We rank Louisiana's top medical assistant programs based on accreditation, affordability, and graduate success.
Louisiana healthcare employers are hiring medical assistants faster than the state can graduate them. In the New Orleans metro, nearly 29% of MA job postings sit unfilled. Yet for all that demand, the state’s training landscape has a tight bottleneck: just one CAAHEP-accredited program exists, at Bossier Parish Community College.
With only one accredited gateway to the CMA (AAMA) exam, program selection in Louisiana isn’t just about comparing curriculums; it’s about understanding which credential paths are actually open at which schools.
What makes one medical assistant program better than another? We looked past marketing language and reputation to build a ranking that reflects what matters most to future medical assistants, focusing on affordability, earnings potential, and accessibility, to help you identify the best medical assistant schools.
We evaluate each school using several institution-level metrics that directly impact your experience and career outcomes:
All figures are drawn entirely from two public, non-subjective sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Both are maintained by the federal government and are updated regularly. We use the most recent available year of data to ensure relevance, and every data point is attributable to the institution as a whole, not to an individual program unless explicitly stated.
This is not a popularity contest or a list of schools we like. We do not factor in subjective opinions, school-supplied testimonials, or voluntary surveys. The rankings are calculated from the same government datasets used by researchers and policymakers. Because the data is institution-level, it reflects the performance of the entire school, not just the medical assistant program. That has an important implication: a college with strong overall outcomes is likely to have resources and systems that also benefit its medical assistant students, but individual program excellence can vary. We encourage you to treat these rankings as a starting point for your own investigation of medical assistant training programs.
Louisiana offers a strong mix of public community colleges, private career schools, and university-based programs for aspiring medical assistants. Whether you want the lowest possible tuition, an online certificate, or a hands-on associate degree with externship hours baked in, there is a program here that fits. Below, we have ranked 15 schools based on institutional outcomes, program value, and features that matter most to students entering the medical assisting field.
Monroe, LA · ~$13,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working adults needing flexible online study
The University of Louisiana at Monroe delivers a fully online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certificate through its continuing education division. There are no prerequisites, and the program includes an NHA exam voucher so graduates can sit for the CCMA credential immediately. With flexible start dates and a 100% online format, ULM stands out for students who need to keep working while they train.
Baton Rouge, LA · $26,000/yr
Best for: Hands-on learners wanting campus immersion
Fortis College in Baton Rouge is one of Louisiana's longest-standing ABHES-accredited medical assisting providers, with institutional accreditation dating back to 1995. Its associate degree program is entirely campus-based and emphasizes hands-on patient care alongside administrative skills. Financial aid and career services support are available, and the Baton Rouge location is easily accessible from Lafayette and New Orleans.
Shreveport, LA · ~$31,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Northwest Louisiana residents seeking dual pathways
Remington College's Shreveport campus offers both a one-year medical assistant diploma and a two-year associate degree in clinical medical assisting, giving students two distinct credential pathways under one roof. The associate program covers anatomy, pharmacology, medical billing, and a required externship, and tuition covers the first attempts at both the CCMA and CPR certifications. As an ABHES-accredited institution, Remington emphasizes community-focused, hands-on training in northwest Louisiana.
Schriever, LA · ~$11,000/yr (est.)
Fletcher Technical Community College runs a two-semester Medical Clinical Assistant certificate with a unique scholarship partnership through the Cardiovascular Institute of the South. Students learn venipuncture, EKGs, specimen processing, and medical coding in a cohort-based format that starts each fall. Graduates are prepared for the CCMA exam, and the program's public-college tuition keeps costs well below private alternatives.
Lacombe, LA · ~$11,000/yr (est.)
Northshore Technical Community College awards a Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Assisting through its School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The program is offered at both the Florida Parishes and Hammond campuses, providing regional access for students on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Coursework covers vital signs, medication administration, EKG analysis, and specimen preparation, all geared toward national certification eligibility.
