If you’re looking to enter the healthcare field fast, becoming a medical assistant is a great entry-level position. Medical assistants (MAs) are valued members of the healthcare team that performs both clinical and administrative duties. In the dynamic field of healthcare, medical assistants play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of medical facilities. Medical assistants are in high demand as MA jobs are projected to grow by 14% from 2024 – 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you’re interested in joining the medical field quickly, becoming a medical assistant may be the perfect option for you! In this blog we will list out all the medical assistant programs in NY.
What is a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants work alongside other healthcare professionals such as physicians, patients, and other medical staff in a variety of settings. Typically MAs work in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks. Their responsibilities include tasks such as recording vital signs, filling out insurance paperwork, managing patient records, educating patients on plans of care, and more.
What Certifications Can Medical Assistants Earn in New York?
Medical assistants have a variety of certifications they can earn. Earning a medical assistant certification helps you advance your knowledge and skills, increasing the potential of earning a higher salary and advancing your career. There are several certifications through various associations. Below is a list of different certification options for aspiring medical assistants to consider:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NCA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NCA)
- Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) offered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
Medical Assistant Programs in NY
Below is a list of medical assistant programs in NY State:
- ABC Training Center
- The ABC Training Center in NYC offers a Clinical Medical Assistant program. This program requires 450 hours of combined classroom and externship hours. 100 hours will be from an internship at a medical facility. They offer a part-time schedule program that is 24 weeks or a fast track program which is 12 weeks.
Location: Bronx, NY
Website: https://abctrainingcenter.net/medical-assistant/
- Ace Institute of Technology
- Ace Institute of Technology offers career-focused Medical Assistant programs that prepare students with clinical and non-clinical skills. Students who take this program will be prepared to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Location: Manhattan, NY & Queens, NY
Website: https://acecareer.edu/medical-technology/medical-assistant/
- Allen School of Health Sciences
- Allen School of Health Sciences offers a Medical Assistant program in Brooklyn and Queens. The medical assistant program is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
Location: Brooklyn, NY & Queens, NY
Website: https://www.allenschool.edu/programs/medical-assistant/
- Alpha prime tech private career school
- Alpha Prime Tech offers a Medical Assistant Certificate program that includes a mandatory externship. The students in this program will be taught both clinical and non-clinical skills.
Location: New York, New York
Website: https://alphaprimetech.org/medical-assistant-programs-in-new-york/
- Bryant & Stratton College
- Bryant & Stratton College offers a Medical Assisting degree program and a Medical Assisting Diploma program. Students in degree program will earn an associates degree of applied science in Medical Assisting. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the AAMA National Certified Medical Assistant exam (CMA) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA) CCMA certification exam. Students that complete the medical assisting diploma program will be prepared to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.
Diploma Program Locations: Albany, NY
AAS Program Locations: Albany, Amherst, Buffalo, Greece, Henrietta, Liverpool, Orchard Park, and Syracuse, NY
Diploma Program Website: https://www.bryantstratton.edu/degrees/healthcare/medical-assisting-diploma/
AAS Program Website: https://www.bryantstratton.edu/degrees/healthcare/aas-medical-assisting/
- Columbia-Greene Community College
- Columbia-Greene Community College offers a Medical Assisting AAS program. Their program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).
Location: Hudson, NY
Website: https://www.columbiagreene.edu/academics/programs/medical-assisting/
- CUNY Lehman College
- CUNY Lehman College offers an online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program. This program combines classroom instruction with practical experience through an internship. Lehman’s CCMA program is accredited by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Students who complete this program will be prepared to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam.
Location: Bronx, NY
- CUNY The City College of New York
- CUNY The City College of New York offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) online hybrid program. This program prepares students to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certification exam.
Location: New York, New York
Website: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/cps/certified-clinical-medical-assistant
- CUNY Queensborough Community College
- CUNY Queensborough Community College offers a Medical Assistant AAS degree program. Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam.
