Mercy College of Health Sciences · Des Moines, Iowa

Medical Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences

CertificateHybridCAAHEP-accreditedCMA (AAMA) eligible

What Should You Know About Medical Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences?

Medical Assisting Certificate is a medical assisting certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa, offered hybrid. It takes 1 year (25 major credits). Externship: 160 hours of clinical practicum with local healthcare partners. Cost: $437 per credit. It is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

Cost
$437per credit
Length
40 wk1 year
Externship
160 hours
  • Phlebotomy
Prepares for
  • CMAAAMA

How Medical Assisting Certificate Works

Credential
Certificate
Format
Hybrid
Length
1 year
Hours or credits
25 major credits
Externship
160 hours of clinical practicum with local healthcare partners
Also covers
phlebotomy
Start dates
Fall; Spring; Summer

Admission and Certification at Mercy College of Health Sciences

Admission requirements
High school diploma or GED; direct admit on college admission; no SAT/ACT required
Certification
Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam
Outcomes the school publishes
Five-year averages 2020-2024: job placement 88%, retention 83%, exam pass rate 84%Reported for 2020-2024.

What Mercy College of Health Sciences's Medical Assisting Certificate Costs

Tuition (school's wording)
$437.16 per credit hour for medical assisting coursesSource: mercyhealthu.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

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

How Medical Assisting Certificate Compares

  • At 40 weeks it is longer than the 39-week median for certificate programs.
  • Its 160-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 Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences 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.

How the CMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA exams differ

Other Medical Assistant Programs at Mercy College of Health Sciences

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 Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences: Common Questions

How Much Does Medical Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost?

$437.16 per credit hour for medical assisting courses.

How Long Is Medical Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences?

1 year, 25 major credits, according to the school's program page.

Is Medical Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences 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 Assisting 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 Assisting Certificate at Mercy College of Health Sciences Online?

Partly. It is hybrid: coursework online, with labs and the externship in person.

What Do You Need to Apply to Medical Assisting Certificate?

High school diploma or GED; direct admit on college admission; no SAT/ACT required.

Compare Programs Like This One

Sources

  1. mercyhealthu.edu: Medical Assisting 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