Compare accredited Virginia programs by cost, length, and certification outcomes to start your healthcare career.
Medical assistants in Virginia earned a median wage of $40,610 in 2024, with the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. pushing well above $46,000 annually. Employers across the state are hiring at a pace that outstrips the national average, with projected job growth hovering near 20 percent through 2032.
Landing a position at the higher end of that pay range typically requires a credential from an accredited program, and Virginia has dozens of options spread across community colleges, career schools, and universities. Tuition ranges from under $2,500 at Eastern Shore Community College to over $15,000 at some private institutions, so comparing costs against certification exam pass rates and graduate earnings matters. Accreditation through CAAHEP or ABHES remains the non-negotiable prerequisite for sitting the CMA exam, the credential most Virginia employers expect to see on a resume.
Virginia offers a strong mix of community colleges, career colleges, and university programs for aspiring medical assistants. We evaluated accredited programs across the state using a composite approach that weighs affordability, student outcomes, and earnings potential. Below are the ten programs that rose to the top, spanning certificate, diploma, and associate degree options across every major region of the Commonwealth.
CHESTER, VA · $20,000 – $25,000/yr
Best for: Evening learners near the Richmond area
Chester Career College, formerly known as Richmond School of Health and Technology, is a small career-focused institution in Chester that emphasizes hands-on healthcare training. Its Medical Assistant program pairs day and evening scheduling with a structured externship, and the college is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. The intimate class sizes (15:1 student-to-faculty ratio) give students direct access to instructors throughout the program.
Fredericksburg, VA
Best for: Career changers needing a quick credential
Eastern Virginia Career College offers a fast-track Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting that can be completed in under a year. With campuses in Fredericksburg and Richmond and a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, EVCC provides a high-touch learning experience. Students earn CPR certification as part of the curriculum and graduate eligible for the NHA Certified Medical Assistant exam.
Roanoke, VA · $5,000 – $12,000/yr
Best for: Budget-focused students in Southwest Virginia
Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke runs an accelerated 15-week Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program through its health professions division. Tuition covers textbooks, study materials, practice exams, and the CCMA certification exam fee, making out-of-pocket costs especially transparent. As part of Virginia's community college system, the school offers in-state tuition rates that rank among the lowest on this list.
Annandale, VA · $10,000/yr (net price)
Northern Virginia Community College is the largest community college in Virginia and serves the high-demand Northern Virginia and D.C. metro workforce. Its CCMA certificate is offered through NOVA Workforce in a hybrid format, blending online coursework with in-person clinical skills training. A distinctive community partnership with CASA in Woodbridge provides a 12-week hybrid cohort with morning or evening options, awarding nine transferable NOVA credits upon completion.
Virginia Beach, VA · $23,000/yr (net price)
ECPI University is a private institution headquartered in Virginia Beach with multiple campuses across the state, including Manassas, Newport News, Richmond, and Roanoke. It offers both an 11-month Medical Assisting Diploma and a 15-month Associate of Applied Science degree, both accredited by ABHES. The year-round, accelerated schedule and multi-campus footprint make ECPI a flexible choice for students across Virginia who want to finish quickly without relocating.
Norfolk, VA · $12,000/yr
Tidewater Community College serves the Hampton Roads region with a Clinical Medical Assisting credential designed for fast workforce entry. Thanks to Virginia's Workforce Credential Grant, students pay only one-third of the $3,240 tuition up front, and additional financial assistance may cover up to 90% of remaining costs. The program includes 120 hours of hands-on externship experience and no college degree is required to enroll.
Salem, VA · ~$18,000/yr (est.)
American National University's Salem campus offers a 48-credit Certificate in Medical Assisting with a strong emphasis on hands-on clinical skills like venipuncture, EKGs, and injections. The credential is stackable into ANU's bachelor's and even MBA programs for students who want a longer career runway. Military-connected students benefit from GI Bill approval and an exclusive Blue Ribbon Grant, making this a standout option in the Roanoke Valley.
Melfa, VA · ~$2,000/yr (est.)
Eastern Shore Community College is a small VCCS institution in Melfa that serves Virginia's Eastern Shore, a rural area with limited healthcare training options. Its Medical Assisting certificate is delivered online, making it accessible to students who cannot commute to larger metro campuses. Graduates are prepared for the NCCT certification exam and trained in both administrative and clinical duties for urgent care centers, physician offices, and hospitals.
Virginia Beach, VA · $12,000/yr
Bryant and Stratton College's Virginia Beach campus offers a CAAHEP-accredited Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting. The 62-credit program includes an internship component and prepares graduates for CMA and RMA certification exams. Students in Virginia also have access to a second campus location in Richmond/North Chesterfield and an approved satellite site in Hampton, giving them regional flexibility.
