Most important takeaways…
- Louisiana does not require medical assistant certification or licensure.
- Delgado Community College holds programmatic accreditation for CMA eligibility.
- New Orleans metro medical assistants earn a median wage of $35,670.
Medical Assistant Schools in New Orleans, LA (2026)
Compare accreditation, tuition, schedules, and externship options at New Orleans-area MA programs so you can enroll with confidence.
Choosing between a nine-month certificate and a two-year associate degree shapes everything from your start date to your student loan balance. New Orleans offers both paths, but the city's handful of accredited medical assistant programs differ sharply in tuition, schedule format, and medical assistant certification exam alignment.
Ochsner Health, LCMC Health, and Tulane Medical Center anchor a regional healthcare sector that employs over 60,000 workers, keeping the medical assistant job outlook steady across clinics, urgent care centers, and specialty practices. Yet only two metro-area programs currently hold CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, and tuition ranges from under $4,000 at Delgado Community College to roughly $13,000 at private technical schools.
New Orleans's Healthcare Landscape and Why MAs Are in Demand
Do you need to be certified or licensed to work as a medical assistant in New Orleans? No, Louisiana allows you to work as a medical assistant without certification or licensure.4 But that does not mean training is optional in a practical sense. The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners treats MAs as unlicensed personnel who may perform tasks for which they have been adequately trained, and those tasks must be done under physician supervision.4 That supervision is specific: the physician must be physically present on the premises and immediately available.4
Where MA jobs are concentrated around New Orleans
The New Orleans metro has a dense healthcare employment base, and MA openings tend to cluster around the region's largest systems. Ochsner Health is a major system with hospitals and clinics throughout the metro and regularly lists medical assistant positions. LCMC Health covers several large facilities, including University Medical Center New Orleans, Touro, and East Jefferson General Hospital, all common sites for hospital medical assistant jobs. Tulane Medical Center and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, often called the VA Medical Center, are also common places to find MA roles. If you are willing to commute, nearby suburbs and cities expand the job map considerably. Metairie and Kenner sit just west of the city, Gretna is across the river, and Slidell is across Lake Pontchartrain. Baton Rouge, roughly 80 miles away, is a larger adjacent market that some MAs commute to or move toward after finishing a program.
Certification, supervision, and what you can do
Because Louisiana does not license MAs, the state does not require a specific national credential. CMA, CCMA, and RMA are all common, and hiring preferences often depend on the employer rather than state law. However, Louisiana does set a clear baseline for scope of practice. MAs work under a supervising physician, cannot practice independently, and should only perform clinical tasks for which they have been trained. Medication administration training is an important part of that expectation.5 Many MA programs in the New Orleans area teach students that MAs generally do not administer:
- Oxygen
- Narcotics
- Blood products
- IV medications
- Insulin
These restrictions reflect patient-safety standards rather than a standalone MA statute, which Louisiana does not have.5
How long it takes to become an MA in Louisiana
The most common entry points are a certificate program, which typically runs 9 to 12 months, or an associate degree, which usually takes 18 to 24 months. Certificate programs at many medical assistant schools in Louisiana focus on clinical and administrative basics and are a faster route into the workforce. Associate degrees add general education coursework and may offer a little more flexibility if you later decide to move into nursing or another allied health path. Either route can prepare you to sit for a national exam, even though Louisiana does not legally require that exam before you accept an MA job.
CAAHEP Vs. ABHES: Which New Orleans Programs Hold Which Accreditation
For medical assistant training in New Orleans, program accreditation matters most because it determines whether you can sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam. As of 2026, the two New Orleans metro programs with verified programmatic accreditation are Delgado Community College (CAAHEP) and Advance Nursing Training LLC (ABHES). Both accrediting bodies open the CMA (AAMA) eligibility path for graduates. Other local schools, including Herzing University, Remington College, Blue Cliff College, and New Orleans Medical Assistant School, did not have CAAHEP or ABHES status confirmed in the sources we reviewed, so confirm directly before enrolling. For CCMA (NHA) and RMA (AMT), the sources did not establish a universal accreditation rule, so check exam requirements separately. A missing directory listing does not prove a program is unaccredited, only that we could not verify it from the supplied results.
