Columbia Basin College · Pasco, Washington

Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College

CertificateOn campusCAAHEP-accreditedCMA (AAMA) eligible

What Should You Know About Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College?

Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) is a medical assisting certificate at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington, offered on campus. It takes 3 quarters of coursework plus externship (75 credits). Externship: 198-hour unpaid externship with a local employer. Cost: $6,234 per year, 2026-27. It is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

Cost
$6,234per year, 2026-27
Length
33 wk3 quarters of coursework plus externship
Credits
75
Externship
198 hours
  • Pharmacology
Prepares for
  • CMAAAMA
  • RMAAMT
  • NCMANCCT

How Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) Works

Credential
Certificate
Format
On campus
Length
3 quarters of coursework plus externship
Hours or credits
75 credits
Externship
198-hour unpaid externship with a local employer
Also covers
pharmacology
Start dates
Fall

Admission and Certification at Columbia Basin College

Admission requirements
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)
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
Outcomes the school publishes
Five-year cumulative credentialing exam passage rate 82.35% (2020-2024 graduates)Reported for 2024.

What Columbia Basin College's Medical Assisting Certificate Costs

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.

From catalog.columbiabasin.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026. Check start dates, deadlines and current tuition with the school before you apply.

How Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) Compares

  • At 33 weeks it is shorter than the 39-week median for certificate programs.
  • Its 198-hour externship compares with a median of 180 hours among certificate programs that state hours.
  • It is one of 185 CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited certificate programs on this site.

Is Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College Accredited?

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.

Besides core clinical and front-office skills, the program's course list covers pharmacology.

How the CMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA exams differ

Other Medical Assistant Programs at Columbia Basin College

Similar Medical Assistant Certificates Nearby

Certificate programs at local campuses: the same city first, then by how many state borders away, then closest in cost.

Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College: Common Questions

How Much Does Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College Cost?

About $6,234.45 in tuition and fees for full-time enrollment (2026-27).

How Long Is Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College?

3 quarters of coursework plus externship, 75 credits, according to the school's program page.

Is Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College Accredited?

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.

Which Certification Exams Does Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) Prepare You For?

The program's page names the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT) and NCMA (NCCT). Because it is accredited, graduates meet the AAMA's standard route to the CMA (AAMA).

Can You Take Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) at Columbia Basin College Online?

No. It is taught on campus, with an in-person externship.

What Do You Need to Apply to 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 Programs Like This One

Sources

  1. catalog.columbiabasin.edu: Medical Assistant, One Year Certificate (1YC) program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
  2. CAAHEP, accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026

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