South Puget Sound Community College · Olympia, Washington

Medical Assisting Certificate at South Puget Sound Community College

CertificateOn campusCAAHEP-accreditedCMA (AAMA) eligible

What Should You Know About Medical Assisting Certificate at South Puget Sound Community College?

Medical Assisting Certificate is a medical assisting certificate at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, Washington, offered on campus. It takes less than 1 year. Externship: 198-contact-hour unpaid practicum in a healthcare setting. Cost: $136 per credit, 2026-27. It is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

Cost
$136per credit, 2026-27
Length
40 wkLess than 1 year
Externship
Included
  • Phlebotomy
  • EKG
  • Billing and coding
  • Pharmacology
Prepares for
  • CMAAAMA

How Medical Assisting Certificate Works

Credential
Certificate
Format
On campus
Length
Less than 1 year
Externship
198-contact-hour unpaid practicum in a healthcare setting
Also covers
phlebotomy; EKG; medical billing and coding; pharmacology
Start dates
Fall

Admission and Certification at South Puget Sound Community College

Admission requirements
SPSCC admission; prerequisites with C or better; faculty interview before MED 150 in fall; age 18+; high school diploma or equivalent; immunizations, BLS and background checks
Certification
Eligible for the national CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam
Outcomes the school publishes
Five-year averages 2020-2024: exam passage 93%, retention 79%; 2024 employer and graduate satisfaction 100%Reported for 2024.

What South Puget Sound Community College's Medical Assisting Certificate Costs

Tuition (school's wording)
$136.14 per credit for Washington residents (lower-division courses, 1-10 credits); $1,697.30 for 15 credits per quarter; non-Washington US residents $155.55 per credit2026-27. Source: spscc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

From spscc.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.
  • It is one of 185 CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited certificate programs on this site.

Is Medical Assisting Certificate at South Puget Sound Community College 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, EKG, billing and coding and pharmacology.

How the CMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA exams differ

Other Medical Assistant Programs at South Puget Sound Community College

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 South Puget Sound Community College: Common Questions

How Much Does Medical Assisting Certificate at South Puget Sound Community College Cost?

$136.14 per credit for Washington residents (lower-division courses, 1-10 credits); $1,697.30 for 15 credits per quarter; non-Washington US residents $155.55 per credit (2026-27).

How Long Is Medical Assisting Certificate at South Puget Sound Community College?

Less than 1 year, according to the school's program page.

Is Medical Assisting Certificate at South Puget Sound Community College 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 South Puget Sound Community College Online?

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

What Do You Need to Apply to Medical Assisting Certificate?

SPSCC admission; prerequisites with C or better; faculty interview before MED 150 in fall; age 18+; high school diploma or equivalent; immunizations, BLS and background checks.

Compare Programs Like This One

Sources

  1. spscc.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