Northwest-Shoals Community College (NW-SCC), a public community college in northwest Alabama, offers one medical assisting program at its Shoals Campus in Muscle Shoals:
- Medical Assisting Technology Associate in Applied Science (66 to 74 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Technology AAS | ~$16,900 (est., Alabama resident) | ~2 years | 66 to 74 |
NW-SCC does not publish a program total. The estimate applies its 2026-27 rate of $196 per credit hour (tuition and fees) to the 66-credit minimum and adds about $4,000 for books, supplies, uniforms, and health screenings, based on the itemized costs published by Wallace Community College. Duration assumes full-time study, including the general education prerequisites.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (Alabama Community College System) |
| Campus | Shoals Campus, Muscle Shoals |
| Format | On campus, with four MAT courses online |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation; initial accreditation 2017, continuing accreditation awarded September 2025 |
| Institutional accreditation | SACSCOC |
| Exams named | CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) |
| Practicum | 200 unpaid hours, final semester |
| Start term | Fall only |
Medical Assisting Technology AAS
The AAS costs an estimated $16,900 for Alabama residents and takes about two years. The program admits students each fall. See the official program catalog page.
AAS Curriculum
Structure. General education (19 credits) covers English, public speaking, a humanities elective, biology, math, and psychology. The technical concentration includes:
- MAT 101 Medical Terminology
- MAT 102 and 103 Medical Assisting Theory I and II (or BIO 201 and 202)
- 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 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 MAT 228 Review Course
- HIT 230 Medical Coding Systems I: 3 credits
- MAT 229 Medical Assisting Preceptorship: 3 credits
Distinctive elements. Every student takes a medical coding course. Optional focus areas add either phlebotomy (MAT 239 Phlebotomy Preceptorship) or coding and billing (HIT 232 and an office internship), and NW-SCC offers matching certificates.
You Should Know
- The general education prerequisites must be finished with a C or better before admission, so students starting from scratch should plan a semester of prerequisites first.
AAS Practicum
- 200 unpaid clinical hours in the final semester, 40 hours above the 160-hour CAAHEP minimum
- The department assigns the facility
- Hours run Monday through Friday during facility hours; nights and weekends are not guaranteed
AAS Admissions
- General NW-SCC admission with a high school diploma or equivalent
- Age 18 or older, unless the program director approves
- Online program application
- A 2.5 cumulative GPA
- A C or better in ENG 101, a math course, a biology course, ORI 107, and psychology
You Should Know
- When applicants exceed seats, NW-SCC ranks them by cumulative college GPA or ACT and Accuplacer scores.
Tuition
NW-SCC charges $133 per credit hour in tuition plus $63 in fees, or $196 per credit hour, for Alabama residents in 2026-27.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (66 credits at $196) | $12,936 |
| Books, supplies, uniforms, and health screenings (est.) | ~$4,000 |
| Total (est.) | ~$16,900 |
- Financial aid is available to eligible students.
Be aware that:
- Non-resident cost is an estimated $25,700, at $329 per credit hour including fees.
- Choosing an optional focus adds 3 to 6 credits, or about $600 to $1,200.
Outcomes
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam pass rate, retention, and placement | Not published | NW-SCC program pages |
NW-SCC does not post its MAERB outcomes online. CAAHEP renewed the program’s accreditation in September 2025, which requires meeting MAERB’s retention, placement, and exam thresholds. Ask the program for its latest annual report.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
NW-SCC fits a Shoals-area resident who wants an accredited degree with coding skills and some online coursework.
Coding built in. A required medical coding course, with an optional coding and billing focus, suits graduates who want front-office as well as clinical roles.
Recent review. CAAHEP awarded continuing accreditation in September 2025.
Practicum. A department-assigned, 200-hour practicum spares students from finding their own site.
Drawbacks. One fall start a year, prerequisites before admission, and no published outcomes or program cost.
Accreditation
Northwest-Shoals Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Medical Assisting Technology 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). It was first accredited in 2017 and received continuing accreditation in September 2025. Graduates may sit for the CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) exam.