Online Medical Assistant Programs in NC: Finding a School
An online medical assistant program can give you the critical skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the field. In this guide, explore some of the best online medical assistant programs in North Carolina today, with information on curriculum options, admission requirements, certification pathways, financial aid opportunities, and more.
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What to Expect: Inside the Programs
The path to becoming a medical assistant in North Carolina starts with choosing the right program. And there are a number of program types to choose from, including:
- Certification prep courses
- Certificates
- Diplomas
- Associate degree programs
Each option has its own benefits, requirements, and costs. There are also a number of medical assistant programs in NC that feature fully-online or partially-online study, providing a higher degree of convenience and flexibility to earning your MA credential.
It’s important to understand that online programs often include some in-person components, like campus-based class sessions and labs, and hands-on clinical experiences attended at program-approved medical facilities in the school’s or student’s local area.
In addition, online medical assistant programs may use different content delivery formats. Classes can be taken synchronously (requiring logging on and attending in real-time) or asynchronously (accessible at any time.)
To see how they work, let’s review three popular online medical assistant programs in North Carolina.
Clinical Medical Assistant Certification — North Carolina A&T State University
The Clinical Medical Assistant Certification course offered through North Carolina A&T State offers students one of the most convenient and flexible paths toward professional certification and starting a career in medical assisting.
The course is self-paced and all coursework is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format allowing students to log on and complete their studies at any time. Students have the option of participating in a volunteer clinical externship with a local medical practice facility.
The course fee includes access to all needed course materials. Graduates are eligible to sit for the exams for the NWCA’s Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) and NHA’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) professional certifications.
Duration: 4-6 months
Mode: Online (with optional in-person clinical experience)
Cost: $2,599
Admissions Requirements: A high school diploma or GED
Curriculum:
- Patient-centered care
- Safety practices and measures
- Pharmacology
- Taking vital signs
- Testing procedures
- EKG reading
- Specimen collection
- Phlebotomy
- Legal/ethical issues in medical practice
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Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Training — UNC Charlotte
The Online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Training course offered through UNC Charlotte’s Professional Development division provides one of the most convenient and flexible paths to gaining the administrative and clinical skills needed to become a working medical assistant.
Course content is delivered 100% online in a self-paced format, allowing students to access and complete their coursework at any time fitting their busy schedules. The course can be started at any time, as well.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the CCMA certification exam.
The course fee includes 12 months access to all online course materials along with a voucher to take the CCMA exam.
Duration: Self-paced (540 course hours)
Mode: Fully-online, asynchronous (with the option to participate in an in-person clinical experience following completion of all course requirements)
Cost: $3,295
Admissions Requirements: None. However, a high school diploma or equivalent is needed to take the CCMA exam.
Curriculum:
- Medical terminology
- Diagnostic procedures
- Pharmacology
- Computers in ambulatory care
- Taking vital signs
- Basic microbiology
- EKG
- Managing medical documents
Full-curriculum can be found on the course webpage.
Medical Assisting AAS — Durham Technical College
For students whose long-term goal is to become a nurse or fill another more advanced healthcare occupation, opting for a full associate degree program, like Durham Tech’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Medical Assisting can be the right choice.
The 70-credit curriculum combines general education coursework with major-specific courses that prepare graduates to take the exam for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification and fill entry-level MA positions in the full range of practice settings.
The hybrid-formatted program includes both online and campus-attended classes as well as an in-person clinical practicum where students gain hands-on experience in an actual medical facility. The six-term course of study starts annually each summer.
Duration: 2 years (full-time)
Mode: Hybrid
Cost: $5,852 (est.)
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma (or equivalent) earned with a 2.8 or higher GPA
- Criminal background check and drug screen
- Attend a program information session
Curriculum:
- Medical terminology
- Basic Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Administrative Office Procedure
- Exam Room Procedures
- Laboratory Procedures
- Drug Therapy
- Medical Assisting Overview
- Infection/Hazard Control
- Medical Insurance Coding
- Symptomatology
- General education coursework (various subjects)
Full curriculum can be found on program website.
FAQs for North Carolina Medical Assistant Students
More questions will naturally arise as you research online MA programs and learn about becoming a medical assistant in North Carolina. To help in that regard, here are the answers to five of the most commonly-asked questions by prospective NC online medical assistant students.
Are there scholarships and grants available for NC medical assistant students?
Qualifying online medical assistant students in NC have access to a number of financial aid resources to help them pay for their MA training, including:
- Scholarships and grants
- Tuition discounts
- Employer tuition reimbursement
- Student loans
- Tuition deferment and installment plans
The best place to start your funding search is by contacting the financial aid offices as each of the schools you’re considering. Other potential resources include:
- The NCCHCA Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Initiative, which can cover the cost of training through select NC online medical assistant programs.
- The College for North Carolina’s NC Need-Based Scholarship for Private College Students offering scholarship opportunities to NC residents attending private colleges.
- The Joan Michaels Memorial Scholarship Award, which offers $300-$500 scholarships to medical assistant students in North Carolina.