Location: Bayside, NY
Website: https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/academics/degree-programs/aas-medical-assistant.html
- EBI Career College
- EBI Career College offers an associates degree in Medical Assisting program. The program takes 16 months to complete. Students who complete the program are eligible to sit for the AAMA Medical Assisting Certification exam.
Location: Vestal, NY
Website: https://ebi.edu/medical-assisting/medical-assistant-associate-degree/
- Elmira College
- Elmira College offers a certification program for aspiring medical assistants. The program trains students to become a critical healthcare team member as a clinical medical assistant. Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) designated by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Location: Elmira, NY
Website: https://www.elmira.edu/academics/continuing-education/certified-medical-assistant
- Hunter Business School
- Hunter Business School in Long Island offers an evening and day Medical Assistant diploma program. The evening program takes 15 months to complete and the day program takes 7 ½ months to complete. The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the CAAHEP.
Location: Levittown, NY & Medford, NY
Website: https://hunterbusinessschool.edu/programs-offered/medical-assistant-program/
- Jefferson Community College
- Jefferson Community College offers a Clinical Medical Assistant program in Watertown, NY. The MA program requires 140 hours of course contact hours and 160 hours of clinical externship. Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.
Location: Watertown, NY
Website: https://sunyjefferson.edu/academics/programs/clinical-medical-assistant.php
- LaGuardia Community College
- LaGuardia Community College offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program in Long Island City, NY. Students who complete the five courses in the program will be eligible to take the NHA CCMA certification exam.
Location: Long Island City, NY
Website: https://www.laguardia.edu/ce/career-skills-training/certified-clinical-medical-assistant-ccma/
- Madison-Oneida Board of Cooperative Educational Services
- The Madison-Oneida Board of Cooperative Educational Services offers a Medical Assistant program. The program requires students to complete 227 classroom hours and the 63-hour clinical externship.
Location: Verona, NY
Website: https://www.moboces.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=917851&pageId=2930158
- Mandl School – The College of Allied Health
- The Mandl School, The College of Allied Health offers a Medical Assistant Certification program. The program takes approximately 45 weeks to complete.
Location: New York, NY
Website: https://mandl.edu/programs/medical-assisting-certificate/
- Medical Training Institute of New York
- Medical Training Institute of New York offers three different Medical Assistant programs. The Medical Assistant programs offered are a general Medical Assistant program, a Clinical Medical Assistant, and an Administrative Medical Assistant. All three programs offer day, evening, and weekend classes.
Location: Manhattan, NY
Website: https://www.mtiofnewyork.com/medical-training-institute-our-programs/medical-assistant/
- Mildred Elley
- Mildred Elley has two campuses located in Albany, NY and NYC. They offer two Medical Assistant programs: a Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate program and a Medical Assistant Associate in Occupational Studies. Students who attend Mildred Elley will have the opportunity to take national certifying exams through the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
Location: Albany, NY & NY, NY
Website: https://www.mildred-elley.edu/academics/medical-assistant/
- Molloy University
- Molloy University is located in Rockville Centre, NY. They offer one Medical Assistant Certification program. Students who complete the Molloy University MA program are prepared to take either the Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CCMA) or the Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (CMAA).
Location: Rockville Centre, NY
- Monroe College
- Monroe College offers an associates degree in Medical Assisting. The MA degree takes approximately five (5) semesters to complete. Students who earn this degree are eligible to sit for the CMA exam, CCMA exam, RMA exam, and the NCMA exam.
Location: Bronx, NY & New Rochelle, NY
- New Age Training
- New Age Training offers a Medical Assistant program that has a course length of approximately 900 hours. This curriculum is approved by the NHA, NCCT, and AMT. Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the CCMA, CMAA, CET, and CPT certification exams.
Location: New York, New York
Website: https://newagetraining.com/courses/medical-assistant/
- New York Medical Career Training Center
- New York Medical Career Training Center offers a Medical Assistant (RMA) program. They have three locations in Flushing, Garden City, and NYC. This program consists of 600 hours of classes and 300 hours of an internship to make a total of 900 hours.