| Accreditation body | Verified New Orleans program | Location | Credential exam pathway | Verification note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAAHEP | Delgado Community College | New Orleans, LA | CMA (AAMA) | Currently listed as accredited in the CAAHEP directory as of 2026. |
| ABHES | Advance Nursing Training LLC | New Orleans, LA | CMA (AAMA) | Currently listed as accredited in the ABHES directory as of 2026. |
| Not confirmed | Herzing University, Remington College, Blue Cliff College, and New Orleans Medical Assistant School | New Orleans metro area | Varies by program, with some preparing for NHA CCMA | No CAAHEP or ABHES listing was found in the research sources reviewed for 2026. |
CMA Vs. CCMA Vs. RMA: Which Certification Each Program Prepares You For
The clearest difference for New Orleans applicants is accreditation. CMA (AAMA) eligibility requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program, while CCMA (NHA) can follow a training program or one year of medical assisting experience. Official RMA (AMT) eligibility details were not available in the sources reviewed, so cells marked with a dash could not be confirmed.
Program Costs and Financial Aid Options in New Orleans
The gap between public and private medical assistant training in the New Orleans area has never been more relevant, especially as workforce funding options continue to expand for short-term healthcare credentials. Understanding total cost, not just the tuition figure on a brochure, can save you thousands.
The Public College Advantage
Community colleges in the region offer some of the most affordable medical assistant training programs. Delgado Community College lists total program tuition at roughly $3,570 for its five-month certificate. Fletcher Technical Community College, River Parishes Community College, and Northshore Technical Community College post in-state tuition rates in the $4,000 to $4,300 range per year at the institutional level. Their institution-wide average net price after financial aid falls between approximately $9,700 and $10,800. Keep in mind that those net price figures reflect the overall student population, not a program-specific quote, so your actual out-of-pocket cost for a short certificate could be considerably lower.
By contrast, the University of New Orleans PACE program (an online CCMA track) carries a higher institutional sticker price and an average net cost around $12,400. Private and for-profit schools in the metro can climb well above that, making it worth your time to compare apples to apples before signing an enrollment agreement.
Costs Beyond Tuition
Tuition is only part of the picture. Budget for these common extras:
- Scrubs and lab supplies: Expect $75 to $200 depending on how many sets your program requires.
- Stethoscope and blood pressure cuff: Around $30 to $100 for student-grade equipment.
- Textbook or courseware bundles: $150 to $400, depending on whether your school uses digital or print materials.
- Certification exam fees: The CMA, CCMA, and RMA exams each cost between $200 and $300 per attempt, and some programs bundle an exam voucher into tuition while others do not.
- CPR certification: Typically $50 to $75 if not included in the program.
Add these line items up and you could be looking at $500 to $1,000 on top of tuition.
Financial Aid and Workforce Funding
Pell Grant eligibility is strong across New Orleans-area programs. At Delgado, roughly 86% of students receive Pell Grants. Northshore Technical Community College is similar at about 88%, and Fletcher Tech sits near 82%. That high concentration of Pell recipients signals that these schools are well-practiced at processing federal aid for students who qualify.
Beyond Pell Grants, Louisiana's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding is a major resource. Several area programs appear on the state's Eligible Training Provider List,2 including:
- Delgado Community College
- New Orleans Career Center (Medical Assistant I, II, and III, with program costs of $1,000 to $2,000 per level)1
- Medical Training College
- Mia's Medical Academy
- Woodland Healthcare Training Institute
- Camelot College
To apply for WIOA funding, start at louisianaworks.net and search the HiRE system for the Eligible Training Provider List.2 From there, connect with your local workforce development board, which will walk you through intake, eligibility screening, and funding approval. Some WIOA-funded arrangements, like the Ochsner partnership with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, function like employer sponsored medical assistant training and have covered tuition entirely, though requirements such as a high school diploma or equivalency, a drug screen, and a background check are common.
Institutional Payment Plans
If you do not qualify for medical assistant scholarships and grants or WIOA funding, many private schools and some community colleges offer monthly payment plans that let you spread costs over the length of the program. Ask the financial aid office specifically whether interest accrues on those plans, because a zero-interest installment arrangement is very different from financing that quietly adds hundreds of dollars in charges.
The bottom line: a public community college certificate paired with Pell Grant or WIOA funding can bring your true out-of-pocket cost to near zero in some cases. Even without workforce funding, the public-versus-private tuition gap in this metro is significant enough that it should factor heavily into your decision.
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What Medical Assistants Earn in New Orleans
Medical assistant wages in the New Orleans-Metairie metro area show a wide spread. The May 2023 federal wage survey reports a median annual wage of $35,670, while the latest statewide median for Louisiana is $36,320 from 2025 data. One notable pattern in the metro numbers is that the median falls below the 25th percentile, which points to a skewed wage distribution in this area.
| Location | Statistic | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 10th percentile annual wage | $33,500 | 2023 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 25th percentile annual wage | $36,780 | 2023 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Median annual wage | $35,670 | 2023 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 75th percentile annual wage | $47,220 | 2023 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 90th percentile annual wage | $56,480 | 2023 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Total employment | 2,760 | 2023 |
| Louisiana statewide | Median annual wage | $36,320 | 2025 |
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I want to sit for the CMA exam, and does my target program hold CAAHEP accreditation to qualify me?
CAAHEP-accredited New Orleans programs create the clearest path to CMA eligibility. A non-accredited option may still prepare you well but could add extra steps or limit you to other credentials.
Can I attend day classes full-time, or do I need an evening or hybrid schedule that works around a job?
Many New Orleans students keep service or hospital jobs while training. Check campus locations and class formats before enrolling, because a program in Metairie or Kenner may look close but still strain a shift schedule.
Is a 9-month certificate enough for my career goals, or will an associate degree give me a stronger starting salary and transfer credits?
A certificate gets you job-ready faster, while an associate degree may support higher initial pay in some New Orleans clinics and credits that transfer toward nursing or healthcare administration later.
New Orleans Medical Assistant Programs Ranked
Below are the top medical assistant programs serving New Orleans students, ranked by accreditation status, program fit, and institutional completion data. The list includes campus certificates in the metro area, online CCMA training, and regional technical college options.
How this list was built
Factors considered
- Accreditation status and program fit
- Campus location and delivery format
- Institution-wide completion and retention data
- Net price after financial aid
- Scorecard median earnings where available
Sources
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- Independent program research
Delgado Community College
#1New Orleans, LA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Best for: New Orleans commuters prioritizing campus labs
Delgado Community College is the most direct New Orleans option, with both its Medical Assistant and Ophthalmic Medical Assistant certificates based at the City Park Campus in the heart of the city. The general medical assistant program holds CAAHEP accreditation and is WIOA approved, making it a practical fit for local workforce funding. The institution reports an average net price after aid around $9,700, and College Scorecard data show median earnings near $33,000 for former students overall. The campus-wide graduation rate is about 24%, a figure that reflects the broader college rather than this specific program.
- $3,570 total program tuition
- 5-month program
- Prepares for CCMA exam
- CPR certification included
- WIOA tuition approved
- Administrative and clinical duties
- International Council of Accreditation (ICA) accredited
- 3-semester program with fall start
- Prepares for Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)
- Scholarships available
- Career in advanced medical technology
University of New Orleans
#2New Orleans, LA · ~$12,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working adults needing fully online training
The University of New Orleans offers a 100% online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certificate through its PACE continuing education division, eliminating the need to commute to campus. The 12-month noncredit program includes CPR certification, an unpaid clinical experience, and a CCMA exam voucher, with front and back office training. Institution-wide, UNO reports an average net price after aid around $12,400 and median earnings near $48,000 for former students, though program-level earnings are not yet reported. The university's campus-wide graduation rate is about 38%, a figure that covers all UNO students rather than the CCMA cohort alone.
- 12-month program
- 100% online course
- Prepares for CCMA exam
- CPR certification included
- Unpaid clinical experience included
- CCMA exam voucher included
- Covers medical terminology and front/back office duties
Northshore Technical Community College
#3Lacombe, LA · ~$11,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Northshore residents seeking hands-on clinical training
Northshore Technical Community College serves the Northshore side of the New Orleans metro with a campus-based Medical Assistant certificate at its Florida Parishes and Hammond campuses. The program emphasizes clinical skills such as EKG analysis, medication administration, and specimen preparation while preparing students for national certification. The institution's average net price after aid is about $10,800, and College Scorecard data show median earnings near $30,000 for former students. The campus-wide graduation rate is about 40%, a figure that reflects the entire college rather than the medical assistant program alone.
- Offered at Florida Parishes and Hammond campuses
- Prepares for national certification
- School of Nursing & Health Sciences
- Teaches EKG strip analysis and specimen preparation
- Focus on medication administration and vital signs
River Parishes Community College
#4Gonzales, LA · $11,000/yr
River Parishes Community College in Gonzales offers a 26-credit Medical Assisting certificate with a cohort structure and 180 clinical hours. The program is designed for immediate employment rather than transfer, and students can also earn a Medical Office Customer Service CTC. The average net price after aid is about $10,760, and institution-wide median earnings for former students are around $37,800. The campus-wide graduation rate is about 30%, a figure that reflects the whole college rather than the medical assistant program alone.
- 26 total credit hours
- 180 clinical hours
- Prepares for NHA-CCMA exam
- Cohort-based structure
- Additional Medical Office Customer Service CTC option
- All courses require grade C or better
Fletcher Technical Community College
#5Schriever, LA · ~$11,000/yr (est.)
Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever offers a two-semester Medical Clinical Assistant certificate with a fall cohort start and a required clinical component. Its partnership with the Cardiovascular Institute of the South creates a specialized scholarship opportunity, though the Schriever campus is a longer commute from central New Orleans than other options. The institution's average net price after aid is about $10,500, and median earnings for former students are around $32,000. The campus-wide graduation rate is about 30%, a figure that reflects the entire college rather than this specific program.
- Two-semester program
- Starts fall
- Cohort-based structure
- Prepares for CCMA exam
- Partnership with Cardiovascular Institute of the South
- Clinical component required for completion
- Scholarships available
Frequently Asked Questions About MA Schools in New Orleans
Prospective medical assistant students in New Orleans often ask about program length, cost, accreditation, and certification. Here are direct answers based on current area programs and costs.
How long does it take to become a medical assistant in New Orleans?
It varies by school. New Orleans Medical Assistant School lists an 18 week program with an 80 hour externship.1 Delgado Community College's certificate in medical assisting takes about five months,2 and Orleans Technical College runs 25 weeks plus a 5 week externship.3 Herzing offers a 10 month diploma or 16 month associate degree,4 while UNO PACE's CCMA certificate takes about 12 months.5
What is the difference between CMA and CCMA certification?
CMA is the Certified Medical Assistant credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).4 CCMA is the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential, commonly offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).5 They are separate exams and certifications. Programs may prepare for one or the other, so compare CMA vs CCMA certification and choose a program aligned with your target credential.
Can you become a medical assistant without going to school in Louisiana?
Yes, Louisiana does not appear to require formal school for all medical assistant jobs. Many employers require at least a high school diploma or GED and may train on the job. However, completing a formal program is the common route to build clinical skills, meet employer preferences, and earn CMA or CCMA certification.
How much does medical assistant school cost in New Orleans?
Costs vary. New Orleans Medical Assistant School charges $4,490,6 and UNO PACE's CCMA certificate is $3,754.5 Across Louisiana, certificate and diploma programs at medical assistant trade schools typically range from about $2,000 to $6,000, with associate degree paths costing more.7 Always confirm current tuition and fees directly with the campus.
Which New Orleans medical assistant programs are CAAHEP accredited?
Delgado Community College is CAAHEP accredited.2 Herzing University offers medical assisting programs in Louisiana, but you should verify whether its New Orleans campus currently holds CAAHEP accreditation.4 Other area programs may hold ABHES or no programmatic accreditation, so confirm status directly with the school or CAAHEP directory before enrolling.
