Pasco, Washington
Columbia Basin College Medical Assistant Programs
What Medical Assistant Programs Does Columbia Basin College Offer?
Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington offers 2 medical assisting programs (certificate and associate degree), taught on campus. Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. Programs run 33 weeks.
2 Medical Assistant Programs at Columbia Basin College
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $6,234per year, 2026-27
- Length
- 33 wk3 quarters of coursework plus externship
- Credits
- 75
- Externship
- 198 hours
- Pharmacology
- CMAAAMA
- RMAAMT
- NCMANCCT
- Associate degree
- Cost
- $6,234per year, 2026-27
- Credits
- 95
- Externship
- 198 hours
- Pharmacology
- CMAAAMA
- RMAAMT
- NCMANCCT
Columbia Basin College's Programs Side by Side
| Program | Credential | Format | Length | Externship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC), Columbia Basin College | Certificate | On campus | 33 weeks | 198 hours | $6,234per year, 2026-27 |
| Medical Assistant, AAS, Columbia Basin College | Associate degree | On campus | 95 credits | 198 hours | $6,234per year, 2026-27 |
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC): The Details
- Length
- 3 quarters of coursework plus externship
- Hours or credits
- 75 credits
- Externship
- 198-hour unpaid externship with a local employer
- Also covers
- pharmacology
- Certification
- AAMA Certified Medical Assistant exam AMT Registered Medical Assistant exam NHA Clinical Medical Assistant exam NCCT National Certified Medical Assistant exam AMCA Clinical Medical Assistant Certification exam
- Start dates
- Fall
- Admission
- Prerequisites HSCI 147, PSYC& 100, ENGL& 101/102/235, CMST& 101/210/220/260, MATH 40 and RDG 099; current BLS CPR card; background check, drug screen and immunization tracker (about $180)
- Tuition (school's wording)
- About $6,234.45 in tuition and fees for full-time enrollment2026-27. Source: catalog.columbiabasin.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Outcomes the school publishes
- Five-year cumulative credentialing exam passage rate 82.35% (2020-2024 graduates)Reported for 2024.
Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College: full program profileColumbia Basin College certificate page on catalog.columbiabasin.edu ↗
Medical Assistant, AAS: The Details
- Hours or credits
- 95 credits
- Externship
- 198-hour unpaid externship with a local employer
- Also covers
- pharmacology
- Certification
- AAMA Certified Medical Assistant exam AMT Registered Medical Assistant exam NHA Clinical Medical Assistant exam NCCT National Certified Medical Assistant exam AMCA Clinical Medical Assistant Certification exam
- Start dates
- Fall
- Tuition (school's wording)
- About $6,234.45 in tuition and fees for full-time enrollment2026-27. Source: catalog.columbiabasin.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
Medical Assistant, AAS at Columbia Basin College: full program profileColumbia Basin College associate degree page on catalog.columbiabasin.edu ↗
From Columbia Basin College's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
How Columbia Basin College Compares
- Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) runs 33 weeks; the median for certificate programs is 39 weeks.
Medical assistants in Washington earn a median of $59,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.
Is Columbia Basin College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) is listed by CAAHEP (directory captured October 12, 2026). Accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB (CAAHEP directory, October 12, 2026), so graduates meet the standard education route for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
The accreditor's listing covers Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC); Medical Assistant, AAS is a different credential and isn't covered by it.
Medical Assisting Awards at Columbia Basin College
| Award level | Awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Certificates of one to two years | 13 |
| Associate degrees | 11 |
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 24 medical assisting awards conferred by Columbia Basin College in 2022-23, 476th of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes, and chains report each campus separately.
More Medical Assistant Schools in Washington
- Bates Technical CollegeTacoma · associate degree · accredited
- Bellevue CollegeBellevue · certificate
- Big Bend Community CollegeMoses Lake · certificate and associate degree
- Carrington College-SpokaneSpokane · certificate
- Centralia CollegeCentralia · certificate and associate degree
- Clark CollegeVancouver · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- Edmonds CollegeLynnwood · certificate · accredited
- Everett Community CollegeEverett · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- Grays Harbor CollegeAberdeen · associate degree
- Highline CollegeDes Moines · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- Medical assistant programs in WashingtonEvery local program, plus online options for residents
Columbia Basin College Medical Assisting: Common Questions
Is Columbia Basin College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) is listed by CAAHEP (directory captured October 12, 2026). Accredited by CAAHEP on the recommendation of MAERB (CAAHEP directory, October 12, 2026), so graduates meet the standard education route for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
How Much Does Columbia Basin College's Medical Assistant Program Cost?
Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC): About $6,234.45 in tuition and fees for full-time enrollment (2026-27). Medical Assistant, AAS: About $6,234.45 in tuition and fees for full-time enrollment (2026-27).
How Long Is Columbia Basin College's Medical Assistant Program?
Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC): 3 quarters of coursework plus externship (75 credits).
Does Columbia Basin College Include an Externship?
Yes. Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC): 198-hour unpaid externship with a local employer. Medical Assistant, AAS: 198-hour unpaid externship with a local employer.
Which Certification Exams Does Columbia Basin College Prepare You For?
Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) names the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT) and NCMA (NCCT). Medical Assistant, AAS names the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT) and NCMA (NCCT).
What Do You Need to Apply to Columbia Basin College?
Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC): Prerequisites HSCI 147, PSYC& 100, ENGL& 101/102/235, CMST& 101/210/220/260, MATH 40 and RDG 099; current BLS CPR card; background check, drug screen and immunization tracker (about $180).
Compare With Programs Like These
- All Medical Assistant ProgramsEvery verified MA program
- Accredited Medical Assistant ProgramsPrograms that make you CMA-eligible
- Medical Assistant Certificate ProgramsCertificates and diplomas compared
- Medical Assistant Associate DegreeAssociate degrees compared
- Medical Assistant CertificationCMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA compared
Sources
- catalog.columbiabasin.edu: Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
- catalog.columbiabasin.edu: Medical Assistant, AAS program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
- CAAHEP, accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.0801 (medical/clinical assistant)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Assistants, Washington