College of Lake County (CLC), a public community college based in Grayslake, runs its medical assisting program from the Waukegan campus. It offers two stacked credentials:
- Medical Assisting Certificate, Plan 21MA (41 to 45 credits)
- Medical Assisting AAS, Plan 21MD (the certificate plus about one more year)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Certificate (21MA) | ~$7,200 to $8,200 (in-district, est.) | ~1 year full time (3 semesters) | 41 to 45 |
| Medical Assisting AAS (21MD) | ~$11,000 to $12,500 (in-district, est.) | ~2 years full time | ~64 (est.) |
CLC’s last published in-district rate with fees was $150 per credit hour, and the college held tuition flat for 2026-27. The estimates apply $150 to $160 per credit hour plus about $1,000 for books, supplies, screenings, and the exam. The credit range depends on whether students take Human Form and Function or the two-course anatomy and physiology sequence. Confirm current rates with CLC.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (District 532) |
| Campus | Waukegan |
| Format | Campus |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation |
| Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Exam eligibility | CMA (AAMA) through the 21MA certificate |
| Start terms | Fall (day cohort) and spring (evening cohort), per program materials |
| GPA requirement | 2.0 CLC GPA to stay in the program |
Medical Assisting Certificate (21MA)
The certificate costs an estimated $7,200 to $8,200 in-district and takes about one year full time. CLC directs students seeking the CMA to this plan. See the official program page.
Certificate Curriculum
Structure. Three semesters:
- Semester 1 (9 to 13 credits): College Success Seminar; Human Form and Function or Anatomy and Physiology I and II; Medical Terminology
- Semester 2 (14 credits): Clinical Medical Assisting I; Basic Medical Office and Billing Procedures; Pharmacology; Pharmacology Math and Medication Administration; a computer course
- Semester 3 (14 credits): Insurance Coding for Medical Assistants and the remaining clinical coursework, ending with the Medical Assisting Externship (3 credits) and Seminar in Medical Assisting (1 credit)
Distinctive elements. A separate medication-math course sits alongside pharmacology. Students from the Lake County Technical Campus high school program may receive dual or articulated credit.
You Should Know
- Choosing the two-course anatomy and physiology sequence adds 4 credits and cost, but those credits transfer more widely.
Certificate Externship
- Medical Assisting Externship carries 3 credits in the final semester; CAAHEP requires at least 160 unpaid hours
- Students must meet CLC’s published technical standards for the program
Certificate Admissions
- Admission to CLC and placement into the program’s first-semester courses
- A CLC GPA of 2.0 or higher, maintained throughout
- Ability to meet the program’s essential skills
You Should Know
- Program materials describe a fall day cohort and a spring evening cohort. Confirm which cohorts are running before you register.
Medical Assisting AAS (21MD)
Students finish the 21MA certificate first, then complete the AAS in about one more year. The estimate assumes a typical 64-credit AAS at the same rate.
You Should Know
- CLC ties CMA eligibility to the 21MA certificate. AAS students earn it along the way.
Tuition
CLC charges tuition plus a comprehensive fee per credit hour. Its last published breakdown was $128 tuition plus $22 fees in-district, and $322 plus $22 out of district or out of state.
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Certificate tuition and fees (41 to 45 credits at $150 to $160) | ~$6,150 to $7,200 |
| Books, supplies, screenings, exam | ~$1,000 |
| Total (est.) | ~$7,200 to $8,200 |
Be aware that:
- Out-of-district students pay more than double. The certificate would run roughly $15,000 to $16,500 in tuition and fees at the out-of-district rate.
- Online sections carry an extra per-credit online course fee.
Outcomes
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate completers | 20 | IPEDS 2023 |
| MAERB retention, placement, exam pass | Not on pages reviewed | Ask the program |
CLC graduated about 20 certificate students in 2023. CAAHEP programs must publish at least one MAERB outcome, so ask the program office for its latest annual report figures.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
CLC fits a Lake County resident who wants a CAAHEP certificate with an evening option and a clear path to an AAS.
Schedule fit. A spring evening cohort serves students who work days.
Stacking. The certificate counts fully toward the AAS, so students can stop after one year and return later.
Drawbacks. At 41 to 45 credits, the certificate is heavier than many one-year programs, and outcomes are not easy to find.
Accreditation
College of Lake County is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its medical assisting program in Waukegan is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Graduates of the 21MA certificate are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam.