Georgia Accredited Medical Assistant Schools and Programs

Working as a medical assistant in Georgia means you’re working in one of the top states for medical assistants in the country. The state is rich in history and has frequent tourist population increases throughout the year; many medical centers have grown to meet population demand. Pay for medical assistants in Georgia is also good, with mean starting wages around $15.00 per hour. There are many cities in Georgia with bustling healthcare facilities and medical centers. The best cities in Georgia to work as a medical assistant include:

Atlanta
Augusta
Macon
Columbus

Georgia Medical Assistant Certification Requirements

In alignment with the rest of the country, Georgia does not explicitly require individuals working in the medical assistant profession to hold a certification to practice. However, professional certification is a great way to broaden employment opportunities and to show prospective employers that you are serious about your MA career.

In the medical assisting profession, the two credentials that matter are: 1) the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential which is offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and 2) the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential which is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Credential I: In order to be allowed to take AMT’s Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential exam, individuals have to fulfill at least ONE of the following requirements:

Option 1: Provide proof of having completed a medical assisting program which satisfies the following standards:
- Regionally or nationally accredited by an agency that the either the US Department of Education, The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the AMT Board of Directors has approved
- Composed of at least 720 hours of theoretical classroom instruction and 160 hours of clinical practice at a healthcare facility or doctor’s office
Option 2: Provide proof of having prior work experience as a medical assistant
- Must have worked as a medical assistant, carrying out both clinical and administrative functions, for five of the last seven years
Option 3: Provide proof of having completed a medical assisting program in the US Armed Services which – like medical assisting programs at the collegiate level – incorporates 720 hours of in-class/online, theoretical lecture as well as 160 hours of hands-on clinical training with real-world patients at a local healthcare facility
Option 4: Provide proof of having at least five years of experience working as a medical assistant program instructor during the past seven years, OR having more than one year of teaching experience in addition to having worked in the field for at least three years

Credential II: In order to be allowed to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential exam, individuals have to satisfy the following requirements:

Provide proof of having completed a medical assisting program that’s been accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
ALL medical assisting programs must be composed of two components: theoretical and clinical, and expose students to administrative and clinical topics which include but aren’t limited to pharmacology, record keeping and accounting, clinical and diagnostic procedures, record keeping and accounting, medication administration, human anatomy, as well as medical law & ethics
Actively credentialed CMAs can renew their certifications every 60 months

List of Georgia Medical Assisting Programs

1. Albany Technical College

Located in Albany, Albany Technical College offers a diploma in medical assisting. The course is 61 credits and may be taken during daytime or evening classes. Students are required to pass an entrance exam before gaining admission to the program. The college states its program is good for people with some healthcare training who are looking for advancement, or for those who need to retrain as a medical assistant. Both basic and core administrative and clinical skills are taught. Students may take certification exams upon graduation.

2. Atlanta Technical College

Atlanta Technical College offers a diploma in medical assisting at their Atlanta campus. Students receive a focused education on all aspects of medical assisting, including administrative and clinical. An externship is required for graduation and an entrance exam to the program may be required. Students may sit for certification exams upon graduation.

3. Augusta Technical College

Located in Augusta, Augusta Technical College offers a five-semester diploma in medical assisting. Classes are held during the day and not only focus on clinical and administrative skills, but on developing good critical thinking skills as well. Students must complete an externship and graduates may sit for certification exams.

4. Chattahoochee Technical College

Chattahoochee Technical College has several campuses in Georgia, including Acworth, Jasper, and Marietta. A diploma in medical assisting is offered, which may be completed in about four semesters. Students who are required to take pre-requisite courses may add one additional semester. An entrance exam is required for admission to the program, and graduates may sit for certification exams.

5. Columbus Technical College

Columbus Technical College, located in Columbus, Georgia, offers a certificate in medical assisting. The school states its admission process for the program is highly competitive and selective. Students are encouraged to meet with a school counselor to learn more about entry into the program. An entrance exam and prerequisite courses are required before students are admitted to the program. Upon graduation, students may sit for the certification examination.

6. Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Georgia Northwestern Technical College offers a diploma in medical assisting at both the Rock Springs campus and Rome campus. Students engage in standard medical assisting education, which combines clinical and administrative skills. Students may take certification exams upon graduation.

7. Gwinnett Technical College

Gwinnett Technical College offers a diploma in medical assisting at its Lawrenceville campus. Students learn basic medical assisting skills to prepare for entry-level employment in the field. The program is held during the day and takes about five semesters to complete. Graduates are eligible for certification testing.

8. Southern Regional Technical College

Southern Regional Technical College offers both a diploma and a degree in medical assisting. The diploma program is 61 credits while the degree program is 70 credits. Students are trained in basic medical assisting skills, including both clinical and front-office skills. Both diploma and degree students may take certification exams after graduation.

9. North Georgia Technical College

North Georgia Technical College has two locations, one in Blairsville and another in Clarkesville. Both locations offer a diploma in medical assisting. This course prepares students for basic, entry-level employment in medical assisting. Graduates may sit for certification exams.

10. Ogeechee Technical College

Ogeechee Technical College offers a diploma in medical assisting at its Statesboro campus. Students learn basic medical assisting skills and have the option to additionally earn a certificate in medical coding. The program is five semesters long. Students are eligible to take the certified medical assistant exam upon graduation.

11. Coastal Pines Technical College

Coastal Pines Technical College is located in Waycross, Georgia. The college offers a five-semester diploma program in medical assisting. Prospective students may need to complete an entrance exam and prerequisite courses. Students may take certification exams upon graduation.

12. Savannah Technical College

Savannah Technical College offers a diploma in medical assisting at its Savannah campus. The program is five semesters in length. The program combines general education, basic courses, and core medical and administrative courses. Students may become certified upon graduation.

13. Southeastern Technical College

Southeastern Technical College is located in Vidalia and offers a 6-semester diploma in medical assisting. The College requires students to pass a general entrance exam before admission to the program. Students may complete general education courses prior to starting the core clinical and administrative program. Students may take certification exams upon graduation.

14. West Georgia Technical College

West Georgia Technical College has campuses in LaGrange and Waco. The college offers a diploma in medical assisting, which has a competitive acceptance policy. Students should prepare by completing general education courses and required entrance exams. Once in the program, students learn a combination of administrative and clinical skills. Graduates may take certification exams.

15. South University

South University is a private, for-profit university that offers students an Associate of Science (AS) in Medical Assisting at its campus in Savannah and at one of its learning sites in Atlanta. In total, the program is 92 credit hours. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

16. Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology

Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology is a private, for-profit academic institution that offers students a Medical Assistant Certificate program at its campus in Atlanta. The program which is composed of an in-class lecture/didactic portion and a hands-on clinical portion can be completed in as little as 36 weeks. Topics covered throughout the program include radiography, health basics, administrative procedures, anatomy, and others. In total, the program is 900 clock-hours.

17. Woodruff Medical Training and Testing

Woodruff Medical Training and Testing is a private, for-profit medical career college that offers a Medical Assistant Certificate program at its campuses in Tucker, Duluth, and Gainesville. The 40.5 credit hour program consists of a mixture of in-class lecture and real-world clinical practice. The program is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.