Online Medical Assistant Programs in South Dakota: Top Schools & More

Q: Does South Dakota require medical assistants to be certified?

Although South Dakota does not require certification for medical assistants, the state does require you to register with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. Additionally, while it’s not required, earning national certifications—like the previously discussed CMA or RMA—demonstrates your skills and knowledge to employers, which may help you land a job. Having a certification will also help your earning potential and may help with career advancement as well, and it is generally recommended. Fortunately, many programs also offer CMA or RMA certifications as part of course-completion. Keep in mind that certification isn’t a one-time deal. After you certify, you’ll need to complete continuing education units (CEUs) or plan on retaking the certification test every few years. Each certifying body has its own rules, timeline, and required amount of CEUs for recertification.

Q: How much does a CMA make in South Dakota?

Determining a medical assistant’s salary depends on experience, location, and employer. However, the mean salary for a medical assistant in South Dakota is $37,760, with those in the 90th percentile making about $46,040. It’s important to remember that this is just an estimate, and your actual salary will depend on your education, experience, and community demand. As mentioned above, obtaining your CMA or RMA certification will help increase your pay in your medical assisting career. South Dakota is ranked 34th in the nation for medical assistant average salaries.

Q: Who accredits medical assistant programs in South Dakota?

South Dakota itself doesn’t have a specific accrediting body for medical assistant programs. However, accreditation from a reputable organization like the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) is helpful to ensure national recognition and qualification for certification exams. If a program doesn’t have accreditation from the two groups above, make sure the school itself is at least regionally or nationally accredited. Alternatively, if the school promotes preparation for the NHA-CCMA exam, then the program doesn’t require accreditation from CAAHEP or ABHES. It is vital that you receive your education from an accredited institution to ensure that you receive quality training that will help you better serve the patients and medical teams you’ll be working with.

Q: Is it hard to become a medical assistant in South Dakota?

If you’re passionate about the field and your future career prospects, becoming a medical assistant in South Dakota isn’t necessarily hard; however, attending these programs can be stressful, as they do require a high level of commitment and dedication. The programs themselves typically take one year or less to complete, requiring focus and studying. Some programs offer part-time programs that may better fit your schedule if your situation does not allow full-time coursework. In order to be successful, it’s important to make the program a priority and ensure it can fit into your busy schedule.

Q: What are the primary responsibilities for medical assistants in SD?

Your career can take you to a wide variety of offices and clinics where you will have a range of roles and responsibilities. In South Dakota, a medical assistant’s daily routine involves a mix of administrative and clinical tasks. They manage patient records, schedule appointments, and handle billing/coding. Clinical duties include taking vital signs, preparing and cleaning up exam rooms, assisting with exams, and administering medications—all under a physician’s supervision. This variety keeps the role interesting and allows medical assistants to contribute directly to patient care.

The right medical assistant program can help you start a solid career in South Dakota. The right hybrid/online medical assistant program in the state can make your higher education journey more flexible and convenient. Learn how these programs work, how to get in, what you’ll learn, and what to expect once you graduate.

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

Author: Kyra Sutherland

HealthcareNursingMedical Assisting

Editor: Shannon Daigle, BA

HealthcareAdv. NursingNursing

Updated: 01/05/2026

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How They Work
FAQs
Certifications
Salary Info

How the Programs Work Online

Most medical assistant programs in South Dakota take about one year to complete and are available both online and in-person. You’ll gain administrative skills, clinical experience, and essential medical knowledge, and many programs will also prepare you for national certifications like the CMA or RMA.

Online medical assistant programs are hybrid in nature. In many cases, academic coursework takes place online, including assignments, tests, and communication with professors and peers. However, given the hands-on nature of medical assisting, clinicals occur in-person. Students learn patient-focused skills on campus or at an approved third-party facility.

Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best medical assistant programs in the South Dakota to give you an idea of what a quality program looks like on the inside.

Black Hills State University — Certificate

Black Hills State University’s online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) program is a 12-month, self-paced program featuring online coursework and a hands-on externship experience. You’ll build a strong foundation in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, administrative procedures, and clinical skills. Plus, you’ll finish the course prepared to sit for the CMA exam offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA), which is included in the program fee.

Duration: 12 Months

Mode: Hybrid with hands-on externship opportunities

Cost: $3,295

Admissions Requirements:

High School diploma or equivalent

Curriculum:

Medical Terminology
Medical Assisting Foundations
Legal and Ethical Issues
The Art of Communicating
Medical Office Environment
Patient Scheduling and Managing Records
Health Insurance
Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
Body Measurements and Vital Signs
Examinations
Specimen Collection and Processing
Administering Medication

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Herzing University — Certification/Diploma or Associate Degree

In Herzing University’s Medical Assisting program, you can choose between earning a 10-month diploma or a 16-month associate degree. Flexible day and evening classes, along with virtual advising, tutoring, and academic support services make this a great choice for non-traditional students. You’ll graduate prepared to take the CCMA or RMA exam, and the school with pay for your first attempt.

