Cost
    $1,600estimated: $50/credit × 32
    Length
    32 wkPrerequisite semester plus 2 semesters
    Credits
    32
    Externship
    Included
    • Pharmacology

    How long the Laredo College certificate takes · Every MA option at Laredo College, side by side

  9. Washtenaw Community College: Medical Assisting, CertificateMedical Assisting, Certificate

    $1,683estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost certificate near Ann Arbor

    Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor, MI, public) runs this on campus certificate (Two semesters). At the published rate of $99 per credit, the program comes to about $1,683 (estimated). Externship: Externship placements two days a week alongside classes.

    Cost
    $1,683estimated: $99/credit × 17
    Length
    32 wkTwo semesters
    Credits
    17
    Externship
    Included
    • Phlebotomy
    • Billing and coding

    Washtenaw Community College certificate schedule and exams

  10. Crowder College: Certified Medical Assistant CertificateCertified Medical Assistant Certificate

    $1,760estimated cost

    Best for a low-cost certificate near Neosho

    Crowder College (Neosho, MO, public) runs this on campus certificate (16 weeks). At the published rate of $110 per credit, the program comes to about $1,760 (estimated). Externship: Clinical component.

    Cost
    $1,760estimated: $110/credit × 16
    Length
    16 wk16 weeks
    Credits
    16
    Externship
    Included
    • Phlebotomy
    Prepares for
    • CMAAAMA

    Admission and cost of the Crowder College certificate

All 163 Accelerated Medical Assistant Programs

Filter by credential, format, CMA (AAMA) eligibility, skills, exam, schedule and state; tick up to three programs to compare them side by side.

163 programs

Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. Cost is the school's published program total, or its published per-credit rate times the stated credits, marked "estimated"; totals often leave out books, fees and exam costs. Length is converted to weeks from the school's wording. Accreditation and "CMA (AAMA) eligible" come only from the CAAHEP and ABHES directories, captured October 12, 2026. Exam badges show the certification exams the program's page names.

Short Programs and the Hour Thresholds That Matter

Speed becomes a problem when your program falls under the hour minimums certifying bodies and states use:

  • RMA (AMT): 720 hours of instruction, including at least 160 externship hours.
  • CMA (AAMA) Alternative Pathway: for unaccredited programs, two semesters with at least 560 contact hours plus a 160-hour practicum, and injection and phlebotomy training.
  • Washington’s Medical Assistant-Certified credential: an accredited program, or at least 720 clock hours with a 160-hour externship.
  • CCMA (NHA): completion of any medical assistant training program within 5 years.

That is why a 160-hour or 252-hour program usually leads to the CCMA, while a 720-hour program keeps the RMA open. Programs like Northwest Suburban College’s certificate (720 clock hours with 160 externship hours in 8 months) and Mt. Diablo Adult Education (782 clock hours in 28 weeks, $6,677) reach the 720 mark without a long calendar. Use the certification pathway tool to see which exams your hours qualify you for, or read the full comparison on the certification guide.

Fast Programs That Are Also Accredited

Only 22 of the 163 accelerated programs carry CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, the standard route to the CMA (AAMA). Many are public technical colleges with full-time clock-hour schedules:

Program Length Hours and externship Cost Published outcomes
Lake Technical College (FL) About 30 weeks 900 clock hours, 190-hour practicum $2,592 tuition 96.5% exam passage, 100% placement (2020-2024)
Manatee Technical College (FL) About 6 months 900 clock hours, 200-hour practicum $6,791 published 92.73% job placement (2020-2024)
Grand Rapids Community College (MI) 22 weeks 772 clock hours, 4-5 week practicum $8,744 published 100% passed the RMA (2024)
Loma Linda University (CA) 6-7 months 160 or more clinical hours $7,800 published 87% first-attempt NHA pass (Fall 2023)
Anoka Technical College (MN) 2 semesters plus externship 33 credits, 280-hour externship $7,592 published 93.98% exam passage (five-year)
Central Carolina Community College (NC) 2 semesters 45 credits $3,420 estimated Names the CMA exam

Estimated cost is the published per-credit rate times credits, before fees. If the CMA is your goal, these programs give you speed without losing eligibility. Check any other program with the accredited program checker, and browse all accredited options on the accredited programs page.

Day vs Evening: How Schedules Change the Timeline

Accelerated usually means a day schedule. Of these 163 programs, 69 offer evening classes and only 3 offer weekend sessions, and the evening version usually takes longer:

If you must keep a day job, New York Medical Career Training Center’s weekend track takes 30 weeks instead of 25. The other evening tracks above add months.

Online and Hybrid Fast-Track Programs

Searches for “4-week” or “6-week” online medical assistant programs run into the same limit every time: the clinical half of the job has to be learned in person. Of the accelerated programs here, 73 list online coursework and 71 are hybrid, but only 2 are fully online.