What are the opportunities for networking for North Carolina medical assistants?
You’ll likely find that your online MA education program is itself a good source of networking opportunities through student message boards, alumni groups, and even in-person meetup activities.
Beyond that, a great way to network is by joining a medical assistant or allied health professional organization. Examples include:
- North Carolina Society of Medical Assistants
- North Carolina Community Healthcare Association
- American Association of Medical Assistants
Expert Insight
Networking is a great way to secure a potential job offer, but also a way to connect with other students enrolled in an MA program. Through networking, I was able to be part of a study group when I was preparing for the certification exam. Fellow peers would share the resources they were using to study for the exam. If you network, these kinds of opportunities are possible. You might find yourself more motivated when studying with other MA students.
What are the admission requirements for NC medical assistant programs?
The admission requirements for most online medical assistant programs in North Carolina are limited to a high school diploma or equivalent (like a GED) and being at least 18 years of age.
Some programs (like the UNC Charlotte one highlighted above) have no admissions requirements. It should be noted, though, that graduates of that program will need a high school diploma or equivalent to take the CCMA certification exam.
You can also expect additional requirements if you opt for an associate degree program. For example, applicants to the Medical Assisting AAS program at Durham Tech (spotlighted above) must meet a minimum 2.8 GPA on their high school coursework.
To learn more about admissions requirements for allied health programs, be sure to check out EduMed’s Admissions Handbook.
How much should I expect to pay for my program?
The costs of online medical assistant programs in North Carolina vary due primarily to the specific credential (degree, diploma, certificate, etc.) awarded and school offering the program. As a general rule of thumb, the longer the program, the higher the price.
Nevertheless, the program prices quoted in the spotlights above offer a good indication of what you might expect to pay for your North Carolina-based online MA education (from just over $2,500 to nearly $6,000.)
Two things to keep in mind. First, quoted program costs may or may not include such items as books and other study materials, or the fee for taking a certification exam. So, be sure you have a clear understanding of just exactly what your program fee covers before you enroll.
Second, don’t forget that you may be eligible for one or more financial aid resources to help you pay for your medical assistant training.
Expert Insight
In regards to exam vouchers, this may be different for each program. Make sure you ask how the exam vouchers work if offered by the program. The program I attended offered a one-time voucher to pay for the certification exam. However, if not passed the first time the program would not offer another voucher. Taking the exam a second time would be something the student would need to pay for out of pocket.
What does an online medical assistant curriculum cover for North Carolina students?
The main purpose of every online medical assistant training program is to give students the knowledge and skills needed for competent MA practice in a range of practice settings. That means combining coursework in the areas of office administration and clinical practice.
Common topics you can expect to encounter in your MA program include:
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Taking vital signs
- Pharmacology
- Wound care
- Phlebotomy
- EKG testing
- Basic lab procedures
- Medical office procedures
- Medical billing and coding
- Using electronic medical records software
- Legal and ethical issues related to medical practice
MA students will likely also be required or have the option to participate in an in-person clinical experience in which they will apply the knowledge and skills gained in their coursework in a real-world medical practice setting.
Certifications and Continuing Education in North Carolina
North Carolina does not officially license or certify medical assistants for practice in the state. However, many (if not most) medical assistant employers require or prefer job candidates who possess professional medical assistant certification.
There are several recognized medical assistant certification options, including:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
It’s common for online medical assistant programs in North Carolina to provide eligibility to their graduates for one or more MA professional certifications. So, always confirm which certifications you’ll be eligible for prior to signing on to any medical assistant training program.
Once you’ve obtained certification, you’ll need to renew it on a regular basis.
Renewal requirements and timelines vary by certification type, but in almost all cases involves earning a stated number of continuing education (CE) credits per renewal period. For example, NHA certifications require earning 10 CE credits every two-year renewal period.
Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Assistants in North Carolina
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 20,880 | 25,580 | 4,700 | 22.50% | 3,430 |
| 1 – United States | 764,400 | 870,200 | 105,800 | 13.80% | 114,600 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $35,020 | $44,200 | $57,830 |
| North Carolina | $34,920 | $42,600 | $51,720 |
| Asheville, NC | $36,740 | $39,910 | $46,890 |
| Burlington, NC | $34,850 | $43,980 | $51,320 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,680 | $45,330 | $52,720 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $37,180 | $45,110 | $55,040 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $31,200 | $37,700 | $43,960 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $31,140 | $37,190 | $44,190 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,900 | $44,220 | $48,580 |
| Greenville, NC | $33,270 | $41,160 | $45,050 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $33,860 | $39,730 | $46,520 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $30,750 | $36,080 | $43,540 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $31,420 | $39,790 | $50,930 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $35,570 | $42,900 | $50,780 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $31,060 | $38,710 | $44,460 |
| Wilmington, NC | $34,900 | $39,200 | $47,080 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $35,610 | $42,160 | $49,340 |
Source: Medical Assistants, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
