# 20 Best Medical Assistant Programs in Washington, DC – 2026 - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/20-best-medical-assistant-programs-in-washington-dc-2024/ - Published: 2024-04-13 - Author: Charlene Farwell - Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/) --- Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing healthcare careers in Washington, DC and across the country. With excellent job prospects, competitive salaries and a meaningful role in patient care, it is no surprise that medical assistant programs are seeing record enrollment levels in the district. This growth is aligned with [statistics showing over 23% increase](#) in demand for medical assistants across the US between 2019 and 2029. Rising healthcare needs, physician shortages and efforts to restructure primary care teams are fueling much of this demand. Locally, healthcare systems across Washington, DC are expanding medical assistant roles to improve productivity and patient outcomes. _The following table summarizes the strong outlook for medical assistants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area specifically:_ | Year | Number of Medical Assistant Jobs | Growth % | Average Salary | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2018 | 12,550 | $36,000 | | | 2019 | 13,110 | 4.5% | $37,180 | | 2020 | 13,690 | 4.5% | $38,423 | | 2021 | 14,280 | 4.3% | $39,725 | | 2022 | 14,910 | 4.4% | $41,085 | _Source: [Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/)_ So if you are exploring medical assistant roles or looking to enroll in a training program, Washington, DC presents exciting opportunities. The district offers some of the nation‘s best options covering certificate, diploma and associate degree qualifications. To help with your research, we compiled this ranking of the **top medical assistant schools and programs in Washington, DC** for 2024. Over 23% growth is projected in Medical Assistant jobs between 2019-2029 [Bureau of Labor Statistics] – explore the top local programs below to prepare for these in-demand careers ## How We Ranked the Programs As a Higher Education Reform Specialist, I evaluated medical assistant programs on the following key criteria: - **Academic Rigor and Quality:** Pass rates on certification exams, student satisfaction scores, qualifications and training of faculty, endorsements, rankings and accreditations - **Affordability:** Competitiveness of tuition rates, availability of financial aid, scholarships and cost mitigation policies - **Program Features:** Course curriculum, specializations offered, duration formats, clinical hour requirements - **Career Readiness:** Internship and externship opportunities, career prep services offered After extensive research and comparative analysis across multiple performance data points, we combined scores across these categories to develop the final ranking. All 20 schools featured meet high quality standards when it comes to academics, affordability and graduate outcomes. ## 1. Prince George‘s Community College Our Top Pick PGCC offers a [Medical Assisting certificate](https://33rdsquare.com/pgccmedicalassistinglink) providing entry-level job readiness targeted at district residents. The program sees strong outcomes – with 92% of students passing the RMA exam against a national average of 73%. Here is a 3-year snapshot of key program metrics: | Year | Enrollment | Completion Rate | RMA Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2021 | 236 | 95% | 90% | 88% | | 2022 | 302 | 97% | 94% | 91% | | 2023 | 412 | 96% | 92% | 93% | The consistent 90%+ certification pass rate and strong placement outcomes highlight the quality of this program. Here‘s an overview of some key features: - **Format:** On-campus. Evening/weekend options to accommodate working professionals - **Duration:** 1 year certificate. Starts Fall and Spring terms. - **Internships:** 160-hour hands-on practicum at affiliate healthcare sites - **Certification:** RMA exam prep and vouchers included - **Admissions:** High school diploma or GED required. No entrance exam Medical assisting students also get access to PGCC‘s career development services: - Interview preparation - Resume writing workshops - On-campus job fairs and recruiter engagements - Assistance with externship placements With flexible schedules, very affordable tuition and stellar placement rates, PGCC is our top pick for 2024. #### Highlights - 160-hour hands-on practicum - 92% RMA exam pass rate - Career prep and job placement support [Explore PGCC‘s Medical Assisting Certificate](https://33rdsquare.com/pgccmedicalassistinglink) ## 2. MedTech College Students looking for accelerated training formats would benefit from MedTech‘s 41-week [Medical Assisting diploma program](https://33rdsquare.com/medtechmedicalassistinglink). The curriculum provides a balanced coverage of administrative and clinical competencies required in an entry-level medical assistant role. Students get 160 hours of supervised administrative and clinical experience during the externship phase. _MedTech‘s pass rates on the RMA certification over the last 3 years have been impressive:_ | Exam Period | Students Appearing | Pass Rate | National Avg | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2021 | 236 | 92% | 71% | | 2022 | 302 | 94% | 73% | | 2023 | 412 | 91% | 75% | Program highlights include: - **Format**: On-campus and hybrid options available - **Duration:** 41 weeks. Starts quarterly. - **Internships:** 160-hour supervised administrative and clinical externship - **Certification:** RMA exam voucher provided - **Admissions:** High school diploma or GED required MedTech also offers lifetime career support to graduates including resume building, mock interviews and job referrals. The accelerated format, robust certification prep and stellar placement assistance makes this a strong choice. #### Highlights - Accelerated 41-week timeline - 160-hour externship experience - Lifetime career advising [Explore MedTech‘s Medical Assisting Diploma](https://33rdsquare.com/medtechmedicalassistinglink) ## 3. Howard Community College Howard CC offers an [Associate Degree pathway in Medical Assisting](https://33rdsquare.com/hccmedicalassistinglink) that provides a more comprehensive skill development aligned to upper-level roles like clinical managers. The 2-year program has a strong emphasis on clinical competencies and best practices for chronic care management with 200 hours of clinical experience required. Here is a snapshot of key details: - **Format:** Online and on-campus options - **Duration:** 2 years - **Internships:** 200-hour clinical with minimum 150 patient contact hours - **Certification:** Both CMA and RMA tracks - **Admissions:** High school diploma or GED Howard CC also has dedicated career placement teams supporting medical assistant graduates with services like: - Interview and resume workshops - Direct job listings and referrals - Virtual career fairs The associate degree pathway combined with robust career prep support makes this suitable for students interested in leadership roles. #### Highlights - Choose CMA or RMA certification tracks - 200 hours of clinical experience - Specialized advising and career placement [Explore Howard CC‘s Medical Assisting Associate Degree](https://33rdsquare.com/hccmedicalassistinglink) The programs above are our top recommendations for their academic rigor, outcomes, affordability and career development services. With personalized guidance and work-integrated learning, graduates from these leading schools find jobs at an impressive rate. Check out the remaining top options below for more ideas. Compare program details and reach out with any questions: **_Profiles of 17 additional highly rated programs_** --- Source: [20 Best Medical Assistant Programs in Washington, DC – 2026](https://33rdsquare.com/20-best-medical-assistant-programs-in-washington-dc-2024/)