Des Moines, Iowa
Mercy College of Health Sciences Medical Assistant Programs
What Medical Assistant Programs Does Mercy College of Health Sciences Offer?
Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa offers 2 medical assisting programs (certificate and associate degree), taught hybrid. Medical Assisting Certificate is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. Programs run 40 weeks.
2 Medical Assistant Programs at Mercy College of Health Sciences
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $437per credit
- Length
- 40 wk1 year
- Externship
- 160 hours
- Phlebotomy
- CMAAAMA
- Associate degree
- Credits
- 50
- Externship
- 160 hours
- CMAAAMA
Mercy College of Health Sciences's Programs Side by Side
| Program | Credential | Format | Length | Externship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Certificate, Mercy College of Health Sciences | Certificate | Hybrid | 40 weeks | 160 hours | $437per credit |
| Associate of Science in Medical Assisting, Mercy College of Health Sciences | Associate degree | Hybrid | 50 credits | 160 hours |
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Medical Assisting Certificate: The Details
- Length
- 1 year
- Hours or credits
- 25 major credits
- Externship
- 160 hours of clinical practicum with local healthcare partners
- Also covers
- phlebotomy
- Certification
- Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
- Start dates
- Fall; Spring; Summer
- Admission
- High school diploma or GED; direct admit on college admission; no SAT/ACT required
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $437.16 per credit hour for medical assisting coursesSource: mercyhealthu.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Outcomes the school publishes
- Five-year averages 2020-2024: job placement 88%, retention 83%, exam pass rate 84%Reported for 2020-2024.
Medical Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences: full program profileMercy College of Health Sciences certificate page on mercyhealthu.edu ↗
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting: The Details
- Hours or credits
- 50 total credits
- Externship
- 160 hours of clinical practicum
- Certification
- Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting at Mercy College of Health Sciences: full program profileMercy College of Health Sciences associate degree page on mercyhealthu.edu ↗
From Mercy College of Health Sciences's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
How Mercy College of Health Sciences Compares
- Medical Assisting Certificate runs 40 weeks; the median for certificate programs is 39 weeks.
Medical assistants in Iowa earn a median of $45,480 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assisting Certificate 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 Assisting Certificate; Associate of Science in Medical Assisting is a different credential and isn't covered by it.
Medical Assisting Awards at Mercy College of Health Sciences
| Award level | Awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Associate degrees | 2 |
| Certificates under one year | 71 |
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 73 medical assisting awards conferred by Mercy College of Health Sciences in 2022-23, 184th of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes.
More Medical Assistant Schools in Iowa
- Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny · certificate · accredited
- Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport · diploma
- Ellsworth Community CollegeIowa Falls · diploma
- Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo · diploma · accredited
- Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge · diploma and associate degree · accredited
- Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids · diploma and associate degree · accredited
- Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown · diploma · accredited
- North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City · diploma · accredited
- Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar · diploma · accredited
- Ross College-DavenportDavenport · diploma
- Medical assistant programs in IowaEvery local program, plus online options for residents
Mercy College of Health Sciences Medical Assisting: Common Questions
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assisting Certificate 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences's Medical Assistant Program Cost?
Medical Assisting Certificate: $437.16 per credit hour for medical assisting courses.
How Long Is Mercy College of Health Sciences's Medical Assistant Program?
Medical Assisting Certificate: 1 year (25 major credits).
Does Mercy College of Health Sciences Include an Externship?
Yes. Medical Assisting Certificate: 160 hours of clinical practicum with local healthcare partners. Associate of Science in Medical Assisting: 160 hours of clinical practicum.
Which Certification Exams Does Mercy College of Health Sciences Prepare You For?
Medical Assisting Certificate names the CMA (AAMA). Associate of Science in Medical Assisting names the CMA (AAMA).
What Do You Need to Apply to Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Medical Assisting Certificate: High school diploma or GED; direct admit on college admission; no SAT/ACT required.
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
- mercyhealthu.edu: Medical Assisting 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, Iowa