Monroe, LA · $8,000/yr
Louisiana Delta Community College serves northeastern Louisiana from its Monroe campus with an associate degree in Medical Assisting housed in the School of Nursing and Allied Health. The curriculum follows Medical Assisting Education Review Board standards and includes supervised clinical externships at local physicians' offices, clinics, and hospitals. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification exam for Medical Assistants.
Gonzales, LA · $11,000/yr
River Parishes Community College's 26-credit Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Assisting uses a cohort model, so students move through courses together and build a support network along the way. The program requires 180 hours of externship, and every course must be passed with a C or better. Graduates are eligible for the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam, and students can also earn a Medical Office Customer Service certificate as an add-on credential.
Lafayette, LA · $13,000/yr
South Louisiana Community College stands out for its multi-campus reach, offering its medical assistant programs at locations in Crowley, Ville Platte, Abbeville, and Opelousas in addition to the main Lafayette campus. Students can choose between a four-semester Associate of Applied Science or a shorter 32-credit Certificate of Technical Studies, both starting each fall. Clinical externships are built into both tracks, and graduates are eligible for national certification exams.
New Orleans, LA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Delgado Community College in New Orleans is one of the few Louisiana schools with CAAHEP accreditation for its medical assistant program, making it a strong choice for students who want to pursue the CMA (AAMA) credential. The certified medical assistant certificate can be completed in just five months at a program cost of about $3,570, and it is WIOA-approved. Delgado also offers a separate three-semester Ophthalmic Medical Assistant program accredited by the International Council of Accreditation.
Lafayette, LA · $30,000/yr
Remington College's Lafayette campus mirrors the ABHES-accredited associate degree offered at its Shreveport and Baton Rouge locations, providing a 24-month program with externship experience and included CCMA and CPR exam costs. The Lafayette campus gives Acadiana-area students a local option without having to commute to Baton Rouge or Shreveport. Both diploma and associate pathways are available across Remington's Louisiana campuses.
Baton Rouge, LA · ~$9,000/yr (est.)
Baton Rouge Community College offers a 24-credit Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Assisting with a notable twist: students choose between a Clinical pathway (covering phlebotomy, EKG, and clinical procedures with an externship) or a Coding and Insurance pathway (focusing on medical billing and coding credentials). This dual-track structure lets students specialize early. Graduates of the clinical track can pursue CCMA certification, while coding-track graduates are eligible for CCA or CPC-A credentials.
Baton Rouge, LA · $23,000/yr
Remington College's Baton Rouge campus rounds out the institution's three-location Louisiana footprint. The 24-month associate degree in medical assisting includes the same ABHES-accredited curriculum, CCMA exam coverage, and externship structure found at the Shreveport and Lafayette campuses. It is a convenient option for students in the greater Baton Rouge metro who prefer a private-college environment with smaller cohorts.
Bossier City, LA · $11,000/yr
Bossier Parish Community College's two-semester Certificate of Technical Studies in Medical Assistant is designed for fast entry into ambulatory care roles in the Shreveport-Bossier City metro. Small cohorts of up to 20 students ensure personalized instruction, and the 180-hour practicum places students in local physicians' offices and clinics. Both full-time and part-time scheduling options are available. The program reports a 60% job placement rate and a 75% licensure pass rate.
Minden, LA · $9,000/yr
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Minden offers a competency-based certificate in Medical Assisting that bundles textbooks, supplies, study guides, and exam fees into the registration cost. The program blends classroom instruction in anatomy and medical terminology with hands-on skills lab training, and WIOA funding may be available for eligible students. Graduates sit for the CCMA exam with most materials already paid for.
New Orleans, LA · ~$12,000/yr (est.)
The University of New Orleans PACE division offers a 100% online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certificate completable in 12 months. The noncredit program includes CPR certification, an NHA CCMA exam voucher, and an unpaid clinical experience component. Coursework spans medical terminology, HIPAA compliance, phlebotomy, vital signs, and both front- and back-office procedures, making graduates versatile across clinical and administrative roles.
Louisiana is an unusually thin market for programmatically accredited medical assistant training: only one program currently holds CAAHEP recognition1. That single program is the Medical Assistant AAS at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, which has held CAAHEP accreditation for roughly 20 years1. Every other medical assistant program on our 2026 list operates without programmatic accreditation1, which changes what certifications graduates can pursue right out of school.
Both are programmatic accreditors, meaning they evaluate a specific program rather than the whole institution. CAAHEP (the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accredits medical assisting programs in partnership with the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) and is the gold standard the American Association of Medical Assistants recognizes. ABHES (the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools) is a separate agency that accredits both institutions and health-focused programs; it can accredit a school without accrediting each individual program. Eastern College of Health Vocations, for example, holds ABHES institutional accreditation1, but that is not the same as programmatic accreditation of its medical assistant training.
This matters because the Certified Medical Assistant Exam (CMA (AAMA)) requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program. If you want to sit for the CMA in Louisiana, Bossier Parish Community College is currently your only in-state route. The RMA credential through American Medical Technologists accepts a wider range of pathways, including some non-accredited programs and documented work experience. The CCMA, offered by the National Healthcareer Association and the credential most Louisiana programs prepare students for, has the most flexible eligibility: it does not require programmatic accreditation at all.
A program's absence from the CAAHEP list is meaningful: CAAHEP publishes only currently accredited programs and those holding a Letter of Review, so if a school is not on that list, it is not accredited2. That does not make the program illegitimate. Graduates from Delgado, Fletcher, Baton Rouge Community College, the Remington campuses, Fortis, and the rest can still earn the CCMA and work as medical assistants in Louisiana clinics and hospitals. What you lose is direct CMA eligibility and the portability that comes with it if you later move to a state or employer that specifically requires the CMA credential. If that flexibility matters to you, Bossier Parish is the one program in Louisiana that keeps every certification door open.
The table below lists Louisiana medical assistant programs sorted from lowest to highest published in-state tuition and fees, based on 2023 institutional data from the U.S. Department of Education. Keep in mind that the "sticker price" (published tuition) is not always what you will actually pay. The net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships are subtracted, so it often includes living expenses like housing and meals on top of tuition. That is why net price figures can appear higher than tuition alone. Many of these schools offer financial aid, WIOA funding, scholarships, or payment plans, so always contact the financial aid office to get a personalized estimate before making your decision.
| School | City | Degree Level | In-State Tuition | Net Price | Financial Aid or Payment Options Noted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Parishes Community College | Gonzales | Certificate | $4,079 | $10,756 | Contact school |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College | Minden | Certificate | $4,109 | $9,256 | Financial aid and WIOA funding available |
| Louisiana Delta Community College | Monroe | Associate | $4,159 | $7,702 | Contact school |
| South Louisiana Community College | Lafayette | Associate | $4,210 | $12,564 | Contact school |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever | Certificate | $4,219 | $10,527 | Scholarships available |
| Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Certificate | $4,283 | $10,706 | Financial aid available |
| Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Certificate | $4,279 | $9,747 | Financial aid and WIOA funding available |
| Northshore Technical Community College | Lacombe | Certificate | $4,299 | $10,773 | Contact school |
| Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge | Certificate | $4,321 | $9,474 | Contact school |
| University of New Orleans | New Orleans | Certificate (Online) | $9,172 | $12,384 | Contact school |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe | Certificate (Online) | $9,190 | $13,466 | Contact school |
| Remington College, Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Associate | $15,837 | $23,003 | Financial aid available |
| Remington College, Shreveport | Shreveport | Associate | $16,245 | $30,758 | Contact school |
| Remington College, Lafayette | Lafayette | Associate | $16,312 | $29,592 | Contact school |
| Fortis College, Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Associate | $16,467 | $25,781 | Financial aid available |
Medical assistant programs in Louisiana now come in three distinct formats: fully online, hybrid, and traditional on-campus, so you can choose a path that fits your life, your learning style, and your career goals.
