Bellingham, Washington

Whatcom Community College Medical Assistant Programs

CertificateAssociate degreePublicCAAHEP-accredited

What Medical Assistant Programs Does Whatcom Community College Offer?

Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Washington offers 3 medical assisting programs (certificate and associate degree), taught on campus and hybrid. Medical assisting, certificate and Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid) are CAAHEP-accredited, so graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.

3 Medical Assistant Programs at Whatcom Community College

Whatcom Community College's Programs Side by Side

ProgramCredentialFormatLengthExternshipCost
Medical assisting, certificate, Whatcom Community CollegeCertificateOn campus66 creditsIncluded$2,050per term
Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid), Whatcom Community CollegeCertificateHybrid66 creditsIncluded$2,050per term
Medical assisting, associate of applied science (AAS), Whatcom Community CollegeAssociate degreeOn campus and hybrid90 creditsIncluded$2,050per term

Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.

Medical Assisting, Certificate: The Details

Hours or credits
66 credits
Schedule
Day
Externship
Externship required
Certification
Eligible to take an exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Start dates
Fall
Tuition (school's wording)
Approximately $2,050 per quarter for Washington residents for the core medical assisting program, including tuition, books, fees and suppliesSource: whatcom.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.
Outcomes the school publishes
Five-year average national exam passage 91.87%; graduate satisfaction 97.1%; employer satisfaction 100% (2020-2024)Reported for 2024.

Medical Assisting, Certificate (Hybrid): The Details

Hours or credits
66 credits
Schedule
Evening
Externship
Externship required
Certification
Eligible to take an exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Start dates
Spring
Tuition (school's wording)
Approximately $2,050 per quarter for Washington residents for the core medical assisting program, including tuition, books, fees and suppliesSource: whatcom.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

Medical Assisting, Associate of Applied Science (AAS): The Details

Hours or credits
90 credits
Schedule
Day and evening
Externship
Externship required
Certification
Eligible to take an exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Start dates
Fall; Spring
Tuition (school's wording)
Approximately $2,050 per quarter for Washington residents for the core medical assisting program, including tuition, books, fees and suppliesSource: whatcom.edu, reviewed October 12, 2026.

From Whatcom Community College's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 12, 2026. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.

Is Whatcom Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?

Yes. Medical assisting, certificate and Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid) 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, certificate and Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid); Medical assisting, associate of applied science (AAS) is a different credential and isn't covered by it.

What CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation means for the CMA (AAMA)

Medical Assisting Awards at Whatcom Community College

Award levelAwards, 2022-23
Certificates of one to two years12
Associate degrees17

Federal completions data (IPEDS, CIP 51.0801) count 29 medical assisting awards conferred by Whatcom Community College in 2022-23, 406th of 951 schools on this site. These are credentials awarded, not graduates or job outcomes, and chains report each campus separately.

More Medical Assistant Schools in Washington

Whatcom Community College Medical Assisting: Common Questions

Is Whatcom Community College's Medical Assistant Program Accredited?

Yes. Medical assisting, certificate and Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid) 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 Whatcom Community College's Medical Assistant Program Cost?

Medical assisting, certificate: Approximately $2,050 per quarter for Washington residents for the core medical assisting program, including tuition, books, fees and supplies. Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid): Approximately $2,050 per quarter for Washington residents for the core medical assisting program, including tuition, books, fees and supplies. Medical assisting, associate of applied science (AAS): Approximately $2,050 per quarter for Washington residents for the core medical assisting program, including tuition, books, fees and supplies.

Does Whatcom Community College Include an Externship?

Yes. Medical assisting, certificate: Externship required. Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid): Externship required. Medical assisting, associate of applied science (AAS): Externship required.

Which Certification Exams Does Whatcom Community College Prepare You For?

Medical assisting, certificate names the CMA (AAMA). Medical assisting, certificate (hybrid) names the CMA (AAMA). Medical assisting, associate of applied science (AAS) names the CMA (AAMA).

Compare With Programs Like These

Sources

  1. whatcom.edu: Medical assisting, certificate program page, reviewed October 12, 2026
  2. CAAHEP, accredited medical assisting programs, captured October 12, 2026
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.0801 (medical/clinical assistant)
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Assistants, Washington

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