Alabama has 10 schools with accredited medical assistant programs. Nine are accepting students and profiled here: six public community colleges with CAAHEP accreditation, one public community college with ABHES accreditation, and two private career schools with ABHES institutional accreditation. Each profile is built from the school’s own catalog, cost sheets, and outcome reports.
- Lowest published cost: Coastal Alabama Community College certificate, $10,705 all in
- Fastest: Ross Medical Education Center diploma, about 8 months
- Most complete outcome data: Wallace Community College, with five years of MAERB results
Alabama Medical Assistant Programs
| School | Location | Total Program Cost | Format | Accreditation | Credentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattahoochee Valley Community College | Phenix City, AL | ~$18,100 (in-state, est.) | Campus | ABHES | Associate |
| Coastal Alabama Community College | Bay Minette, AL | $10,705 (certificate, in-state) | Hybrid | CAAHEP | Certificate, Associate |
| Enterprise State Community College | Enterprise, AL | ~$16,900 (in-state, est.) | Campus | CAAHEP (third-party listed) | Associate |
| Fortis College | Mobile, AL (+3 AL campuses) | ~$17,700 (est.) | Hybrid | ABHES (institutional) | Diploma |
| Northwest-Shoals Community College | Muscle Shoals, AL | ~$16,900 (in-state, est.) | Campus | CAAHEP | Associate |
| Ross Medical Education Center | Huntsville, AL | $16,297 (tuition and fees) | Campus | ABHES (institutional) | Diploma |
| Southern Union State Community College | Valley, AL | ~$14,400 (certificate, est.) | Campus | CAAHEP | Certificate, Associate |
| Trenholm State Community College | Montgomery, AL | ~$17,500 (in-state, est.) | Campus | CAAHEP | Associate |
| Wallace Community College | Dothan, AL | $19,564 (in-state) | Campus | CAAHEP | Associate |
Costs are for Alabama residents and include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and screenings where the school publishes them. Figures marked “est.” apply a school’s published rate to its credit total; each profile explains its method.
Program Types in Alabama
| Program Type | Typical Length | Typical Cost (in-state) | Where Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community college AAS | ~2 years (4 to 6 semesters) | $14,000 to $19,600 | All seven public colleges profiled |
| Community college certificate | 3 to 4 semesters | $10,700 to $14,400 | Coastal Alabama, Southern Union |
| Career school diploma | 8 to 9 months | $16,300 to $17,700 | Fortis (4 campuses), Ross (Huntsville) |
Alabama’s community colleges charge $131 to $133 per credit hour in tuition plus fees, about $182 to $204 per credit hour in total. Out-of-state students pay double tuition. Career schools charge the same price regardless of residency.
Certificate or Degree?
- Certificate: faster and cheaper. Coastal Alabama’s three-semester certificate is the quickest public route to CMA eligibility.
- AAS: adds general education for future supervisory roles or further study. Most Alabama colleges offer only the AAS.
- Diploma: the shortest option, but at Alabama’s career schools it costs more than a community college certificate and CMA eligibility should be confirmed.
Accreditation and Certification
Alabama does not license medical assistants, but most employers prefer certified candidates. Accreditation decides which certifications graduates can earn.
| Accreditation | Schools | CMA (AAMA) Eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| CAAHEP (programmatic) | Coastal Alabama, Enterprise State, Northwest-Shoals, Southern Union, Trenholm State, Wallace Community College | Yes |
| ABHES (programmatic) | Chattahoochee Valley | Yes |
| ABHES (institutional) | Fortis, Ross | Confirm with the school |
The CCMA (NHA) does not require programmatic accreditation, so graduates of all nine schools can sit for it. Several Alabama colleges build EKG and phlebotomy training into their programs, which prepares graduates for additional NHA exams.
Be aware that:
- Enterprise State’s CAAHEP accreditation (granted 2023) comes from a third-party listing; ESCC’s own accreditation page has not been updated.
- Wallace State Community College in Hanceville holds CAAHEP accreditation but is not accepting applications. Its program moves to Workforce Development starting fall 2026.
Published Outcomes
| School | Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Alabama | 100% (2023 to 2024) | 100% | 53.33% |
| Southern Union | 96.55% CCMA (2020 to 2023, third-party) | 82.76% | Not published |
| Trenholm State | 83% (2020 to 2024) | Not published | Not published |
| Wallace Community College | 78.26% (2020 to 2024) | 90.24% | 81.36% |
| Enterprise State | Not published | 81.4% (2020 to 2024) | Not published |
| Fortis | Not published | Not published | 40% to 50% graduation (federal data) |
Chattahoochee Valley, Northwest-Shoals, and Ross do not publish program outcomes. CAAHEP and ABHES both require programs to track retention, placement, and exam results, so ask for them before enrolling.
Choosing a Program in Alabama
By region. Southwest: Coastal Alabama and Fortis Mobile. Wiregrass: Wallace Community College, Enterprise State, and Fortis Dothan. Montgomery: Trenholm State and Fortis Montgomery. East: Southern Union and Chattahoochee Valley. North and central: Northwest-Shoals, Ross Huntsville, and Fortis Birmingham.
By start date. Trenholm State and Enterprise State admit every semester. Northwest-Shoals admits only in fall, and Coastal Alabama only in spring.
By schedule. Coastal Alabama and Fortis are hybrid, Northwest-Shoals puts four courses online, and Fortis offers evening classes.