Online Medical Assistant Programs in Pennsylvania: School Review
With Pennsylvania’s strong healthcare landscape, becoming a medical assistant is a smart first step into growing your career. Use EduMed’s guide to learn more about online medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania, including our top picks, FAQs, certification information, and career outlook and earning potential.
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How the Programs Work
Medical assistant training in Pennsylvania is available as an associate degree, certificate, or diploma program, and the right choice depends on your career goals and plans for certification. Below, we’ve highlighted programs with strong curricula, affordable tuition, and plenty of hands-on learning and certification exam preparation.
Community College of Philadelphia — Certificate
The Community College of Philadelphia offers a 27-credit Medical Assistant Proficiency Certificate that takes as little as two semesters. This medical assisting degree has 10 required courses, seven of which are offered online or on campus in Philadelphia.
If you choose to continue your education, you can transfer all credits earned in this program toward an associate degree in health care studies. Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to sit for both a national medical assistant certification exam and a phlebotomy certification exam.
Duration: 27 credits, 10 courses
Mode: Hybrid (partially online with a supervised in-person practicum)
Cost: $159/credit hour (Philadelphia resident), $318 credit/hour (other Pennsylvanians), $477/credit hour (non-Pennsylvanians) plus applicable fees
Admissions Requirements: 18+ years old, High School Diploma or GED
Curriculum: Medical terminology, therapeutic communication, anatomy and physiology, laboratory procedures, administrative procedures, and patient care techniques.
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South College —Certificate or Associate Degree
At South College Pittsburgh, you can earn either a Certificate in Medical Assisting or an Associate of Science Degree in Medical Assisting. Both programs offer online classes and in-person labs and field experience. By the time you graduate, you’ll have 180 hours of hands-on experience in a medical facility through completion of your practicum.
Duration: Certificate can be completed in three quarters if done online; Associate degree will be an additional 9-12 months
Mode: Online with in person labs & practicum
Cost: $1,000 for 10-20 credit hours
Admissions Requirements: Submit an online application or contact their admissions office, pay an application fee
Curriculum: Medical lab and clinical procedures, Pharmacology, front office procedures, medical insurance and coding, and professional communication
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania — Certificate
Commonwealth University’s 100% online Certified Clinical Medical Assisting course can be started at any time and completed on your own schedule within a 12-month period. After completing the program, you’ll be prepared to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.
The total cost for the program is only $3,295, and students have the opportunity to become CPR certified and participate in clinical experience.
Duration: 4 – 6 months
Mode: 100% online
Cost: $3,295 (monthly financing available)
Admissions Requirements: High School Diploma or GED
Curriculum: Students learn medical terminology (body systems, diagnostic procedures, nuclear medicine, pharmacology), medical office practices (telecommunication, computers, insurance, patient scheduling), and medical assisting procedures (vital sign monitoring, medication administration, diagnostic imaging procedures, minor office surgeries).
FAQs for Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistant Students
Many students have additional questions as they consider their educational options. To help, we’ve researched the most common questions about online medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania and answered them below.
Do online medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania have prerequisites, and is it difficult to be accepted?
Most medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania, online or otherwise, don’t require prerequisites, although some require students to be at least 18 years old. If you plan to take a certification exam, you’ll also need a high school diploma or equivalent.
It’s generally not difficult to be accepted to MA programs; most of them have few admission requirements, since they’re designed to prepare you for entry level positions in the field. Some schools, like the Community College of Philadelphia, require students who have previously taken college courses to demonstrate a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Expert Insight
If you don’t meet some requisites, don’t worry as there may be programs you meet requirements for already. One thing that helped me narrow down to the program that best suited me, was by making a list of all the programs I was considering applying to. You can do the same which can help find you narrow down to the program that is best suited for you. Especially if you are looking to start right away and not have to complete additional prerequisites prior to enrolling.
How can I network during my program, and does it matter?
You can network in your online medical assistant program by getting to know your classmates, professors, and the clinical instructors during your externship. If you feel particularly passionate about one medical setting, such as inpatient, ambulatory, rehabilitation, or testing settings, prioritize getting to know people who work in those areas.
Another way to network is by joining professional organizations and groups focused on the medical assisting industry, such as the PA Society of Medical Assistants, American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), or National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
What funding is available for online medical assistant students in Pennsylvania?
The funding available to you depends on the program you choose to pursue. If you attend an online medical assisting course in PA from an institution or university, you may be eligible for school-based scholarships and other forms of federal financial aid. You can also apply for private scholarships that are neither program- nor school-specific.
Additionally, check with your current employer to see if they offer tuition assistance.
What is the average cost of an online medical assistant program in Pennsylvania?
Costs vary between medical assisting programs. Schools that provide their own private medical assisting curriculum, like Penn Foster Community College, generally charge between $2,400 and $4,200. If you choose to enroll in an associate degree program in medical assisting, your tuition cost will be higher since it will result in a degree rather than a certificate.
Expert Insight
I applied to an online medical assistant program because I wanted a flexible program that also had a not-too-expensive tuition. When you are deciding on a medical assistant program, you should also consider those factors. You might find an online program is more suitable for you, or maybe an in person program is a better option. Make a list of pros and cons for each program, this can help you see the bigger picture and facilitate deciding on a program.
What subjects do medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania cover?
Online medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania cover basic knowledge across several areas, including:
- Medical billing and coding
- Revenue cycle
- Communication
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical terminology
- Pharmacology basics
- CPR and basic life support
- Outpatient procedures
- Medication administration
- Legal, ethical, and regulatory issues
- Phlebotomy and other roles that support medical procedures, such as placing and interpreting a 12-lead EKG strip.
Medical Assistant Certification in Pennsylvania
The two most common certifications for medical assistants are Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and Clinical Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). For either, you’ll need to complete educational requirements in an accredited program before sitting for the exam.
Once you pass your exam, your certification is valid for five years. After that, you’ll need to recertify through earning 60 continuing education units (CEUs) or by retaking the certification test.
Salary & Career Prospects for Pennsylvania Medical Assistants
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $35,020 | $44,200 | $57,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,720 | $42,810 | $49,890 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $36,790 | $44,150 | $47,990 |
| Altoona, PA | $32,140 | $37,690 | $43,230 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $35,750 | $42,490 | $49,980 |
| Erie, PA | $34,920 | $38,250 | $44,190 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $33,970 | $41,890 | $47,020 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $36,820 | $40,720 | $46,420 |
| Johnstown, PA | $32,190 | $36,690 | $44,220 |
| Lancaster, PA | $34,840 | $41,620 | $46,920 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,080 | $42,900 | $46,590 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $37,050 | $45,830 | $54,930 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,370 | $39,500 | $46,470 |
| Reading, PA | $36,590 | $44,710 | $56,480 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $33,630 | $40,060 | $47,050 |
| State College, PA | $36,530 | $42,370 | $47,370 |
| Williamsport, PA | $33,680 | $39,110 | $44,710 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $36,690 | $40,960 | $47,060 |
Source: Medical Assistants, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 27,920 | 31,740 | 3,820 | 13.70% | 4,180 |
| 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.
