Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center · Altoona, Pennsylvania

Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center

DiplomaOn campus

What Should You Know About Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center?

Medical Assistant Diploma (in-person) is a medical assisting diploma at Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania, offered on campus. It takes 9 months full-time (September 21, 2026 to June 25, 2027) (1,140 program hours). Externship: 240-hour clinical practicum (externship) at a local medical facility in the final term. Cost: $15,680 total. The program names the CMA (AAMA) and CCMA (NHA) exams.

Cost
$15,680published total, 2026-27
Length
39 wk
Hours
1,140clock hours
Externship
240 hours
  • Phlebotomy
  • EKG
  • Billing and coding
Prepares for
  • CMAAAMA
  • CCMANHA

How Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) Works

Credential
Diploma
Format
On campus
Schedule
Day
Length
9 months full-time (September 21, 2026 to June 25, 2027)
Hours or credits
1,140 program hours
Externship
240-hour clinical practicum (externship) at a local medical facility in the final term
Also covers
phlebotomy; EKG; medical billing and coding; electronic health records
Start dates
September 21, 2026

Admission and Certification at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center

Admission requirements
Health examination form with Hep B, MMR, Varicella and Tdap vaccinations before clinical experiences; drug screening may be required; provider-level CPR certification required
Certification
Eligible for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam through the AAMA upon meeting exam eligibility requirements NHA certifications: CCMA, CMAA, CPT, CET and CBCS OSHA 10-hour Healthcare certification GACTC covers NHA CET and CPT exam fees in 2026-27, proctored at GACTC
Outcomes the school publishes
88% of August 2024 graduates secured employment in the healthcare fieldReported for 2024.

What Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center's Medical Assisting Diploma Costs

Tuition (school's wording)
$15,680 tuition and fees for 2026-2027, including an optional laptop (laptop cost deducted if not needed)2026-27. Source: gactc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
Published total
$15,680The school's own program total. Books, uniforms and exam fees may be extra.

Work out what the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center diploma costs you after aid

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

How Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) Compares

  • Its published total of $15,680 is below the median of $17,215 across 304 priced diploma programs on this site (96th lowest).
  • At 39 weeks it is shorter than the 40-week median for diploma programs.
  • Its 240-hour externship compares with a median of 180 hours among diploma programs that state hours.

Is Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center Accredited?

It isn't on the CAAHEP or ABHES lists captured October 12, 2026. Graduates can still sit the RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA) or NCMA (NCCT) exams, which accept other education routes.

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

Other Medical Assistant Programs at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center

Similar Medical Assistant Diplomas Nearby

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

Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center: Common Questions

How Much Does Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center Cost?

$15,680 tuition and fees for 2026-2027, including an optional laptop (laptop cost deducted if not needed) (2026-27).

How Long Is Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center?

9 months full-time (September 21, 2026 to June 25, 2027), 1,140 program hours, according to the school's program page.

Is Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center Accredited?

It isn't on the CAAHEP or ABHES lists captured October 12, 2026. Graduates can still sit the RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA) or NCMA (NCCT) exams, which accept other education routes.

Which Certification Exams Does Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) Prepare You For?

The program's page names the CMA (AAMA) and CCMA (NHA).

Can You Take Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person) at Greater Altoona Career &Amp; Technology Center Online?

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

What Do You Need to Apply to Medical Assistant Diploma (In-Person)?

Health examination form with Hep B, MMR, Varicella and Tdap vaccinations before clinical experiences; drug screening may be required; provider-level CPR certification required.

Compare Programs Like This One

Sources

  1. gactc.edu: Medical Assistant Diploma (in-person) 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