Chesapeake, VA
Sentara College of Health Sciences in Chesapeake is directly affiliated with the Sentara health system, one of the largest healthcare employers in Virginia. Its one-year Medical Assistant certificate combines hybrid online coursework with 450 hours of hands-on clinical training at Sentara-affiliated facilities across Hampton Roads. The program reports a 100% certification pass rate and offers placement assistance within the Sentara network, creating a direct pipeline from classroom to career.
Accreditation is the single most important factor when choosing a medical assistant program in Virginia. It is the gatekeeper for the nationally recognized Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential and a reliable indicator that your training meets rigorous professional standards.
If your goal is to earn the CMA credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), graduation from an accredited program is non-negotiable. The AAMA requires that you complete a medical assisting program accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). These agencies set demanding criteria for curriculum content, faculty expertise, and student outcomes, ensuring you graduate with the clinical and administrative skills employers trust. Without this accreditation, you simply cannot sit for the Certified Medical Assistant exam (CMA).
Both CAAHEP and ABHES are nationally recognized accrediting bodies, but they operate a bit differently. CAAHEP is a specialized accreditor focused solely on allied health disciplines, while ABHES evaluates a broader range of healthcare training institutions. For medical assisting, each organization regularly reviews programs to confirm they meet current industry competencies. A program may hold CAAHEP accreditation, ABHES accreditation, or rarely both. Graduates of either type are equally eligible for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam.
The following Virginia schools currently hold CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation for their medical assistant programs.1 These lists reflect published data as of 2026, but always confirm status directly with the accreditor before enrolling.
CAAHEP lists only programs that are fully accredited or have been granted a Letter of Review, indicating progress toward accreditation. If a Virginia school is not on the CAAHEP or ABHES directories, it is not currently recognized for CMA (AAMA) eligibility.
Unaccredited programs often make bold claims but cannot deliver the credential pathway they promise. Watch for vague language like "meets industry standards" or "prepares you for certification" without naming a specific accreditor. Always verify accreditation directly at caahep.org or abhes.org. A quick directory search can save you thousands of dollars and months of frustration.
If you complete a program that is not accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, you may still qualify for other nationally recognized certifications. The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential through American Medical Technologists and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) through the National Healthcareer Association have different eligibility routes, including completion of a non-accredited training program if it meets certain criteria. While these certifications are valued by many employers, they do not serve as a substitute for the CMA (AAMA) in practices that specifically require that credential. Always clarify which certification your target employers prefer before committing to a program.
Medical assisting is booming in Virginia. Job openings are projected to grow 20 to 21 percent between 2022 and 2032, according to workforce research from Brightpoint Community College, nearly double the national growth rate of 13 to 14 percent for the same period. That makes Virginia one of the stronger job markets in the country for aspiring medical assistants.
Eastern Shore Community College's online medical assistant program carries an effective price of roughly $2,495, the least expensive path to become a medical assistant in Virginia currently on record. Virginia Western Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, Piedmont Virginia Community College, and Laurel Ridge Community College all land between $4,900 and $6,100 after aid is factored in, while Danville Community College, Virginia Peninsula Community College, Northern Virginia Community College, and Tidewater Community College round out the ten most affordable options, with effective costs climbing toward $11,700 at the higher end. Bryant & Stratton College Virginia Beach, a private associate degree option, comes in around $12,000 net, though its sticker tuition is closer to $18,750.
Those figures are net prices after typical aid, but total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, and books combined) tells a fuller story. Noncredit workforce CCMA programs at Virginia's community colleges generally run $3,200 to $3,900 total1: Tidewater Community College's program lands near $3,2402, while Laurel Ridge, Northern Virginia Community College, and Virginia Peninsula Community College each price out around $3,9003. For-credit certificate programs cost more, typically $5,000 to $10,000, and associate degree (AAS) programs range from $8,000 to $15,000 once general education courses are included4. Private schools sit at the top of the range, generally $12,000 to $20,000, with Bryant & Stratton's AAS program near $18,752.
The G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) program is the single biggest cost-lowering tool available to Virginia medical assistant students. It's aimed at low- to moderate-income Virginia residents and, for those who qualify, covers tuition, fees, and books outright in approved workforce programs. Piedmont Virginia Community College's Clinical Medical Assistant program (180 contact hours) and Virginia Highlands Community College's Career Studies Certificate both explicitly participate, and Laurel Ridge Community College notes G3 eligibility across its three campus locations5. Because G3 funding flows through each college's financial aid office, eligibility and award amounts should be confirmed directly with the school before enrolling.
Beyond G3, the Pell Grant remains available to eligible students in for-credit certificate and degree programs, though it typically doesn't apply to noncredit workforce courses. Federal student loans can help bridge gaps in longer AAS programs, and many private schools, including Bryant & Stratton, offer institutional scholarships and monthly payment plans to spread out tuition. FastForward Virginia, the state's short-term workforce credential initiative, also reduces tuition for many CCMA programs regardless of G3 status1, so it's worth asking each program which discounts stack together.