Among ranked schools, two universities stand out for fully online delivery: the University of Louisiana at Monroe offers an entirely online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program with flexible start dates and no prerequisites, while the University of New Orleans provides a 12-month, 100% online CCMA track that includes CPR certification and an unpaid clinical experience. For a hybrid approach, Herzing University's Medical Assisting program combines online didactic courses with on-campus clinical labs and an externship, giving you the best of both worlds. The remaining top programs, such as those at Fletcher Technical Community College, Delgado Community College, and Fortis College, are delivered entirely on campus.
Online programs sometimes carry the same per-credit tuition as their on-campus counterparts, but you can save significantly on commuting, parking, and campus fees. At public institutions like ULM and UNO, online tuition is often comparable to in-state rates. Completion time can also be more flexible: self-paced online modules let accelerated learners finish faster, while others can stretch the schedule around work or family obligations. Just note that most online programs set a maximum time limit to stay eligible for certification exams.
No matter how much coursework moves online, you will still need to log supervised clinical hours through a medical assistant externship in a real healthcare setting to sit for the CMA (AAMA) or CCMA exam. Online programs coordinate these externships at approved sites near your home. For example, the UNO CCMA track explicitly includes an unpaid clinical experience, and Herzing's hybrid model adds on-campus labs to prepare you for the externship. Always confirm with your program that externship placement support is provided and that you understand any travel or schedule requirements before enrolling.
Louisiana does not license or register medical assistants at the state level1, so certification is voluntary, but it's the credential employers actually screen for. Since most Louisiana programs are built around CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, graduates typically have a clear runway toward the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential through the American Association of Medical Assistants.
To sit for the CMA exam, you generally need to complete a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program that includes at least 160 hours of supervised clinical externship work2. Recent graduates have a 12-month window after finishing school to test under the standard pathway, and the credential itself runs on a 60-month recertification cycle2, so you'll need to meet continuing education requirements or retake the exam down the road. An alternative pathway exists for those who didn't graduate from an accredited program but can document equivalent instruction and work history2, though most Louisiana students won't need it since accredited options are widely available. Programs typically schedule the exam roughly 30 days before graduation so students keep momentum.
Not every Louisiana program funnels toward the CMA. The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential through American Medical Technologists requires 720 hours of instruction plus 160 clinical hours4, or five years of documented work experience1, all completed within a four-year window4. The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) through the National Healthcareer Association is the credential most commonly built into Louisiana community and technical college curricula. It requires only a high school diploma or GED as a baseline, and allows either recent training completion (within five years) or a year of relevant work experience as eligibility routes.
Most in-state programs lean CCMA rather than CMA, often bundling the exam voucher directly into tuition. Fletcher Technical Community College, River Parishes Community College, Baton Rouge Community College, Remington College's Louisiana campuses, and the University of New Orleans all build their curriculum specifically around CCMA readiness, with clinical externships in the 160 to 180 hour range1. Bossier Parish Community College has published pass rate and placement figures alongside its program, which is worth asking about directly if transparency around outcomes matters to you.
$35,870 per year is the median annual wage for medical assistants in Louisiana as of 2026, which works out to roughly $17.24 per hour.1 That figure falls below the national median, so it is worth understanding where the better-paying pockets of the state are and how experience shifts your earning potential over time.
The medical assistant salary varies meaningfully depending on where you work. Here is how the state's largest metro areas compare:
New Orleans clearly leads the pack, paying roughly $8,600 more per year than Kenner. If you are willing to commute or relocate within the state, targeting a higher-paying metro area can make a real difference in your take-home pay.1
Entry-level medical assistants in Louisiana start at a median of about $22,200 per year. That number climbs steadily as you gain clinical hours and take on more responsibility:
The jump from entry-level to mid-career is substantial, nearly $10,000 annually, and reflects the value clinics and hospitals place on hands-on competence. Senior-level medical assistants who take on supervisory duties or specialize in areas like podiatry, ophthalmology, or cardiology, can push well past the $50,000 mark.1
Louisiana's statewide median sits below the national average for the profession. However, cost of living in much of the state is lower than in regions where medical assistants earn more on paper. New Orleans-area wages, in particular, are competitive once you factor in Louisiana's relatively affordable housing and lack of a state earned income tax on lower brackets.
Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12 percent job growth for medical assistants from 2024 to 2034,2 which is significantly faster than average across all occupations. Louisiana benefits from the same demand drivers fueling growth elsewhere: an aging population, expanding outpatient care, and increased reliance on clinical support staff in physician offices and urgent care centers. The state's larger metros already employ thousands of medical assistants, and those numbers are expected to keep climbing.
If you are weighing whether this career pencils out financially, keep in mind the Pros and Cons of Being a Medical Assistant. First, earning a recognized credential like the CMA or RMA typically positions you for higher starting pay and faster advancement. Second, the path from entry-level to experienced does not require additional degrees. Consistent clinical work and professional development can move you up the pay scale within just a few years.
Did you know that in the Greater New Orleans area, nearly 29 percent of medical assistant job openings go unfilled at any given time? That gap points to real demand: Louisiana employers are actively competing for qualified medical assistants, according to Stacker's analysis of health care jobs growing fastest statewide.
Choosing the right medical assistant program in Louisiana isn't just about finding a school nearby. It's about selecting a program that aligns with your career goals, your schedule, and your budget while giving you a clear path to certification. A thoughtful approach now saves time and money later.
The first filter to apply is accreditation. If a program lacks CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, you might not qualify to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam, the credential most Louisiana employers prefer. Before you compare tuition or class times, verify that the program's accreditation status matches the certification you plan to earn. A school that is accredited by a recognized agency also meets federal financial aid requirements, which widens your funding options.
Once you have a list of accredited options, dig into outcomes. Many Louisiana medical assistant schools report job placement rates for recent graduates, and some disclose median earnings one year after completion. A program with a placement rate below 70 percent warrants extra questions. Alumni earnings, when available, give you a realistic preview of starting wages in your region. Publicly reported data lets you compare programs side by side, not on marketing promises, but on what former students actually experience.
A clinical externship is your bridge to a job; understanding the Medical Assistant Job Description helps you know what to expect. Admissions counselors can tell you where students are placed, how many externship hours are required, and whether the school guarantees a site or expects you to find one on your own. Louisiana programs with established relationships at hospitals, specialty clinics, and physician offices give you a better chance to gain relevant experience and may even lead directly to a job offer. Don't hesitate to ask for the phone number of a recent graduate who can describe what the externship was really like.
While some Louisiana schools are launching brand-new short-term training options, others are shifting delivery formats, such as hybrid or online, to meet student demand for flexibility.
Several schools have added or updated medical assistant programs this year. SOWELA Technical Community College introduced a Clinical Medical Assistant short-term training that can be completed in just four months1, opening a fast entry point for career changers. LSU Shreveport now offers a fully online Clinical Medical Assistant Fast Track, removing geographic barriers for students across the state2. South Louisiana Community College has a Medical Assistant program with a fall application deadline3, and Mandeville Medical Assistant School continues to provide focused training in the New Orleans area4.
Format changes also matter. Unitech Training Academy expanded its hybrid delivery model to five locations, including Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, New Orleans, and West Monroe, making it easier for students to balance in-person labs with online coursework5.
As of July 2026, no major medical assistant program closures have been reported in Louisiana, but the landscape can shift quickly. When a program loses CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, graduates may no longer sit for the CMA exam, which directly impacts certification. Always verify accreditation through the CAAHEP website or the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners before enrolling. Even a long-standing program can undergo a name change or curriculum overhaul that affects eligibility.
A few minutes of verification can protect your investment and ensure you enter a program that leads to certification and a solid job outlook.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions prospective students ask about medical assistant education in Louisiana. For the most current and detailed information, always verify directly with program websites, accrediting bodies, and professional organizations.