Duration: 10 Months for the Diploma program, or 16 Months for the Associate Degree program

Mode: Online with in-person elements including an externship

Cost: Can be calculated here

Admissions Requirements:

High School diploma or GED
ACT/SAT scores
Drug testing
Immunization/health records
Background check

Curriculum:

Medical Terminology
Administrative Skills for the Medical Office
Ethics and Professionalism
Insurance Claims, Processing and Adjudication
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
Medical Clinical Assisting I and II with Lab
Externship and Credentialing

Southeast Technical College — Diploma

Southeast Technical College (STC) offers a one-year diploma in Medical Assisting. This program offers flexible learning options, including online and evening classes, and boasts a 100% placement rate for recent graduates. All in-person classes are taught in the college’s high-tech Sullivan Health Science Center, which features state-of-the-art technology to maximize your learning.

Duration: 12 Months

Mode: Hybrid

Cost: $14,114, which includes all tuition, fees, and estimated books and supply costs.

Admissions Requirements:

SAT or ACT scores
High school or college transcripts
Background check and drug screening
Immunizations

Curriculum:

Fall Semester

Medical Assistant Natural Sciences Requirement
Student Success Seminar
Medical Language
Medical Assisting I
Medical Assisting I Lab
Medical Office & Electronic Records

Spring Semester

Medical Assistant Communications Requirement
Pathophysiology
Insurance/Billing/Coding
Medical Assisting II
Medical Assisting II Lab
Medical Laboratory Techniques
Medical Laboratory Techniques Lab

Summer Semester

Medical Assistant Social Sciences Requirement
Medical Assisting Review/Practicum

FAQs for South Dakota Medical Assistant Students

Below, we’ve included answers to students’ most frequently asked questions about medical assistant programs in South Dakota, from program options to certification requirements and salary expectations.

Does South Dakota require medical assistants to be certified?

No. South Dakota does not require certification for medical assistants, but the state does require you to register with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. However, earning national certifications—like the previously discussed CMA or RMA—can help you land a job and up your earning potential. Fortunately, many programs offer CMA or RMA certifications as part of the course.

Keep in mind that certification isn’t a one-time deal. After you certify, you’ll need to complete continuing education units (CEUs) or retake the certification test every few years. Each certifying body has its own rules, timeline, and required amount of CEUs for recertification.

How much does a CMA make in South Dakota?

The average medical assistant salary in South Dakota is $39,350, with the top earners making $47,870 per year. However, your exact salary will depend on your education, experience, employer, and location. Obtaining your CMA or RMA certification will help you earn more as a medical assistant.

Who accredits medical assistant programs in South Dakota?

There’s no specific accrediting body for medical assistant programs in South Dakota. However, accreditation from a reputable organization like the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) shows that a program has national recognition and will prepare you well for certification exams. Otherwise, make sure the school itself is at least regionally or nationally accredited.

Is it hard to become a medical assistant in South Dakota?

Becoming a medical assistant in South Dakota isn’t necessarily hard; however, attending these programs can be stressful due to the high level of commitment and dedication required. The programs themselves typically take one year or less to complete, but some programs offer part-time programs that may better fit your schedule. No matter which one you choose, it’s important to make the program a priority and ensure it can fit into your busy schedule.

What are the primary responsibilities for medical assistants in SD?

In South Dakota, a medical assistant’s daily routine involves a mix of administrative and clinical tasks. They manage patient records, schedule appointments, and handle billing/coding. They also perform clinical duties under a physician’s supervision, inlcuding:

Taking vital signs
Preparing and cleaning up exam rooms
Assisting with exams
Administering medications

Medical Assistant Certifications in South Dakota

An important element of becoming a medical assistant is becoming CMA or RMA certified (the difference is in title only; both are equally recognized). This requires passing the Certified Medical Assistant Exam, which is offered at Prometric testing centers located in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, and registering with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.

Once you’re certified, you can begin your career and explore long-term growth opportunities, including nursing, management, and healthcare administration. Keep in mind that certification must be kept up with continuing education units (CEUs) and recertification fees. You can find more specific details about the recertification process on your certifier’s website.

Medical Assistant Salary in South Dakota

Area ↕	10th Percentile ↕	Median ↕	90th Percentile ↕
U.S.	$35,020	$44,200	$57,830
South Dakota	$31,450	$39,350	$47,840
Rapid City, SD	$33,650	$38,810	$48,430
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$31,450	$40,560	$49,470

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 ↕
South Dakota	1,000	1,160	160	16.00%	150
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.

Online Medical Assistant Programs in South Dakota: Top Schools & More

How the Programs Work Online

Black Hills State University — Certificate

Herzing University — Certification/Diploma or Associate Degree

Southeast Technical College — Diploma

Spring Semester

Summer Semester

FAQs for South Dakota Medical Assistant Students

Is it hard to become a medical assistant in South Dakota?

What are the primary responsibilities for medical assistants in SD?

Medical Assistant Certifications in South Dakota

Medical Assistant Salary in South Dakota

Kyra Sutherland AUTHOR

Shannon Daigle, BA EDITOR