Medical Assisting: Certification, Education, and Professional Advancement
The Role and Value of Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs)
Medical assistant programs can be an excellent way to start a career in healthcare, especially for people who enjoy collaboration and helping patients.
The Impact of Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs)
I would not get through my day without my CMA (AAMA). She wears many hats throughout the day and is able to treat patients with respect and compassion despite how busy she is. A thousand thank-yous would not suffice [to convey] how grateful I am to have her by my side. My CMAs (AAMA) are so knowledgeable and experienced that they can discern and get to the crux of the issue with the patient, so we don’t have to do a lot of back-and-forth phone calls. Being a medical assistant can be a difficult job, and I thank mine daily for what they do.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
Welcome to the AAMA. The American Association of Medical Assistants provides medical assistants with education, certification, and networking opportunities.
Certification and Professional Development
Take your medical assisting career to the next level by earning the CMA (AAMA) credential. Discover a world of learning and networking opportunities and find CEUs.
NEW Maxine Williams Scholarship in Honor of Crystal Coleman, CMA (AAMA). A new AAMA scholarship opportunity to support medical assistants with their professional development!
AAMA Publications and Resources
The AAMA's publications and resources provide essential tools and information to help medical assistants stay informed, advance their careers, and excel in their profession.
- STAY INFORMED: Read AAMA publications, which offer a wealth of resources designed to keep you informed and inspired.
- Scope of Practice Laws: Learn about the laws in your state.
- Medical Assisting Today Magazine: Read the latest issue.
- Legal Eye on Medical Assisting Blog: Navigate the legal landscape.
Top Online Medical Assistant Programs
Learn everything you need to know about online medical assistant programs, including what you can expect to learn and programs with high student success rates to help you make that next move. To help you choose the right medical assistant program for you, we analyzed online certified medical assistant programs and ranked them based on student success, measured by graduation and transfer out rates. We also included tuition rates and available programs.
Featured Online Programs Data
| Institution |
Degree Program(s) |
Tuition Details |
Graduation and Transfer-Out Rate |
| University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension |
Health medical assistant certificate |
Total Tuition: $23,000 |
86.36% |
| Purdue University Global |
Medical assistant certificate |
Total Tuition: $21,518 (based on per-credit tuition rate) |
55% |
| U.S. Career Institute |
Medical assistant certificate |
Total Tuition: $1,239 |
91.63% |
| Eagle Gate College |
Medical assistant diploma |
Total Tuition: $13,340 |
51% |
| Daytona College |
Medical assisting associate degree, medical assisting diploma |
Annual Tuition: $13,361 for diploma, $18,900 for AS |
60% |
| Alexandria Technical & Community College |
Medical administrative specialist associate degree |
Online: $211.55/credit |
74% |
| Keiser University |
Medical assisting science associate degree |
Annual Tuition: $23,248 |
N/A (Data truncated) |
Program Details
- The University of California Los Angeles, better known as UCLA, created an Extension department that helps students study for specific career outcomes. The health medical assistant certificate offers some courses online, but requires some in-person coursework. In this program, students in the Los Angeles area can take advantage of one of the top programs in the nation. Those who work for UCLA can significantly reduce the cost of this certificate.
- Purdue University Global, the online extension of Purdue University, offers a medical assistant certificate at an accelerated pace. Using innovative 10-week courses, students can complete the 58 required credits faster than they could elsewhere. Those with previous college credits can reduce the time and cost of this online certificate.
- The U.S. Career Institute is dedicated to providing degrees and certificates that lead to careers. In addition to affordable tuition, the U.S. Career Institute offers most of their programs entirely online, including the medical assistant certificate. The program consists of just four units and prepares students to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exams.
- With campuses in Boise, Idaho Falls, and Murray, UT, Eagle Gate College specializes in healthcare education and offers a medical assistant diploma. This entirely online program takes as little as nine months to complete and qualifies students to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant certification exam.
- Originally a massage therapy education center, Daytona College now features medical assisting programs to earn an associate degree or diploma. The associate degree takes 70 weeks to earn while the diploma program lasts 40-48 weeks. Both options prepare students for medical assistant certification exams, such as the Registered Medical Assistant exam.
- Alexandria Technical & Community College -- one of the best two-year colleges in Minnesota -- prides itself on high retention, graduation, and career placement rates. The community college's online medical administrative specialist associate degree requires 60 semester credits to complete. Full-time students can finish the degree in just four semesters, while part-time students may take longer.
- Founded in 1977, Keiser University is Florida's largest not-for-profit private institution, with 21 campuses throughout the state. The online medical assisting science associate degree prepares students to begin a career in medical assisting or transfer into a four-year degree. In total, the associate degree requires 60 credits and takes at least four semesters.