Location: Flushing, NY , Garden City, NY & NYC
Website: https://www.nymedtraining.com/training-options/medical-assistant/
- New York School of Career and Applied Studies
- New York School of Career and Applied Studies offers an associates degree program. Students who complete this program will earn an associate degree in science. New York School of Career and Applied Studies prepares students to sit for the Clinical Medical Assistant Certification exam (CMAC) provided by the American Medical Certification Association.
Location: New York, New York
Website: https://nyscas.touro.edu/academics/medical-assistant/
- Onondaga Community College
- Onondaga Community College has two campuses, one in Syracuse and one in Liverpool. They offer a Medical Assistant program that is 36 weeks long. Students will be eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam by the NHA.
Location: Syracuse, NY & Liverpool, NY
Website: https://www.sunyocc.edu/programs/medical-assistant-training
- Plaza College
- Plaza College offers an associate degree in medical assisting. Students who complete Plaza College’s MA program will earn an associate of applied science degree. All graduates will hold a national certification, the Registered Medical Assistant.
Location: Forest Hills, NY
Website: https://plazacollege.edu/academics/school-of-allied-health/medical-assisting/
- Saint Paul’s School of Nursing
- Saint Paul’s School of Nursing offers a Medical Assistant program offered at their Staten Island campus and their Queens campus. This program is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills necessary for entry-level employment.
Location: Staten Island, NY & Queens, NY
Website: https://www.stpaulsschoolofnursing.edu/programs/healthcare—medical/medical-assisting.html
- Suffolk County Community College
- SUNY Suffolk offers a Clinical Medical Assistant program. The program length is 7 and a half months offered in both fall and spring semesters. Students have the opportunity to earn a certificate in Clinical Medical Assisting (CCMA).
Location: Selden, NY
Website: https://ce.sunysuffolk.edu/additional-programs/health-care-and-health-it/clinical-medical-assisting/
- SUNY Broome Community College
- SUNY Broome Community College offers a Medical Assistant A.A.S. degree program. Students who complete the program are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. The school is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Location: Binghamton, NY
Website: https://catalog.sunybroome.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=22&poid=2174&returnto=818
- SUNY Corning Community College
- SUNY Corning Community College offers an online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program. This program includes completing a 130 hour clinical externship. After students complete this program they will be eligible to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) offered through the NHA.
Location: Corning, NY
- SUNY Erie
- SUNY Erie has three campuses located in Buffalo, Williamsville, and Orchard Park, NY. They offer an associate degree in clinical medical assisting. Students who complete this program will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and apply to take the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) national certification exam.
Location: Williamsville, NY
Website: https://www.ecc.edu/academics/medical-assisting.html
- SUNY Nassau Community College
- SUNY Nassau Community College and Northwell Health formed a partnership to support Northwell entry-level candidates to jump-start their career to become a Medical Assistant. They offer a Medical Assistant Certification program and a Medical Assistant Association in Applied Science degree program.
Location: Garden City, NY
Medical Assistant AAS Website: https://collegecatalog.ncc.edu/current/programs/administrative_business_technology_health_information_technology/medical_assistant_aas.html
Medical Assistant Certification Website: https://collegecatalog.ncc.edu/current/programs/administrative_business_technology_health_information_technology/medical_assistant_cert.html
- SUNY Niagara
- SUNY Niagara offers a Medical Assistant degree program in Sanborn, NY. Students who graduate from this program are eligible to apply for national certification exams such as the CMA exam, RMA exam, and NCMA exam.
Location: Sanborn, NY
Website: https://www.niagaracc.suny.edu/programs/meda/
- SUNY Orange
- SUNY Orange has two campuses, one in Middletown, NY and one in Newburgh, NY. They have a Clinical Medical Assistant program and a Medical Administrative Assistant program. The CMAA program is 15 weeks long and the CCMA program is 14 weeks long.