Hybrid fast tracks still move quickly:

More formats are compared on the online medical assistant programs page.

What Fast Programs Cost

Accelerated programs span public adult schools charging a few thousand dollars and private colleges charging five figures for the same calendar.

At the low end, public technical centers and community colleges dominate. Pioneer Technology Center in Oklahoma charges in-district adults $1,500 for a 600-hour program, plus $1,049 in books, fees and supplies. Tulsa Technology Center charges $2,400 adult tuition for a 6-month program with phlebotomy. Washtenaw Community College in Michigan estimates $1,683 for 17 credits, with externship days built in alongside classes.

At the high end, Arizona College-Glendale lists $16,998 for its 31-week diploma and Institute of Allied Healthcare in Texas $11,995 for a 4-month program.

Non-credit programs can be the lowest-cost fast route, with one catch: Fletcher Technical Community College charges $2,012 for its 22-week program but states it is not FAFSA eligible. Run your numbers in the MA cost calculator and see the full list on the affordable programs page.

What You Get at the End

A fast program leads to the same first job as a long one: taking vital signs, giving injections, collecting samples, recording histories and scheduling. The BLS puts median pay at $45,690 a year in 2025 and projects 13% job growth from 2025 to 2035. Most states do not require certification, but employers may prefer or require it, so plan to sit an exam soon after you finish.

Fast programs in this set most often name the RMA (57 programs) and the CCMA (39), then the CMA (25) and the NCMA (11). Michigan has the most accelerated programs of any state, 22, followed by California and Ohio with 17 each; compare them on the Michigan, California and Ohio state pages.

How to Choose a Fast Program

  • Start from the exam. If you want the CMA, pick one of the 22 accredited programs. If the CCMA is enough, the shortest programs are open to you.
  • Check total hours. At 720 or more, the RMA education route stays open; below it, plan on the CCMA or NCMA.
  • Check externship hours. The median is 180. A 26-hour or 40-hour clinical block gives you little real patient time.
  • Match the schedule to your life. Full-day programs finish fastest; a weekend track such as New York Medical Career Training Center’s takes 30 weeks instead of 25.
  • Confirm aid eligibility for non-credit programs. Fletcher’s program is not FAFSA eligible.
  • Read published outcomes. Lake Technical College reports 96.5% exam passage; NIMAA reports 71% for 2022-23.

Who fast programs suit: someone who can study full time for a few months and wants to start working soon. If you are working days, a weekend track is the better fit. If you want a degree to build on later, a fast certificate at a community college keeps that door open; compare the certificate programs and the associate degree, and see the full timeline on how long medical assistant school takes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a 4-Week Medical Assistant Program?

The shortest complete program in this set runs 8 to 10 weeks: Charles A Jones Career and Education Center's 160-hour program in Sacramento. Short courses rarely meet the RMA's 720-hour education route or the AAMA's 560 contact hours plus a 160-hour practicum.

Can You Get Medical Assistant Training at No Cost?

Some grant-funded programs charge participants nothing. Holyoke Community College describes its 16-week Jump Start Medical Assistant Program, with a 160-hour externship and CCMA preparation, as one of its grant-funded free job training programs.

Which Fast Program Is Accredited for the CMA?

Lake Technical College in Florida runs a CAAHEP-accredited, 900-clock-hour program in about 30 weeks with a 190-hour practicum, and Grand Rapids Community College runs a 22-week, 772-hour CAAHEP-accredited certificate.

Are 6-Week Online Medical Assistant Programs Real Training?

Online coursework can cover theory, but injections, blood draws and EKGs are practiced in person. Only 2 accelerated programs here are fully online, while 71 are hybrid, and 129 of the 163 build in an externship.

Do Accelerated Programs Qualify for Financial Aid?

It depends on the program. Fletcher Technical Community College states that its 22-week non-credit medical assistant program is not FAFSA eligible, so confirm aid status on the program page before you enroll.

Which Certification Do Fast Programs Prepare You For?

Most often the RMA (named by 57 accelerated programs) or the CCMA (39). The CMA is named by 25, and the NCMA by 11. The CCMA asks only that you finished a training program within 5 years.

Related Medical Assistant Program Lists

Sources

  1. Official program, tuition and admissions pages of each school listed, reviewed October 2026
  2. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026
  3. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), directory of programmatically accredited programs, captured October 12, 2026
  4. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2022-23 completions: medical assisting awards (CIP 51.0801)
  5. AAMA: CMA (AAMA) exam eligibility and fees
  6. AAMA: Alternative Pathway criteria
  7. AMT: Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) eligibility
  8. NHA: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
  9. NCCT: National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
  10. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants
  11. Washington State Department of Health: Medical assistant credentialing requirements

Every program on this site was checked on the school's own website in October 2026. Accreditation comes only from the CAAHEP and ABHES directories (captured October 12, 2026), never from a school's own wording, and school size from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) completions. Sponsored listings are labeled as ads and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs