Compare accredited NY medical assistant programs with real cost, job placement, and graduate salary data.
Medical assistants in New York earn a median annual wage above $43,000, with top earners exceeding $55,000, according to federal labor data, and demand is projected to grow 12.5% through 2034. The challenge: choosing an accredited program that delivers both solid clinical training and a manageable price tag. Our ranking of top schools across the state compares cost, job placement outcomes, and scheduling flexibility, so you can find a program that fits your budget and life. The right choice leads to certification eligibility and a stable career; a poor choice can leave you with debt and no clear pathway to a job.
New York offers an impressive range of accredited medical assistant programs, from fast-track certificates at SUNY community colleges to associate degrees at specialized career schools in the five boroughs. We evaluated nearly 30 programs statewide and narrowed the list to the ten that deliver the strongest combination of affordability, completion rates, and graduate outcomes. Whether you need a budget-friendly public option on Long Island or a CAAHEP-accredited accelerated track closer to the city, this ranking has a program worth a closer look.
Levittown, NY · ~$24,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Long Islanders seeking fast accredited training
Hunter Business School in Levittown stands out for combining a strong 85% graduation rate with CAAHEP accreditation and externship placements at major New York healthcare systems, including Northwell Health and CityMD. The school also operates a second campus in Medford, giving Long Island students two convenient locations. Graduate and employer satisfaction ratings are among the highest of any program on this list, and students can choose between a 7.5-month daytime or 15-month evening track.
Brooklyn, NY · ~$6,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Budget-conscious Brooklyn residents
CUNY Kingsborough Community College delivers one of the most affordable paths into medical assisting in New York, with a net price around $5,600 for in-state students. The 367-hour Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certificate includes hands-on training in patient intake, vitals, EKG, and phlebotomy, and graduates sit for the NHA CCMA exam. SNAP-eligible students may receive free tuition, textbooks, and exam fees, and credits can bridge into Kingsborough degree programs within the CUNY system.
Selden, NY · $5,000/yr
Best for: Suffolk County hybrid learners
Suffolk County Community College offers a hybrid clinical medical assisting certificate through the SUNY system, blending online coursework with in-person labs at the Riverhead campus. An 80-hour externship with partners such as Catholic Health gives students real clinical experience on Long Island. Suffolk County residents may qualify for additional tuition assistance, keeping total costs among the lowest in the state at roughly $5,258 net price.
Suffern, NY · ~$11,000/yr (est.)
Rockland Community College, part of the SUNY system, offers a CCMA certificate starting at about $4,700 in tuition, making it one of the most affordable options statewide. The hybrid evening format, with in-person classes two nights a week and one remote session, is specifically designed for working adults in the Hudson Valley. Completers can stack credits toward an associate degree in Healthcare Science or Business Administration at SUNY Rockland.
Long Island City, NY · $20,000 – $25,000/yr
The New York School for Medical and Dental Assistants has trained healthcare workers in Long Island City for more than 50 years. Its 16-month associate degree program blends clinical skills like EKG, medication administration, and lab procedures with medical billing and office management. The school serves as an NPA testing site, so students can take national RMA exams on campus without traveling to an outside testing center.
New York, NY · $30,000/yr (net price)
Touro University's NYSCAS division offers a 68-credit Associate in Science in Medical Assisting from its Times Square campus, combining in-person labs with online general education coursework. The program is built for adult learners and career changers who need part-time or evening flexibility while living and working in New York City. Graduates are prepared for the CMAC certification exam, and credits transfer easily into Touro bachelor's programs for students who want to continue their education.
Rego Park, NY · $26,000/yr
St Paul's School of Nursing in Queens awards an Associate of Occupational Studies in Medical Assisting with ABHES accreditation, one of the nationally recognized programmatic accreditations for the field. The school runs campuses in both Queens and Staten Island, giving New York City students borough-level flexibility. Day and night classes and a focus on real-world clinical placements prepare graduates for entry-level positions across NYC hospitals and clinics.
Flushing, NY · $28,000/yr (net price)
New York Medical Career Training Center in Flushing runs a 900-hour Medical Assistant program that exceeds many competitors in total training hours, including a 300-hour internship. With three New York locations and morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend scheduling, it is designed for working adults who need maximum flexibility. The program's advertised cost of $12,400 is transparent and straightforward, though the school's institutional net price after aid averages higher.
Bronx, NY · $15,000/yr (net price)
Monroe College in the Bronx offers an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting that can be completed in under two years. The 66-credit curriculum includes a 160-hour internship and hands-on practice in simulated hospital rooms on campus. With a net price of about $14,522 after aid, Monroe is one of the more affordable private-college options in the city, and the school is working toward or maintains CAAHEP accreditation.
Forest Hills, NY · $15,000 – $20,000/yr
Plaza College in Forest Hills offers a CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting certificate that can be finished in about 12 months. The 40-credit campus-based program covers both clinical procedures and administrative tasks like billing and coding, and it prepares graduates for the CMA or RMA exams. Located in Queens, it provides a borough-convenient alternative to Manhattan-based programs.
Selecting the right medical assisting program means knowing what to look for in medical assistant training programs, and prospective students deserve clarity on how schools stack up against each other. For this guide, we analyzed program-level data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard to give you an objective comparison of New York's accredited options.
We evaluated each program across three core dimensions, assigning specific weight to each:
Every program on our list holds accreditation from either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This requirement was not negotiable for two reasons.
First, accreditation ensures the curriculum meets industry standards. Employers and healthcare facilities expect graduates to arrive with specific clinical and administrative competencies. Accredited programs must prove they deliver these skills consistently.
Second, accreditation determines your eligibility for national certification exams. If you plan to earn the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential through the AAMA, you'll need to pass the Certified Medical Assistant Exam and graduate from an accredited program. The same requirement holds for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through AMT. Skipping this step could leave you unable to pursue the credentials many New York employers prefer.
By combining hard data with this baseline quality standard, our rankings help you focus on programs that offer genuine value rather than empty promises.
Two accrediting bodies matter for medical assisting in New York: CAAHEP (the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) and ABHES (the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools). Both are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and both open the door to the credentials employers actually ask about. Anything outside these two, treat with caution.1
CAAHEP is a programmatic accreditor only, meaning it evaluates individual medical assisting programs rather than the whole school. You'll typically find CAAHEP accreditation at community colleges, universities, and hospital-based programs, where the emphasis leans toward academic rigor.2
ABHES accredits both institutions and specific programs, and you'll typically find it at Medical Assistant Trade Schools. ABHES puts heavier weight on comprehensive student services, and it sets a minimum program length of 24 weeks.3 Neither accreditor is "better" in a universal sense, they simply reflect different school types and priorities.
Certification eligibility is the practical reason this matters. To sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants, you generally must graduate from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program.1 The RMA (AMT) credential from American Medical Technologists follows the same rule.3 The CCMA (NHA) exam from the National Healthcareer Association is slightly more flexible, accepting graduates of accredited or state-recognized institutions.5
Because many New York employers prefer, or outright require, certification , and there are solid reasons to get certified in medical assisting , attending a non-accredited program can quietly close doors before you've even applied.1
Before you enroll anywhere, look the program up directly in the CAAHEP directory or the ABHES directory.1 New York schools appear across both lists, community colleges and university-affiliated programs tend to show up under CAAHEP, while private career colleges more often carry ABHES accreditation. If a program isn't listed in either directory, ask the admissions office to explain, in writing, how their graduates qualify for the CMA or RMA exam.
Tuition for medical assistant programs in New York varies widely, and the sticker price you see on a school's website rarely tells the whole story.
Whether you are comparing community colleges, private career schools, online programs, or four-year institutions that offer medical assisting certificates, the total cost of your education depends on far more than base tuition. Getting a clear picture requires a bit of legwork, but the effort pays off when you avoid surprise expenses down the road.
Program costs change from one academic year to the next, and aggregated tuition figures you find on third-party websites may be outdated by the time you read them. Your best move is to go directly to each school's official website or call the admissions office. Ask for the most current tuition schedule, per-credit rates, and a full breakdown of fees. Schools are required to disclose this information, and admissions staff can walk you through it in detail.
Base tuition is only part of the equation. Many programs charge mandatory fees that are not always visible in headline pricing. Before you commit, ask specifically about:
When comparing schools, tally up total program costs, including all fees and materials, not just tuition. A program with lower tuition but higher ancillary fees could end up costing more than one with a slightly higher sticker price that bundles everything in.
Do not rely solely on what a school tells you. The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard lets you look up individual programs and compare reported costs, financial aid data, and whether students at a particular school are eligible for federal aid. The New York State Education Department's database is another independent resource for verifying that a program is properly registered and approved. Both tools can help you confirm what you are being told during the admissions process.
While you research costs, it is smart to weigh them against your likely return on investment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook provides career outlook and salary data for medical assistants at the national and state level. The American Association of Medical Assistants is the go-to source for finding accredited program lists and understanding certification requirements. Together, these resources help you judge whether a program's price tag makes sense relative to the career opportunities it opens up.
Taking a methodical approach to comparing costs now saves you from sticker shock later and puts you in a much stronger position to make a confident, well-informed decision about where to invest your time and money.
What can you actually expect to earn after completing a medical assistant program in New York, and will your school help you find a job?
