Des Moines Area Community College · Ankeny, Iowa

Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College

CertificateOn campusCAAHEP-accreditedCMA (AAMA) eligible

What Should You Know About Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College?

Medical Assistant Certificate is a medical assisting certificate at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, offered on campus. It takes one year full time or two years part time. Cost: $215 per credit, Fall 2026 to Summer 2027. It is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

Cost
$215per credit, Fall 2026 to Summer 2027
Length
40 wk
  • Phlebotomy
  • EKG
  • Billing and coding
Prepares for
  • CMAAAMA

How Medical Assistant Certificate Works

Credential
Certificate
Format
On campus
Schedule
Day
Length
One year full time or two years part time
Also covers
EKG; phlebotomy; medical billing and coding
Start dates
Fall

Admission and Certification at Des Moines Area Community College

Admission requirements
High school diploma or HiSET; ACCUPLACER Next Gen Reading 248+, Writing 254+, ALEKS Math 14+ or ACT equivalents; online information session; criminal background check
Certification
Prepares for the CMA (AAMA) national certification exam
Outcomes the school publishes
Five-year averages 2020-2024: job placement 90.38%, retention 63.29%, exam passage 94.23%Reported for 2020-2024.

What Des Moines Area Community College's Medical Assisting Certificate Costs

Tuition (school's wording)
$215 per credit hour Iowa resident tuition for face-to-face and web-blended classes ($245 non-resident)Fall 2026 to Summer 2027. Source: dmacc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

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

How Medical Assistant Certificate Compares

  • At 40 weeks it is longer than the 39-week median for certificate programs.
  • It is one of 185 CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited certificate programs on this site.

Is Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community 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 phlebotomy, EKG and billing and coding.

How the CMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA exams differ

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 Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College: Common Questions

How Much Does Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College Cost?

$215 per credit hour Iowa resident tuition for face-to-face and web-blended classes ($245 non-resident) (Fall 2026 to Summer 2027).

How Long Is Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College?

One year full time or two years part time, according to the school's program page.

Is Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community 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 Certificate Prepare You For?

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

Can You Take Medical Assistant Certificate at Des Moines Area Community College Online?

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

What Do You Need to Apply to Medical Assistant Certificate?

High school diploma or HiSET; ACCUPLACER Next Gen Reading 248+, Writing 254+, ALEKS Math 14+ or ACT equivalents; online information session; criminal background check.

Compare Programs Like This One

Sources

  1. dmacc.edu: Medical Assistant Certificate 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