Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC), a public community college in Phenix City, offers one medical assisting program:
- Medical Assisting Associate in Applied Science (72 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting AAS | ~$18,100 (est., Alabama resident) | 5 semesters (~2 years) | 72 |
CVCC does not publish a program total. The estimate applies $196 per credit hour, the 2026-27 tuition-and-fee rate at other Alabama community colleges, to 72 credits and adds about $4,000 for books, supplies, uniforms, and screenings, based on the itemized costs published by Wallace Community College. Duration follows CVCC’s five-semester curriculum plan.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (Alabama Community College System) |
| Campus | Phenix City |
| Format | On campus |
| Programmatic accreditation | ABHES, since August 14, 2018; next reaffirmation spring 2028 |
| Institutional accreditation | SACSCOC |
| Exams named | CCMA (NHA) after the AAS; CPT (NHA) after the phlebotomy option |
| Practicum | 225 hours (per third-party listing) |
Medical Assisting AAS
The AAS costs an estimated $18,100 for Alabama residents and takes five semesters. See CVCC’s accreditation page and curriculum plan.
AAS Curriculum
Structure. The 72 credits split into 43 medical assisting credits and 29 academic credits 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 and MAT 220 Medical Office Insurance
- MAT 200 Management of Office Emergencies and EMS 100 CPR
- MAT 228R Medical Assistant Review Course and MAT 229 Medical Assisting Practicum
Distinctive elements. After the third semester, students can add a phlebotomy preceptorship (MAT 239) for a short certificate and the CPT exam. WKO 102 Workplace Skill Development is part of the final semester.
You Should Know
- The curriculum plan online dates from 2021. Confirm the current sequence with CVCC.
- Third-party listings disagree on which exam CVCC prepares students for. CVCC’s plan names the CCMA.
AAS Practicum
- A 225-hour practicum in a local medical setting (MAT 229), 65 hours above the 160-hour minimum used by CAAHEP
- Taken in the final semester
AAS Admissions
- Admission to CVCC
- A separate medical assisting program application
You Should Know
- CVCC does not post detailed admission criteria online. Ask the program for current GPA, placement, and screening requirements.
Tuition
Alabama community colleges charge Alabama residents $182 to $204 per credit hour, including fees. The estimate below uses $196, the 2026-27 rate at Enterprise State and Northwest-Shoals.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (72 credits at $196, est.) | ~$14,112 |
| Books, supplies, uniforms, and screenings (est.) | ~$4,000 |
| Total (est.) | ~$18,100 |
- Financial aid is available to eligible students.
Be aware that:
- Non-resident cost is an estimated $27,700, applying the double-tuition rate used across the Alabama Community College System ($329 per credit hour with fees).
- CVCC sits on the Georgia line. Columbus-area Georgia residents should ask CVCC whether any border-area tuition rate applies.
Outcomes
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam pass rate, retention, and placement | Not published | CVCC pages |
CVCC does not publish program outcomes. ABHES requires accredited programs to meet retention, placement, and credentialing benchmarks, so ask for the program’s most recent figures.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
CVCC fits a Phenix City or Columbus-area resident who wants an accredited associate degree that qualifies graduates for the CMA.
ABHES accreditation. CVCC is the only Alabama public college on this site with ABHES rather than CAAHEP programmatic accreditation. Both make graduates eligible for the CMA (AAMA).
Long practicum. A 225-hour practicum gives more clinic time than many programs.
Drawbacks. CVCC publishes little about the program online: no cost total, outcomes, admission criteria, or current curriculum plan.
Accreditation
Chattahoochee Valley Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The AAS in Medical Assisting is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Initial accreditation was granted August 14, 2018, the last reaffirmation visit was in spring 2023, and the next is due in spring 2028. ABHES programmatic accreditation qualifies graduates for the CMA (AAMA) exam, and CVCC’s curriculum prepares students for the CCMA (NHA).