7 Best Medical Assistant Programs in Charlotte, NC
1. ECPI University
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma/ Associate Degree | Both | Both | 12 Months or 15 Months | Available |
The aspirants can apply for a medical assistant diploma course at the ECPI University, Charlotte, to get job-ready in medical offices or hospitals. However, the eligible candidates may also go for an associate degree in medical assisting here.
After finishing the MA diploma, the candidates stand eligible to sit in nationally recognized exams like Registered MA, Certified MA, Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), etc. The diploma course takes 12 months to complete. In comparison, aspirants for an associate degree can spend three more months in the ECPI University, which will benefit advancing in the medical assistant profession.
The classes are held in multiple sessions from morning to evening, or students may opt for an online course. The batches are of little strength and are fast-tracked with two classes per five-week pattern, which creates enough time for the students to keep up with their part-time jobs.
2. American Academy of Healthcare
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Full-time | On-Campus | 2 Months | 160 Hours |
The American Academy of Healthcare has been offering a medical assistant certificate program in Charlotte since 2006. They offer a certificate of completion to all the participant students. There are a limited number of seats in MA Classes to maintain a one-on-one teacher-to-student approach for quality education and individual skill development.
The medical assistant program at AAH, Charlotte, provides hands-on training for entry-level jobs in clinical labs & offices. The eligibility criteria for joining the MA program is a high school diploma or GED with certification in Nursing Assistant I.
MA classes are held in double shifts of day & evening, usually twice or thrice a week per batch. Out of the 140 hours of on-campus attendance and 16 hours of extern, the candidates missing more than 16 hours of class will be considered failures in the program.
There are strict regulations for clinical studies where students have to provide the health and vaccination documents as required by the college one week before the lab commencement. There are requisites of uniform like coats and scrubs, and accessories such as piercing or artificial jewelry or nails are not allowed.
3. Gaston College
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma/ Associate Degree | Part time | On-Campus | 2 Months | 8 Week |
Gaston College has three campuses that deliver quality medical assistant classes near Charlotte. The aspirants of medical assistant programs at Gaston College get an option to achieve a diploma as well as an associate degree. For admission in both programs, the students must confer their explicit knowledge in maths and English (both writing, reading, & communicable).
The medical assistant diploma course requires 48 program hours to cover, which is bifurcated into different module chapters and is listed in the catalog. In the medical assistant associate degree program, students need to finish 68 program hours.
Since there are limited seats in Gaston College, Charlotte’s MA program, the college suggests the applicants consult with an admission advisor, who can specifically check the pre-requisites before applying.
Monetary help is available from the college in loans, grants, or work programs, while there are no straight collaborations with Federal Direct Loan Programs. The veterans may apply for approved assistance, and academically qualifying students may also apply for scholarships.
4. Chosen Health Care Institute Inc
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Full time | On-Campus | 7 Months | 200 Hours |
The Chosen Health Care Institute Inc offers a long-term medical assistant program. They make a considerable effort in promoting subjective training in the most applicable sectors of medical assistance. They pay special attention to tutoring the students about Adult care, hospitals, Dialysis centers, Rehab centers, or multi-functional clinics.
The medical assistant certification at CHCI, Charlotte, follows a set pattern of finishing the course. The students will have to cover the five compiled courses in a series of Certified Nursing I, Medication Aide, Certified Nursing II, Phlebotomy, and Electrocardiogram Tech. The students who have already finished the CNA I at another institute can present the transcript, while further certifications from other centers are not acceptable.
The entire MA program can be finished in 526 hours, followed by 200 hours or approx—five weeks of internship, after which the students stand eligible for NHA exams. Admission to this program requires GED or graduate high school or college transcript, and the applicant should be above 18 years of age. Few documents are to be presented with a health check certificate.
5. Mitchell Community College
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma/ Associate | Full-time | On-Campus | 12 Months/ 24 Months | 200 hours/ 300 hours |
The Mitchel Community College is one of the prominent medical assistant schools in Charlotte that has been in the education field for more than 150 years. It has two options for students to either finish a diploma in medical assisting and start their career or spend more time studying and getting an associate degree that is more beneficial professionally.
To get enrolled in the MA course at MCC, Charlotte, the student needs to present physical & mental health certificates and should own a mobile device with a webcam to receive course materials online. The classes are not available online, and the students have to be present on-campus to attend theory classes, labs, and clinical practicum.
The diploma in medical assistant has 47 credit hours, while the associate degree in MA has 68 credit hours. After completing the final semester, an externship is necessary, which requires 32 – 40 hours per week for 6 – 8 weeks, and is entirely unpaid. The eligible candidates for FAFSA can contact the college’s financial aid department to gain monetary benefits.
6. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma/ Associate | Full time | On-Campus | 13 Months/ 18 Months | Available |
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences campus is well equipped with internet, computer labs, a library, and many more facilities that the students can utilize while studying in the medical assistant course. The fees charged for the MA program are lesser than many other colleges in Charlotte, while their success rate of passing students is almost 100%.
The students at CCHS can also pursue further to achieve an associate degree. The diploma course carries 38 credit hours, while the associate degree requires 68 credit hours. To continue for an associate degree, the student must complete 2 – 3 extra semesters of studies in college. The admission process to both programs is pretty hard as the applicant has to produce past scores in multiple subjects.
For getting a seat in the medical assistant diploma course, the student must have completed Algebra I, Algebra II or Geometry, and Biology with a “C” (2.0) or higher grade. SAT score of 430 for reading, 380 for maths, and an ACT score of 18 are needed. Similarly, for continuing in medical assistant associate degree, the student should also produce a “C” grade in Algebra I, II, Geometry, Biology, and Chemistry. Two professional references are also required for admission in either of the courses.
7. Central Piedmont Community College
| Program: | Full time/ Part-time: | Online/ On-Campus: | Duration: | Externship: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate/ Diploma/ Degree | Both | Both | 13 Months | N/A |
The aspirants who wish to take admission in the medical assistant classes at Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, can join as beginners in the course and continue to complete their associate degree by extending the curriculum. They take only 24 full-time and 12 part-time students for their MA program.
For admissions, the students need to acquire a minimum of a “C” grade in certificate programs. Apart from GED and other documentation with medical tests, the applicants will also have to attempt a typing test. They should clear it with a rate of 30 words per minute and 80% accuracy.
Students can choose to get certified in one or more of the specializations in the medical assistant certificate program. It includes three major categories, Health Sciences (14 credits), Medical Scribe (13 credits), and Healthcare Interpreter (16 credits).
The average ratio of student to teacher in a MA class is 19 to 1, which suits the students to interact individually with the faculty and clear their doubts. The fee structure at CPCC is planned to provide quality education to the mass at lower prices, while there are options of loans and scholarships for the qualifying students.
