Southwestern Community College · Sylva, North Carolina

Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern Community College

Associate degreeOn campusCAAHEP-accreditedCMA (AAMA) eligible

What Should You Know About Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern Community College?

Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) is a medical assisting associate degree at Southwestern Community College in Sylva, North Carolina, offered on campus. It takes 5 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring) (70 credit hours across five semesters (19, 16, 8, 13 and 14)). Externship: MED 260 MED Clinical Practicum (5 credits) in the final spring semester. Cost: about $7,770 (estimated). It is CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

Researched and edited by · Updated

Cost
$7,770estimated: $111/credit × 70
Length
80 wk
Credits
70
Externship
Included
  • EKG
  • Billing and coding
Prepares for
  • CMAAAMA

How Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) Works

Credential
Associate degree
Format
On campus
Length
5 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring)
Hours or credits
70 credit hours across five semesters (19, 16, 8, 13 and 14)
Externship
MED 260 MED Clinical Practicum (5 credits) in the final spring semester
Also covers
EKG; laboratory procedures; medical insurance coding; drug therapy
Start dates
Fall

Admission and Certification at Southwestern Community College

Admission requirements
Application designating Medical Assisting AAS (A45400); high school diploma or GED (current high school students excepted); official high school and college transcripts; clinical sites may require background check and drug testing; C or better in all program coursework
Certification
Graduates of the 2-year Associate Degree Program may take the national AAMA certification examination to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Outcomes the school publishes
2024: exam pass rate 66.67%, job placement 100%; five-year cumulative (2020-2024) exam passage 70.59%, job placement 95.45%Reported for 2024.

What Southwestern Community College's Medical Assisting Associate Degree Costs

Tuition (school's wording)
2026-27: $111 for 1 credit hour in-state and $303 out-of-state, including tuition, activity, technology, other and book fees2026-27. Source: southwesterncc.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
Estimated cost
$7,770Estimated: $111/credit × 70, before fees. An estimate, not the school's own total.

Work out what the Southwestern Community College associate degree costs you after aid

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

How Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) Compares

  • Its estimated cost of $7,770 is below the median of $12,661 across 137 priced associate degree programs on this site (36th lowest).
  • At 80 weeks it is longer than the 78-week median for associate degree programs.
  • It is one of 55 CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited associate degree programs on this site.

Is Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern 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 EKG and billing and coding.

How the CMA, RMA, CCMA and NCMA exams differ

Other Medical Assistant Programs at Southwestern Community College

Similar Medical Assistant Associate Degrees Nearby

Associate degree programs at local campuses: the same city first, then by how many state borders away, then closest in cost.

Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern Community College: Common Questions

How Much Does Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern Community College Cost?

2026-27: $111 for 1 credit hour in-state and $303 out-of-state, including tuition, activity, technology, other and book fees. That works out to about $7,770 for the program, an estimate before fees.

How Long Is Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern Community College?

5 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring), 70 credit hours across five semesters (19, 16, 8, 13 and 14), according to the school's program page.

Is Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern 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, AAS (A45400) 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, AAS (A45400) at Southwestern Community College Online?

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

What Do You Need to Apply to Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400)?

Application designating Medical Assisting AAS (A45400); high school diploma or GED (current high school students excepted); official high school and college transcripts; clinical sites may require background check and drug testing; C or better in all program coursework.

Compare Programs Like This One

Sources

  1. southwesterncc.edu: Medical Assisting, AAS (A45400) 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