Medical assistants in New York earn notably more than the national average. The Medical Assistant Salary data from ZipRecruiter shows the mean annual wage statewide is $47,350, which translates to roughly $22.77 per hour.1 In the New York City metro area, wages are slightly higher at $47,780 annually.1 If you work within the city itself, hourly rates typically range from about $18.65 to $23.94, with a mean of $21.76 per hour.2
These figures give you a realistic baseline, but your actual earnings will depend on your employer, specialty area, and whether you hold national certification. Certified medical assistants often command higher starting salaries and have more negotiating power.
Here's the tricky part: the BLS tracks wages and job growth projections at the occupation level, but it does not report placement rates for individual schools. To evaluate the best medical assistant schools, you'll need to look beyond national averages.
Beyond raw placement percentages, consider what kind of support a program offers. Strong career services typically include resume workshops, interview coaching, and connections with local healthcare employers, all of which are crucial when you're finding a medical assisting job with no experience. Some schools maintain formal partnerships with clinics, hospitals, and physician practices that actively recruit their graduates. Asking about these relationships during your program research can give you a clearer picture of your post-graduation prospects.
The job market itself is encouraging. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12 percent through 2034, with roughly 112,300 openings expected each year.3 New York's large healthcare infrastructure means plenty of those opportunities will be local, especially in urban centers.
Medical assisting is one of New York's fastest-growing healthcare roles. Employment is projected to grow 12.5% between 2024 and 2034, well above the average for all occupations, according to state labor projections referenced in RateOrchard's New York medical assistant salary report.
Choosing between online and on-campus medical assistant programs comes down to your daily schedule, learning style, and how much hands-on practice you need before entering the workforce. Both formats can lead to the same certifications, but each comes with real trade-offs worth weighing carefully. Several of the top ranked programs on this list, including options at ASA College and Mandl School, offer hybrid or fully online coursework paired with required in-person clinical rotations.
Choosing between paying out of pocket and using financial aid can determine whether you finish your program debt-free or carry loan payments well into your career. The good news? Medical assisting students in New York have several avenues to explore, and most begin with a single phone call or online application.
If you are a New York resident, one of the first resources to check is the Tuition Assistance Program administered by the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). TAP awards are based on income and can significantly reduce tuition at eligible institutions. Not every program qualifies, so check the HESC website early to confirm eligibility, review income thresholds, and note application deadlines. Filing the FAFSA is typically the first step for TAP, so plan to complete both forms as soon as possible.
Several organizations that serve the medical assisting profession offer scholarship opportunities worth researching:
Some medical assisting programs in New York maintain partnerships with local healthcare employers that include tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance agreements. In these arrangements, you commit to working for the employer after graduation in exchange for partial or full tuition coverage. Federal work-study positions can also help offset living expenses while you are in school. Contact the financial aid office at any program you are considering and ask specifically about employer partnerships, work-study availability, and any payment plan options.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational outlook page for medical assistants lists professional associations and government resources that aggregate financial aid opportunities. It’s a practical starting point for casting a wider net. Beyond that, general scholarship search engines can surface awards for allied health or healthcare students that are not limited to a single profession.
Above all, start early. Deadlines pass quickly, and some of the best awards go to applicants who apply months before their program begins. Set aside an afternoon, gather your financial documents, and work through each option systematically. Even modest awards add up and can make your path to certification far more affordable.
Getting into a medical assisting program in New York is more accessible than you might expect, but what you do after enrollment determines whether you launch a sustainable career or stall at the starting line.
Most accredited programs share a common set of prerequisites. You will need a high school diploma or GED, and applicants typically must be at least 18 years old.1 Beyond academics, expect to complete a background check and health screening before starting clinical rotations.2 Some schools verify work authorization as well.1
Entrance exams are not universal, but certain programs do require them. The Medical Training Institute of New York, for example, includes an entrance exam as part of its admissions process. Other schools may substitute an interview or require placement testing in reading and math. Check each program's specific requirements early so you have time to prepare.
Employers in New York strongly prefer nationally certified candidates. The two most recognized credentials are the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) through the American Association of Medical Assistants and the RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) through American Medical Technologists.3 A third option, the CCMA through the National Healthcareer Association, is also widely accepted.
The CMA exam requires a minimum scaled score of 425,1 while the RMA uses a percentage-based passing standard of 70 percent across 210 to 230 questions.4 National first-time pass rates hover around 69 percent for the CMA5 and 70 percent for the RMA.4 However, graduates from strong New York programs consistently outperform these averages.
Breaking down the process into concrete steps keeps momentum on your side:
Following this sequence keeps you organized and positions you to enter the job market as a credentialed professional, not just a program completer.
If you’re still exploring your options, these additional accredited programs across New York offer quality training in diverse settings. Many provide flexible schedules, hands-on externships, and financial aid. Check them out to find a program that fits your lifestyle and career goals.