Location: Middletown, NY and Newburgh, NY
Website: https://sunyorange.edu/plus/cape/index.html
- SUNY Schenectady County Community College
- SUNY Schenectady County Community College offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program and a Medical Administrative Assistant program. Students who take the CCMA program are eligible to sit for NHA certification exams including Phlebotomy, EKG, MMA, and CCMA. Those who take the MAA program are eligible to take the NHA MAA exam.
Location: Schenectady, NY
CCMA Program Website: https://sunysccc.edu/About-Us/Workforce-Development-and-Community-Education/Certified-Clinical-Medical-Assistant.html
MAA Program Website: https://sunysccc.edu/About-Us/Workforce-Development-and-Community-Education/Medical-Administrative-Assistant.html
- SUNY Sullivan
- SUNY Sullivan offers a Medical Assistant Certificate program and a Medical Assistant Associate Degree program. The AAS degree is a 64-credit program with a medical assistant externship. The MA Certificate program is a 34-credit program.
Location: Loch Sheldrake, NY
Medical Assistant Certificate Website: https://sunysullivan.edu/health-sciences/medical-assistant-cert/
Medical Assistant associate’s degree Website: https://sunysullivan.edu/health-sciences/medical-assistant-aas/
- SUNY Rockland Community College
- SUNY Rockland Community College is located in Suffern, NY. They offer a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program. This program prepares students to pass the NHA CCMA exam.
Location: Suffern, NY
Website: https://sunyrockland.edu/community/workforce-development/certified-clinical-medical-assistant/
- SUNY Ulster
- SUNY Ulster college offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program in Stone Ridge, NY. Students are prepared to sit for the NHA CCMA exam after completing the program.
Location: Stone Ridge, NY
Website: https://www.sunyulster.edu/continuing_education/health/health-human-services.php
- The College of Westchester
- The College of Westchester offers two Medical Assistant programs. The MA programs include an associate degree in medical assistant management and a Medical Assistant Specialist certification program.
Location: White Plains, NY
Medical Assistant Associate degree program website: https://www.cw.edu/school-of-health-professions-aas-medical-assistant-management
Medical Assistant Specialist certification program website: https://www.cw.edu/school-of-health-professions-medical-assistant-specialist
- The New York School for Medical & Dental Assistants
- The New York School for Medical & Dental Assistants offers a Medical Assisting AOS degree program. Students who complete this program earn an associate degree of occupational studies. NYSMDA serves all five boroughs of New York.
Location: Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, NY.
Website: https://www.nysmda.com/medical-assistants
- Trocaire College
- Trocaire College offers both a MA certificate program and associate degree program. Students who complete either program are eligible to take multiple certification exams. The exams graduates are eligible to sit for includes the CMA exam, CCMA exam, CMAA exam, CMRS exam, CBCS exam, and RMA exam.
Location: Buffalo, NY
Website: https://trocaire.edu/academics/academic-program/medical-assistant/
- University at Buffalo
- The University at Buffalo offers a Registered Medical Assistant Certification program. Students who complete the program will be eligible to sit for the National Registered Medical Assistant Certification from American Medical Technologists.
Location: Buffalo, NY
Website: https://www.buffalo.edu/eoc/programs/allied-health/registered-medical-assistant.html
- Wagner College
- Wagner College is located in Staten Island, NY and offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program. Students will be prepared to take and earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. This certification program is 100% online.
Location: Staten Island, NY
Website: https://wagner.edu/lifelong-learning/clinical-medical-assistant/
Conclusion
Medical assistants are crucial members of the healthcare team. New York offers many MA programs throughout the state for aspiring medical assistants for those interested in entering the field quickly. With the variety of medical assistant programs in NY, students can find a program that fits their personal schedules and career goals. By earning a medical assistant certification, graduates will embark on a rewarding career journey with many other options to advance their careers. If you’re looking for a medical assistant job in New York, send us your resume or take a look at our current open jobs!