Medical assistant programs near you and online
Choosing a medical assistant program comes down to three things: whether it is accredited, what it costs and how long it takes. Type your city or state to see the programs near you.
1,094 programs310 CAAHEP accredited174 more at ABHES schools30 taught online
City pages: Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Diego.
Medical assistant programs in Ohio
| School | Certificate or degree, length | Accreditation | Price | Graduates2023-24 | Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate1 to 2 years63 graduatesAssociate degreeabout 2 years218 graduatesonline classes, clinical hours in person | ABHES-accredited school | $16,297 whole programfor its 45-credit program | 281 | Request information | |
| Certificate1 to 2 years | ABHES-accredited school | $14,148 a yearfull-time | 66 | Request information | |
| Certificateunder 1 year34 graduatesCertificate1 to 2 years21 graduates | CAAHEP accredited certificate | $5,400 a yearfull-time, if you live in the college's area; same for each award | 55 | Request information | |
 Valley College-Cleveland | Certificateabout 10 months | Not accredited | $17,414 whole programwith books | 49 | Visit the school's site |
| Certificateabout 8 months | ABHES-accredited school | $16,297 whole program | 48 | Request information | |
| Certificateabout 8 months | ABHES-accredited school | $16,297 whole program | 45 | Request information | |
| Certificate1 to 2 years10 graduatesAssociate degreeabout 2 years33 graduatesonline classes, clinical hours in person | CAAHEP accredited certificate | $3,435 a yearfull-time; same for each award | 43 | Request information | |
| Certificate1 to 2 years | ABHES-accredited school | $14,283 a yearfull-time | 33 | Request information | |
Butler Technology and Career Development Schools | Certificateunder 1 year | Not accredited | Ask the school for the price | 33 | Visit the school's site |
 Herzing University-Akron | Certificate1 to 2 years26 graduatesAssociate degreeabout 2 years4 graduates | Not accredited | $13,420 a yearfull-time; same for each award | 30 | Visit the school's site |
Medical assistant programs by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
You can also look at accredited programs, online programs, associate degrees or the shortest programs.
Accredited programs and the CMA exam
An accredited program has been checked and approved by an outside group. For medical assistants, two groups count: CAAHEP, which approves the program itself, and ABHES, which approves the whole school.
Finishing an accredited program lets you take the exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). Each state page shows which schools are accredited, and no school pays to be listed.
Comparing cost and length
Schools give their prices in two ways. Career schools give one price for the whole program, with tuition, fees and books. Public colleges give the price of one year of full-time study, and people who live near the college pay less.
| How the price is given | Schools | Typical price, 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Career schools: the whole program, with books | 392 | $17,257 |
| Public colleges: one year of full-time classes, for local students | 437 | $4,346 |
The typical price is the middle one: half the schools charge more and half charge less. Both figures come from the yearly college survey run by the U.S. Department of Education. Before you compare two schools, check whether each price is for the whole program or for one year.
Program length varies too. At the 378 career schools that report it, a typical program takes 9 months, and most finish in 7 to 9 months. The shortest takes 2 months and the longest 32.
Prefer a degree over a certificate? 354 schools offer a medical assistant associate degree, a two-year college degree. Federal student aid (grants and loans from the government) is available at 1,049 of the schools listed, so ask about it wherever you apply.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the group behind the CMA exam, suggests asking each school how many of its graduates pass that exam.
Other ways into the job: a paid apprenticeship, where you learn while you work, or free training. To see how the job compares, read about nursing assistants, practical nurses and phlebotomists, who draw blood, or see the pay in every state.