The college has a one-year diploma course for those interested in the health sector. The program gears you as an MA with cross-functional training across varied skill sets. The school boasts of a clinical simulation lab where students get hands down interaction with most up-to-date equipment. Apt computer training is also rendered. The program has its coursework plus a practicum. Most importantly, the internship provides a valuable opportunity to achieve on-the-job-training quite early in your career. Practical insights into the actual ambulatory settings are provided, preparing students for what’s going to come their way. According to the 2019 Annual Report Form (ARF), this program has a certification exam passage rate of 100% for graduates (2018). The program also showed a 100% job placement rate (2018).

The program rewards a MA Diploma in 11 months (43-46 hours). As a prerequisite, the student has to meet the score on the ACCUPLACER exam (250 or above in reading and writing). Credits from relevant computer studies and general courses may be transferable for the program. A 75% (C grade) or higher is required for credit transfer. Moreover, the MA program at Marshalltown Community College has recently gone through a re-accreditation renewal process valid until 2027. You can also study further for an AA (Associate of Arts) degree where the course elective credits can be transferred for speedier graduation.

The MA program at the Iowa Western Community College is accredited by the CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) as recommended by MAERB (Medical Assistant Education Review Board). The course rewards a diploma in 10 months. Modules are arranged across three domains – cognitive (enhances knowledge), psychomotor (hones the skills required), and affective (inducing the apt behavior). The course has ranked higher than national averages on student and employer satisfaction, graduation, and job placement rates across the past five years, as per the most recent reports submitted to the MAERB.

The MA program in this school offers a diploma course extending over two semesters of theoretical learning and lab practicals. Post this, students attend 210 hours, 30-day practicum. It’s good to note that 93% of students from the school who had taken the certification exams in the past five years passed and hold the esteemed credentials. The MA course at Iowa Central Community College usually begins in autumn and finishes off in the summer of next year. For those wanting to study further, continuing with an AAS degree in MA is possible. For this, the student is required to complete additional 13-hour credits of coursework and extra 6 hours credit of elective classes.

The MA diploma at this school also makes you eligible to sit for the CMA examination. The ACCUPLACER test is usually required to be taken by all applicants. On the CLASSIC variant of the test, students need to score a minimum of 70 on reading and 250 on the NEXT GENERATION. The program begins in the fall and is accredited by CAAHEP. The practicum at the end of the course has to be completed by all students. The 6-week externship (40 hrs per week) is unpaid for. On-campus classes are held during the rest of the course, which includes lab sessions.

This community college trains you across distinct healthcare functions. The program shall also train you across third-party reimbursements, billing procedures, and scheduling. Accredited by the CAAHEP, a vital feature of the program is its state-of-the-art patient simulator lab. Here, you shall have the opportunity to learn hands-on reaction to different patient scenarios in a controlled setting. Moreover, the school has recently started its evening program (5 PM classes Monday through Thursday every week).

The MA program at Eastern Iowa Community College focuses on both administrative and clinical skills training. This course makes you eligible for the medical certification exam from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). The degree rewarded at the end of the course is an MA diploma. Expect an internship placement with a local physician at the end of the program. The new MA course is based at Eastern Iowa Community College’s SCC’s Urban Campus encompasses more than 7,000 square feet area with the most advanced technology inclusions. Evening sessions or online classes may be arranged if required by a student.

The MA program here is accredited to enable you to take the CMA exam. However, the program is currently undergoing a revision and re-approval. Thus, check with the college directly for alterations. The online class format covers clinical practices in ambulatory care environments. The college has coveted healthcare partners who provide great practicum opportunities to the students. The modules instructed range around MA administrative procedures, anatomy and physiology, and clinical procedures.

The MA program at the Indian Hills Community College starts during fall and extends for up to 12 months. The course is divided into four terms, and the degree achieved on completion is a diploma by SCC. As the program is shared with the Southeastern Community College, students are ultimately enrolled in and completing the program in both IHCC and SCC. In the summer, students get the opportunity of practicing in a physician’s office to enrich themselves further. Passing the course makes the students eligible to sit for the CMA exam by the AAMA.

In IA, Orion Technical College is present at two locations. The school recognizes the growing demand for MAs and trains them across both administrative and clinical areas. The diploma course classes usually extend from Monday through Thursday. The day batches are from 8:10 to 1:00 PM, and night sessions are held from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM. The total program is a 40-week undertaking with an externship at the end. The school is an authorized certification site for the NCCT. People looking to waive off tuition fees can apply for their financial aid opportunities. Graduates from the program will have a wide range of job opportunities. They could choose to work as MAs, ECG technicians, office managers, phlebotomists, dialysis technicians, and more as per the school.

This MA program is a one-year-long undertaking and has accreditation since 1972. Statistics hold that around 94% of graduates from this program sit for the CMA exam and around 92% pass in the first attempt. There are three semesters to the program. The school also offers classes on a part-time basis for those having other obligations that don’t allow them to involve full-time. MA AAS can also be pursued by students wanting to take their education further. This associate degree in MA lasts for a couple of years, i.e., four semesters. One key feature of Kirkwood is that it boasts of providing more scholarships than any other community college in IA. Thus, if you seek financial aid, this college should be considered.

The full-time MA course at the DMASS lasts for a year. Specific modules you will train in during the course include diagnostic radiography, human body – health and diseases, med lab procedures, and introduction to psychology. Part-time classes are also possible (2 years for course completion). However, please note that the school doesn’t operate online sessions or evening classes. Students, on completion, are eligible to take the CMA. In fact, aspirants can also opt for the State of Iowa Limited Radiography Permit post-graduation.

It’s good to note that the Western Iowa Tech had a 100% job placement for its 2018 batch. A total of 88.89% of students sitting for national certification programs have successfully passed over the last five years. Admission to the MA program involves meeting one of these four essential prerequisites: ACT score (at least 19) or an associate degree (or higher) or high school transcript (GPA 2.0 and above) plus completion of 1-year high school science equivalent (grade C or better) or a completed BIO 163 and HSC 114 (grade C or better).

One of the most coveted community colleges in the state, the NIACC’s MA program takes only ten and a half months to complete. The key feature of the course is the real-to-life environment rendered to the students in the form of the health simulation labs. This setting is attempted to replicate an actual hospital. The program is accredited by the CAAHEP.  Prerequisites for admission into the course include a minimum of 35 wpm keyboarding skills. The course has its pre-admission test that students have to pass. Basic Life Support certification is a must.

With presence across 41 locations, Ross College offers both a medical assistant diploma and an associate degree in medical assisting. In Iowa, the school is in the Quad Cities. The diploma course extends for 30 weeks. An evening degree (36 weeks long) is also available for students. There is also a 6-week externship at the end of the course wherein students get into the field. The medical assistant Associate of Applied Science degree is only for students who have already completed the MA diploma course. Specialized skills, such as managing electronic medical records, are introduced into the curriculum.