H. Councill Trenholm State Community College, a public community college in Montgomery, offers one medical assisting program:
- Medical Assisting Technology Associate in Applied Science (71 to 75 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Technology AAS | ~$17,500 (est., Alabama resident) | ~2 years (6 semesters, including summer) | 71 to 75 |
Trenholm does not publish a program total. The estimate applies its $187 per-credit rate (tuition and fees) to 71 credits, adds its published program fees, and adds books, supplies, uniforms, and health screenings at the itemized amounts published by nearby Wallace Community College. Duration follows Trenholm’s six-semester degree pathway.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public community college (Alabama Community College System) |
| Campus | Trenholm Campus, Montgomery |
| Format | On campus |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation |
| Institutional accreditation | SACSCOC |
| Exams named | CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) |
| Start terms | Every semester |
| Exam pass rate | 83%, five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
Medical Assisting Technology AAS
The AAS costs an estimated $17,500 for Alabama residents and takes about two years, with admission each semester. See the official program page.
AAS Curriculum
Structure. The pathway runs six semesters, including one summer. General education covers English composition I and II, math, psychology or sociology, art or music, and biology. The medical assisting core includes:
- MAT 100 Introduction to Document Production and MAT 101 Medical Terminology
- MAT 102 and 103 Medical 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 Administrative Procedures I and II
- MAT 216 Medical Pharmacology for the Medical Assistant: 4 credits
- MAT 122 Interpersonal Relationships, MAT 128 Medical Law and Ethics, MAT 220 Medical Office Insurance
- MAT 200 Management of Office Emergencies and MAT 228 Review Course
- MAT 230 Medical Assisting Preceptorship: 2 credits
Distinctive elements. Students can add an optional phlebotomy preceptorship (MAT 239) to prepare for the CPT exam. Trenholm also offers separate short certificates in phlebotomy and administrative medical assisting.
You Should Know
- Trenholm’s pathway lists biology twice, once in semester four and again as an alternative to the phlebotomy preceptorship in semester six. The total is 71 credits if biology is counted once and 75 with the optional preceptorship.
AAS Preceptorship
- MAT 230 places students in a healthcare facility for 6 to 8 hours per day
- Total hours are not published; CAAHEP requires at least 160
- Students must provide a physical, immunizations, a drug screen, a background check, CPR certification, and liability insurance before starting
AAS Admissions
- High school diploma or GED and general Trenholm admission
- Medical assisting application on file before the semester starts
- ACCUPLACER placement, unless exempt
- Keyboarding at 30 words per minute, or MAT 100 Introduction to Document Production
You Should Know
- Applicants with a felony conviction may be admitted but may not be eligible to sit for certification exams.
- The current application window closes November 30, 2026.
Tuition
Trenholm charges $131 per credit hour in tuition plus $56 in fees, or $187 per credit hour, for Alabama residents (fall 2025 through summer 2026 schedule).
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (71 credits at $187) | $13,277 |
| Certification fee (MAT 230) | $180 |
| Liability insurance (MAT 230 and MAT 239) | $32.50 |
| Books, supplies, uniforms, and health screenings (est.) | ~$4,000 |
| Total (est.) | ~$17,500 |
- Financial aid is available to eligible students. Allied health course fees cannot be waived.
Be aware that:
- Non-resident cost is an estimated $26,800. Trenholm charges out-of-state students twice the in-state tuition rate ($262 per credit hour).
- The 2026-27 rate may rise. Enterprise State, another Alabama community college, raised in-state tuition to $133 per credit hour for 2026-27.
Outcomes
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Credentialing exam pass rate | 83% | Trenholm program page, 2020 to 2024 |
| Graduate and employer satisfaction | 100% | Trenholm program page, five-year average |
| Retention and job placement | Not published | Trenholm program page |
The 83% pass rate is above Wallace Community College’s 78.26% for the same period. Ask Trenholm for its full MAERB outcomes report, which includes retention and placement.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
Trenholm fits a Montgomery-area resident who wants an accredited associate degree with flexible start dates.
Start any semester. Admission each semester means less waiting than programs that admit once or twice a year.
Phlebotomy option. The optional phlebotomy preceptorship adds a second credential within the degree.
Pass rate. An 83% five-year exam pass rate is solid for a small program.
Drawbacks. Trenholm does not publish a program total, preceptorship hours, or retention and placement rates, and its degree pathway has credit inconsistencies.
Accreditation
Trenholm State 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). Graduates are academically eligible for the CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) exams. Trenholm does not publish its accreditation dates.