Medical Assisting
Two paths into hands-on patient care.
Take 100% of your coursework online, practice clinical skills with lab kits shipped to your home, then build real experience in an in-person externship. Finish the certificate in 8 months or the associate degree in 20 months.
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Next Term Starts January 3, 2027! Limited spots are available.
Choose the path that fits your goals.
Get to work fast with the certificate, or go deeper with the associate degree.
Medical Assisting Certificate
$17,424 total, all-inclusive
A fast, focused path through anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, invasive and non-invasive clinical procedures like EKGs and venipuncture, and medical office procedures, plus a 162-hour clinical externship.
Leads to: Entry-level medical assistant roles
Medical Assisting Associate Degree
$30,816 total, all-inclusive
Covers clinical and administrative medical assisting in depth, from patient care, pharmacology, and clinical procedures to medical office management and healthcare law and ethics, plus a 160-hour clinical externship. Graduates are eligible to take the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA), or CMAC (AMCA) exam.
Leads to: Medical assistant roles, and a foundation for a bachelor’s in Medical and Health Services Management
Why Medical Assisting at American National University
Online learning, hands-on skills, and real clinical experience.
100% online, live instruction
Courses and labs are delivered live online with expert instructor guidance.
Hands-on lab kits at home
Practice clinical skills like taking vital signs, venipuncture technique, and EKGs using lab equipment shipped directly to your home.
Real clinical experience
Complete an in-person clinical externship in a healthcare setting: 160 hours for the associate degree, 162 hours for the certificate.
All-inclusive tuition
Tuition covers application fees, textbooks, lab equipment, and your first certification exams.
Career-ready certifications
Prepare for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and Certified EKG Technician exams, plus CPR certification. Associate degree graduates are also eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
An advisor who knows your name
One point of contact from enrollment through graduation — not a rotating call queue.
How it works
Built for people already juggling a full life.
Choose your path
Want to start working soon? The certificate takes 8 months. Want a broader education? The associate degree takes 20 months.
Learn online
Join live online classes and complete self-paced coursework in anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical and office procedures.
Practice at home
Build hands-on skills with lab equipment shipped directly to your door.
Complete your externship and get certified
Finish with an in-person clinical externship and prepare for your certification exams. Certificate students must pass a certification exam to complete the final course.
Where this program leads
Medical assistants are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical assistants will grow much faster than average.
Medical Assistant
via the certificate or associate degree 13% projected employment growth, 2025–2035 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, reviewed September 24, 2026Getting started
Start dates, admissions, and paying for it.
Start dates
New terms begin multiple times a year — American National University runs roughly five main terms annually, plus mid-session start options, so you’re rarely far from your next start date.
Admissions requirements
Generally you’ll need a high school diploma or GED (or equivalent college credit), plus English and math placement evaluations before your first term. You’ll also affirm in writing that you can lift at least 50 pounds, have reasonable vision and hearing, and have no known communicable diseases.
Financial aid
Federal aid (FAFSA-based grants, loans, and work-study) is available to those who qualify and can be combined with American National University’s own institutional grants and scholarships, including options for military families and employer tuition assistance.
Externship requirements
Externship sites may require immunizations and tuberculosis screening, and those costs are your responsibility. A failed drug screen or criminal conviction may affect externship placement or future employment. If you have concerns about background findings, talk with the program director before enrolling.
Frequently asked questions
Is this program fully online?
No. Coursework is 100% online, with lab kits shipped to your home, but the clinical externship is completed in person at a healthcare facility.
Which program is right for me?
If you want to start working soon, the certificate takes 8 months. If you want a broader education and a CAAHEP-accredited degree that can lead into a bachelor’s program, the associate degree takes 20 months.
What certifications will I prepare for?
Both programs prepare you for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and Certified EKG Technician exams, plus CPR certification. Associate degree graduates are eligible to take the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA), or CMAC (AMCA) exam. Your first certification exams are included in tuition.
Can I keep working while I’m in school?
Coursework is designed for working adults, with live online classes and self-paced work. Plan ahead for your externship hours, which take place in person.
What does tuition include?
Tuition includes application fees, textbooks, lab equipment shipped to your home, and your first certification exams. The certificate is $17,424 total and the associate degree is $30,816 total.
How long does it take to finish?
The certificate is 48 credit hours and takes 8 months. The associate degree is 96 credit hours and takes 20 months.
What if I have concerns about my background?
A failed drug screen or criminal conviction may affect externship placement or future employment. If you have concerns about criminal, drug, or consumer background findings, talk with the program director before enrolling.
Is the associate degree accredited?
Yes. The Medical Assisting associate degree offered through the Salem, Virginia campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Accreditation you can check yourself
DEAC-accredited
American National University is institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
CAAHEP-accredited degree
The Medical Assisting associate degree offered through the Salem, Virginia campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs on recommendation of MAERB. Graduates are eligible to take the CMA (AAMA) exam.
Certification exam prep
Both programs prepare you for industry certification exams, and your first exams are included in tuition.
Ready to start your healthcare career?
Talk to an advisor about which program fits, cost, and your start date — no pressure, no obligation.
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