Certification exam pass rates are one of the clearest signals of how well a medical assistant program prepares its graduates. If most students who finish a program pass the CMA, RMA, or CCMA exam on their first attempt, that program is doing something right. Unfortunately, finding these numbers for Virginia schools takes a bit of detective work. Here is where to look and what to expect.
Most accredited medical assistant programs in Virginia publish self-reported outcomes on their websites, usually on a page labeled "student consumer information," "program disclosures," or "outcomes." You may find first-time pass rates for the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), or CCMA (NHA) exams, along with graduation and job placement rates. Keep in mind that schools report these figures on their own, so compare across several programs to get a sense of what is typical rather than relying on one number in isolation.
If you cannot find the data on the site, call or email the program director. Reputable schools should share this information readily. Hesitation to answer is itself useful information.
The two agencies that accredit most medical assistant programs, CAAHEP and ABHES, both require accredited programs to meet minimum outcome thresholds, including certification exam performance. CAAHEP publishes annual reports for its accredited programs, and ABHES maintains outcome data as part of its review process. Not every figure is posted publicly, but you can often request program outcome summaries directly from the accreditor.
The organizations that administer the exams sometimes share aggregate pass rate information:
These sources will not always give you a Virginia-specific number for a specific school, but they help you benchmark what a strong result looks like.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks employment and wage data for medical assistants in Virginia but does not report exam pass rates. Use it to understand demand and earnings across the state, and pair that insight with the outcome data you gather from schools and accreditors.
Medical assisting in Virginia combines steady demand with wages that vary significantly by location, making it a career where your location matters almost as much as your credentials. National medical assistant salary by state data confirms that metro areas in the state often sit above the national median, and several regional hotspots drive most of the hiring.
The highest earnings are concentrated in the northern Virginia portion of the Washington, D.C. metro area, but other cities also provide competitive pay.
Virginia employed 16,100 medical assistants as of 2023, with a statewide median wage of $40,2401. The annual average wage nudges a bit higher at $42,010, suggesting that seasoned assistants and those in higher-paying subspecialties pull the mean upward. About 1,770 job openings are projected each year, accounting for both new positions and turnover3.
Many medical assistant trade schools in Virginia highlight employer partnerships with regional hospitals, urgent care chains, and private practices, but public, program-level job placement percentages are not uniformly reported. As you compare programs, ask directly about recent graduate employment rates and which clinical sites host externships. A school that can name specific hiring partners and provide clear placement data is often a stronger bet than one that speaks in generalities.
More Virginia healthcare employers are beginning to prefer medical assistants with an associate degree for lead roles, even though a certificate or diploma remains the fastest route into the profession. Choosing the right credential comes down to how quickly you want to start working, how much you can invest, and whether you plan to continue your education later.
A certificate program takes 9 to 12 months and typically costs between $5,000 and $12,000.1 It focuses tightly on clinical and administrative skills without general education courses, so you can sit for the national certification exam and begin applying for entry-level medical assistant positions right away. If getting into the workforce as soon as possible is your top priority, this path gets you there with the least time and money.
Diploma programs run 9 to 15 months and range from $7,500 to $20,000.1 They cover the same core competencies as a certificate but often add an externship and more structured certification prep. This middle ground suits students who want a hands-on, employer-ready experience without spending a full two years in school. You graduate with the skills to earn a salary in the $34,000 to $48,000 range, just like certificate and associate graduates.1
An associate degree lasts 18 to 24 months, with total costs generally between $8,000 and $15,000.1 What sets it apart are the general education credits (math, English, sciences) that can transfer toward a nursing degree or another health professions program down the road. While the starting pay mirrors other pathways, the associate option creates a cleaner on-ramp if you think you might pursue a bachelor's in nursing, healthcare management, or a related field later. For students weighing an associate’s degree or certificate in medical assisting, this makes the associate path a strategic choice for those planning to continue their education. In Virginia, several community colleges offer the degree with daytime, evening, and some hybrid formats to fit working adults.
Becoming a medical assistant in Virginia follows a straightforward path. Whether you choose a certificate or associate degree program, the core milestones are the same. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
Virginia schools offer both online (or hybrid) and fully on-campus medical assistant programs, so you can choose the format that fits your life. Keep in mind that every accredited program requires hands-on clinical hours, which means even online students will need to complete in-person labs or an externship at some point. Here is a realistic look at the tradeoffs.
We hear these questions from prospective students across Virginia all the time, so we gathered the most common ones here. Always confirm details directly with the program or organization mentioned for the most current information.
Beyond the top-ranked programs, Virginia offers many other accredited medical assistant training options. These schools provide quality education and may be a better fit depending on your location, schedule, or budget. Below is a directory of additional programs organized by region.
