Wallace Community College (WCC), a public community college in Dothan, offers one medical assisting program:
- Medical Assisting Associate in Applied Science (73 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting AAS | $19,564 (Alabama resident) | ~2 years (5 semesters) | 73 |
The cost is WCC’s published 2026-27 total. It includes tuition, fees, health screenings, background check, NHA comprehensive testing, supplies, uniforms, and books. Duration follows WCC’s five-semester suggested sequence.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (Alabama Community College System) |
| Campus | Wallace Campus, Dothan |
| Format | On campus: classroom, lab, and clinical practicum |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation; reaffirmed September 2022, through fall 2031 |
| Institutional accreditation | SACSCOC |
| Practicum | 225 hours |
| Start terms | Fall and spring |
| Exam pass rate | 78.26%, five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
| Job placement | 90.24%, five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
Medical Assisting AAS
The AAS costs about $19,564 for Alabama residents and takes about two years, starting in fall or spring. See the official program page.
AAS Curriculum
Structure. The degree combines 19 credits of general education with about 56 credits of career and technical courses over five semesters. The medical assisting core includes:
- MAT 101 Medical Terminology; MAT 102 and 103 Medical Assisting Theory I and II
- MAT 111 and 211 Clinical Procedures I and II
- MAT 125 and 215 Laboratory Procedures I and II
- MAT 120 and 121 Medical Administrative Procedures I and II
- MAT 216 Medical Pharmacology for the Medical Office: 4 credits
- MAT 128 Medical Law and Ethics; MAT 130 Medical Office Communication; MAT 220 Medical Office Insurance
- MAT 200 Management of Office Emergencies; MAT 228 Medical Assistant Review Course
- MAT 229 Medical Assistant Practicum: 3 credits
Distinctive elements. Students must score 90% or higher on a drug calculation test in pharmacology and a venipuncture test in lab procedures. Enrolled students can add short certificates in phlebotomy, EKG technician, or medical administrative assistant.
You Should Know
- WCC’s cost sheet uses 73 credits, while the catalog totals run 73 to 76 depending on the orientation course chosen and whether EMS 100 is counted.
- Two failures or withdrawals in MAT courses end eligibility. Students must then reapply as new students.
AAS Practicum
- 225 hours in a medical setting, 65 hours above the 160-hour CAAHEP minimum
- Current BLS certification is required before the practicum
- Clinical sites may require additional background checks and drug screens
AAS Admissions
Admission is competitive and limited by faculty and clinical space. Applicants need:
- Unconditional admission to WCC
- A completed online medical assisting application by the deadline
- A 2.5 GPA on the last 24 college credits, or a 2.5 high school GPA for students without college credit
- Eligibility for ENG 101 and MTH 116, with any developmental courses completed
- Ability to meet the program’s essential functions
You Should Know
- WCC accepts applications twice a year, for fall and spring. The spring 2027 deadline was extended into November 2026; check the program page for the current date.
Tuition
WCC charges $133 per credit hour in tuition plus $71 per credit hour in fees for Alabama residents in 2026-27, or about $204 per credit hour.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (73 credits at $133) | $9,709.00 |
| Per-credit fees (technology, facility, building, bond, ACCS enhancement) | $5,183.00 |
| Books (estimate) | $2,525.00 |
| NHA comprehensive testing | $714.00 |
| Tools, supplies, and uniforms | $565.00 |
| Health exam, vaccinations, and titers | $510.00 |
| Drug screens, background check, and liability insurance | $294.00 |
| Graduation and cap and gown fees | $64.01 |
| Total (published) | $19,564.01 |
- Financial aid is available to eligible students.
Be aware that:
- Non-resident cost is an estimated $29,300. Alabama community colleges charge out-of-state students double tuition ($266 per credit hour), which adds about $9,709.
- Students who need developmental courses pay for them on top of the 73 credits.
Outcomes
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Credentialing exam pass rate | 78.26% | WCC MAERB outcomes, 2020 to 2024 |
| Job placement | 90.24% | WCC MAERB outcomes, 2020 to 2024 |
| Retention | 81.36% | WCC MAERB outcomes, 2020 to 2024 |
| Graduate and employer satisfaction | 100% | WCC MAERB outcomes, 2020 to 2024 |
Results improved sharply in the most recent years: retention, placement, and exam pass rates were all 100% in 2023 and 2024, after an exam pass rate of 33.33% in 2022. Cohorts are small, so single years swing widely.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
WCC fits a Wiregrass-region resident who wants a full associate degree with CMA eligibility and published outcomes.
Transparency. WCC publishes its full MAERB outcome table and an itemized cost sheet, down to vaccinations and uniform patches.
Degree credential. The AAS includes general education, which helps graduates who later move into supervisory roles or further study.
Long practicum. At 225 hours, the practicum runs well above the CAAHEP minimum.
Drawbacks. The degree takes about two years and costs far more than a certificate, and admission is competitive with a 2.5 GPA minimum.
Accreditation
Wallace Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The medical assisting AAS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Accreditation was reaffirmed in September 2022 and continues until fall 2031. Graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam, and the program’s cost sheet also includes NHA comprehensive testing.