Polkton, North Carolina
South Piedmont Community College Medical Assistant Programs
What Medical Assistant Programs Does South Piedmont Community College Offer?
South Piedmont Community College in Polkton, North Carolina offers 3 medical assisting programs (associate degree, diploma and certificate), taught hybrid. Medical Assisting Diploma and Medical Assisting Certificate are CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam. The lowest-cost option, Medical Assisting Certificate, comes to about $1,368 (estimated). Programs run 80 weeks, 40 weeks and 26 weeks.
3 Medical Assistant Programs at South Piedmont Community College
- Associate degree
- Cost
- $5,092estimated: $76/credit × 67
- Length
- 80 wk2 years
- Credits
- 67
- Externship
- Included
- CMAAAMA
- DiplomaCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $3,420estimated: $76/credit × 45
- Length
- 40 wk1 year
- Credits
- 45
- Externship
- Included
- CMAAAMA
- CertificateCAAHEPCMA (AAMA) eligible
- Cost
- $1,368estimated: $76/credit × 18
- Length
- 26 wk6 months
- Credits
- 18
South Piedmont Community College's Programs Side by Side
| Program | Credential | Format | Length | Externship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting A.A.S., South Piedmont Community College | Associate degree | Hybrid | 80 weeks | Included | $5,092estimated: $76/credit × 67 |
| Medical Assisting Diploma, South Piedmont Community College | Diploma | Hybrid | 40 weeks | Included | $3,420estimated: $76/credit × 45 |
| Medical Assisting Certificate, South Piedmont Community College | Certificate | Hybrid | 26 weeks | $1,368estimated: $76/credit × 18 |
Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Medical Assisting A.A.S.: The Details
- Length
- 2 years
- Hours or credits
- 67 credit hours
- Externship
- Practicum in the final 8 weeks, full-time Monday-Thursday
- Certification
- Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) certification exam
- Start dates
- Fall; Spring
- Admission
- High school diploma or GED
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $76 per credit hour in-state tuition2026-27. Source: spcc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Estimated cost
- $5,092Estimated: $76/credit × 67, before fees.
- Outcomes the school publishes
- 2020-2024: retention 66%, job placement 93%, exam pass rate 86%Reported for 2020-2024.
Medical Assisting A.A.S. at South Piedmont Community College: full program profileSouth Piedmont Community College associate degree page on spcc.edu ↗
Medical Assisting Diploma: The Details
- Length
- 1 year
- Hours or credits
- 45 credit hours
- Externship
- 4-week unpaid practicum, full-time Monday-Thursday
- Certification
- Eligible for the CMA (AAMA) certification exam
- Admission
- High school diploma or GED
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $76 per credit hour in-state tuition2026-27. Source: spcc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Estimated cost
- $3,420Estimated: $76/credit × 45, before fees.
- Outcomes the school publishes
- 2020-2024: retention 66%, job placement 93%, exam pass rate 86%Reported for 2020-2024.
Medical Assisting Diploma at South Piedmont Community College: full program profileSouth Piedmont Community College diploma page on spcc.edu ↗
Medical Assisting Certificate: The Details
- Length
- 6 months
- Hours or credits
- 18 credit hours
- Admission
- High school diploma or GED
- Tuition (school's wording)
- $76 per credit hour in-state tuition2026-27. Source: spcc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
- Estimated cost
- $1,368Estimated: $76/credit × 18, before fees.
Medical Assisting Certificate at South Piedmont Community College: full program profileSouth Piedmont Community College certificate page on spcc.edu ↗
From South Piedmont Community College's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.
How South Piedmont Community College Compares
- Medical Assisting A.A.S. costs an estimated $5,092, against a median of $12,661 across 137 priced associate degree programs on this site.
- Medical Assisting A.A.S. runs 80 weeks; the median for associate degree programs is 78 weeks.
- Medical Assisting Diploma costs an estimated $3,420, against a median of $17,215 across 304 priced diploma programs on this site.
- Medical Assisting Diploma runs 40 weeks; the median for diploma programs is 40 weeks.
- Medical Assisting Certificate costs an estimated $1,368, against a median of $8,930 across 426 priced certificate programs on this site.
- Medical Assisting Certificate runs 26 weeks; the median for certificate programs is 39 weeks.
Medical assistants in North Carolina earn a median of $45,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), against $45,690 nationally.
Work out what South Piedmont Community College's certificate costs you after aid
Is South Piedmont Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assisting Diploma and Medical Assisting 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 Assisting Diploma and Medical Assisting Certificate; Medical Assisting A.A.S. is a different credential and isn't covered by it.
Medical Assisting Awards at South Piedmont Community College
| Award level | Awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Certificates of one to two years | 6 |
| Associate degrees | 3 |
Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 9 medical assisting awards conferred by South Piedmont Community College in 2022-23, 752nd of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes.
More Medical Assistant Schools in North Carolina
- Alamance Community CollegeGraham · associate degree · accredited
- Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia · non-credit training
- Cabarrus College of Health SciencesConcord · diploma and associate degree · accredited
- Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington · associate degree and diploma · accredited
- Carteret Community CollegeMorehead City · diploma and certificate · accredited
- Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford · associate degree and diploma · accredited
- Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte · associate degree, diploma and certificate · accredited
- Cleveland Community CollegeShelby · associate degree · accredited
- College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City · diploma and associate degree · accredited
- Craven Community CollegeNew Bern · associate degree and diploma · accredited
- Medical assistant programs in North CarolinaEvery local program, plus online options for residents
South Piedmont Community College Medical Assisting: Common Questions
Is South Piedmont Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?
Yes. Medical Assisting Diploma and Medical Assisting 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 South Piedmont Community College's Medical Assistant Program Cost?
Medical Assisting A.A.S.: $76 per credit hour in-state tuition (2026-27), about $5,092 for the program (estimated). Medical Assisting Diploma: $76 per credit hour in-state tuition (2026-27), about $3,420 for the program (estimated). Medical Assisting Certificate: $76 per credit hour in-state tuition (2026-27), about $1,368 for the program (estimated).
How Long Is South Piedmont Community College's Medical Assistant Program?
Medical Assisting A.A.S.: 2 years (67 credit hours). Medical Assisting Diploma: 1 year (45 credit hours). Medical Assisting Certificate: 6 months (18 credit hours).
Does South Piedmont Community College Include an Externship?
Yes. Medical Assisting A.A.S.: Practicum in the final 8 weeks, full-time Monday-Thursday. Medical Assisting Diploma: 4-week unpaid practicum, full-time Monday-Thursday.
Which Certification Exams Does South Piedmont Community College Prepare You For?
Medical Assisting A.A.S. names the CMA (AAMA). Medical Assisting Diploma names the CMA (AAMA).
What Do You Need to Apply to South Piedmont Community College?
Medical Assisting A.A.S.: High school diploma or GED. Medical Assisting Diploma: High school diploma or GED. Medical Assisting Certificate: High school diploma or GED.
Compare With Programs Like These
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Sources
- spcc.edu: Medical Assisting A.A.S. 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, North Carolina