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If you’re looking for an in-demand, highly versatile, entry-level healthcare position that doesn’t require a college degree, consider becoming a medical assistant. This vital role blends clinical and administrative responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation of healthcare facilities and to support patient care.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for medical assistants to grow by 14% from 2022–32, a rate faster than the average projected for all occupations.
While you don’t need a college diploma for this career, you must earn a medical assistant certificate to work in a clinical setting. Through coursework and hands-on training, these programs prepare you for administrative tasks, like scheduling appointments and maintaining patient records, and clinical tasks, like taking a patient’s history and collecting laboratory samples.
This guide highlights the best online medical assistant certificate programs according to our ranking criteria. We also outline what to consider before enrolling in an online certificate program and how to find the best option for you.
Online college isn’t necessarily for everyone. You’ll want to consider your learning style, availability and budget.
Not all students are well-suited to virtual learning. Success requires motivation, organization, time management skills and focus. You’ll also miss face-to-face time with instructors and peers, which can impact learning and networking opportunities.
If you benefit from the structure and real-time engagement offered by in-person classes, you might opt for a more traditional certification program.
If you plan to keep a full-time job or have significant personal obligations, look for an asynchronous program, which will let you log in and complete coursework at your convenience. If classes are taught synchronously, you’ll have to be available at the specific times when lectures are scheduled.
Online programs can save you money on factors like commuting, campus fees and housing since you won’t need to attend regular classes at the university. However, you’ll need to factor in costs like a laptop or computer, internet access and distance learning fees.
Before committing your time and money to an online medical assistant program, make sure the school you choose holds college accreditation. Accreditation indicates that an institution has met stringent quality and academic standards set by an accrediting body.
In addition to institutional accreditation, programs and departments within universities can also apply for programmatic accreditation. Depending on your chosen field, you may need a programmatically accredited credential for professional licensure or certification or for a more advanced degree program.
To become a certified medical assistant (CMA), you must graduate from a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation maintains a searchable list of accredited colleges, universities and programs.
Do you want to become certified to advance your career or earn a higher salary? Depending on your eligibility and whether your focus is clinical or administrative, there are a few common certification options to choose from including:
Many programs design their curriculums to ensure graduates will qualify to sit for the certification exam. If you want to begin your career as a medical assistant as quickly as possible, opt for an accelerated program that doesn’t focus on passing a certification exam. No states require medical assistants to be certified to practice.
Also, do you plan on earning an associate or a bachelor’s degree in medical assisting or a related field like healthcare administration or nursing? If you believe you’ll further your education down the line, look for programs that will allow you to transfer your certificate credits to a degree.
Tuition for the programs on this list cost between $1,000 and $22,000. The significant variation in price depends on the number of credits required, whether the program qualifies you for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam, your state residency status, and whether the institution is public or private.
It may be worth prioritizing colleges that guarantee you’ll receive the 560 contact hours and 180 hours of practicum experience needed to take the CMA exam. If you don’t plan on earning your professional certification, consider a less expensive option.
Accredited online certificate programs may allow you to qualify for federal student aid. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to ensure your eligibility. You may also be eligible for grants, loans, scholarships, veteran benefits or other funding from your chosen university. You can pursue financial aid through third-party organizations as well.
Most medical assistant programs take nine months to two years to complete. However, some accelerated online programs take as little as six weeks. The programs in this guide range from three to 12 months.
To become a certified medical assistant, you must pass the CMA exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants. To take the exam, a medical assistant must have graduated from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program or completed 560 academic contact hours, plus a 160-hour practicum or externship.
A certified medical assistant is a medical assistant who has earned certification through the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants.
A CMA trains for administrative and clinical work in a healthcare setting, including maintaining patient records, processing insurance requests and setting up appointments. A CCMA, which stands for certified clinical medical assistant, trains only for clinical work, such as taking a patient’s vital signs, recording the patient’s history and collecting lab samples.
