Des Moines, Washington
Highline College Medical Assistant Programs
What Medical Assistant Programs Does Highline College Offer?
Highline College in Des Moines, Washington offers 3 medical assisting programs (certificate and associate degree), taught on campus and hybrid. Medical Assistant, Certificate and Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate are CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. Programs run 66 weeks and 88 weeks. Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate is a bridge for working medical assistants, not a full program.
3 Medical Assistant Programs at Highline College
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Length
- 66 wkSix quarters, including summer quarters
- Credits
- 81
- Externship
- 180 hours
- CMAAAMA
- NCMANCCT
- Associate degree
- Cost
- $4,914per year
- Length
- 88 wk
- Externship
- 180 hours
- CMAAAMA
- NCMANCCT
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Credits
- 19
Highline College's Programs Side by Side
| Program | Credential | Format | Length | Externship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant, Certificate, Highline College | Certificate | On campus | 66 weeks | 180 hours | |
| Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant, Highline College | Associate degree | On campus | 88 weeks | 180 hours | $4,914per year |
| Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate, Highline College | Certificate | Hybrid | 19 credits |
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Medical Assistant, Certificate: The Details
- Length
- Six quarters, including summer quarters
- Hours or credits
- 81 credits
- Externship
- 180-hour externship
- Certification
- Eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification exam NCCT exam preparation included; the exam is administered as part of the program
- Start dates
- Fall; Spring
- Admission
- Instructor permission; basic keyboarding knowledge recommended; agencies may require a criminal background check before externship
- Outcomes the school publishes
- 2024 graduate exam passage 61.11%; 2024 graduate job placement 43.24%; 2024 admissions cohort retention 90.91% (five-year average retention 2020-2024: 88.95%), from the 2025 Annual ReportReported for 2024.
Medical Assistant, Certificate at Highline College: full program profileHighline College certificate page on catalog.highline.edu ↗
Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant: The Details
- Length
- Eight quarters, including summer quarters (two years full-time)
- Externship
- 180-hour externship (through the required Medical Assistant Certificate)
- Certification
- Eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification exam NCCT exam preparation included; the exam is administered as part of the program
- Start dates
- Fall; Spring
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $4,914 per year in tuition and feesSource: highline.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant at Highline College: full program profileHighline College associate degree page on highline.edu ↗
Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate: The Details
- Hours or credits
- 19 credits
- Admission
- For working medical assistants (MA-R) with clinical experience; most elective credits can be met through Prior Learning Assessment
Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate at Highline College: full program profileHighline College certificate page on catalog.highline.edu ↗
From Highline College's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
How Highline College Compares
- Medical Assistant, Certificate runs 66 weeks; the median for certificate programs is 39 weeks.
- Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant runs 88 weeks; the median for associate degree programs is 78 weeks.
Medical assistants in Washington earn a median of $59,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.
Is Highline College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assistant, Certificate and Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate are 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, Certificate and Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate; Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant is a different credential and isn't covered by it.
Medical Assisting Awards at Highline College
| Award level | Awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Certificates of one to two years | 28 |
| Associate degrees | 31 |
| Certificates under one year | 43 |
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 102 medical assisting awards conferred by Highline College in 2022-23, 131st 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
- Columbia Basin CollegePasco · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- Edmonds CollegeLynnwood · certificate · accredited
- Everett Community CollegeEverett · certificate and associate degree · accredited
- Grays Harbor CollegeAberdeen · associate degree
- Medical assistant programs in WashingtonEvery local program, plus online options for residents
Highline College Medical Assisting: Common Questions
Is Highline College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assistant, Certificate and Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate are 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 Highline College's Medical Assistant Program Cost?
Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant: $4,914 per year in tuition and fees.
How Long Is Highline College's Medical Assistant Program?
Medical Assistant, Certificate: Six quarters, including summer quarters (81 credits). Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant: Eight quarters, including summer quarters (two years full-time).
Does Highline College Include an Externship?
Yes. Medical Assistant, Certificate: 180-hour externship. Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant: 180-hour externship (through the required Medical Assistant Certificate).
Which Certification Exams Does Highline College Prepare You For?
Medical Assistant, Certificate names the CMA (AAMA) and NCMA (NCCT). Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant names the CMA (AAMA) and NCMA (NCCT).
What Do You Need to Apply to Highline College?
Medical Assistant, Certificate: Instructor permission; basic keyboarding knowledge recommended; agencies may require a criminal background check before externship. Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate: For working medical assistants (MA-R) with clinical experience; most elective credits can be met through Prior Learning Assessment.
Compare With Programs Like These
- All Medical Assistant ProgramsEvery verified MA program
- Accredited Medical Assistant ProgramsPrograms that make you CMA-eligible
- Online Medical Assistant ProgramsOnline and hybrid MA programs
- Medical Assistant Certificate ProgramsCertificates and diplomas compared
- Medical Assistant Associate DegreeAssociate degrees compared
- Medical Assistant CertificationCMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA compared
Sources
- catalog.highline.edu: Medical Assistant, Certificate program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
- highline.edu: Associate in Applied Science - Medical Assistant program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
- catalog.highline.edu: Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway, Certificate 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