Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

You will learn the professional traits and responsibilities to become a vital part of the healthcare team in a medical office, clinic, hospital, and other healthcare settings. You will also be prepared for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.

Overview

Clinical medical assistants are skilled multitaskers who help maximize the healthcare team's productivity. Medical assistants enable a healthcare facility to operate more efficiently, which increases revenue and provides a positive experience for patients. For physicians, clinical medical assistants help manage the increasing complexities of practice management and patient care. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for medical assistants will grow 16% through 2031, which is much faster than the average job.

In this online medical assistant certification course, you will learn a broad range of skills that make medical assistants versatile and valuable, including medical terminology, medical law and ethics, HIPAA rules, scheduling systems, and the importance of certified clinical medical assistants as healthcare team members. You will also be prepared to perform duties from the front office to the back office. These duties include measuring vital signs, assisting with exams, performing laboratory testing, maintaining equipment and supplies, administering injections, obtaining blood specimens, scheduling appointments, registering patients, and answering and returning phone calls.

The medical terminology course introduces key concepts of medical language and human anatomy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body systems in health and disease. The curriculum covers topics such as the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and immune systems, along with mental health and special senses, with exams at the midterm and final stages. Students with prior knowledge can optionally test out by achieving a minimum score of 80%, replacing course content if desired. It is important to understand that this course feature only applies to the online Medical Terminology course, the standalone course, or advanced career training course bundles that include Medical Terminology.

The online medical assistant certification course also includes the opportunity to become CPR certified and participate in an unpaid clinical experience. Because employers recognize that certified medical assistants deliver greater value, completing the course will help you to be well-prepared to find your place in this rewarding healthcare career. You will also be able to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

This CCMA certification course includes a voucher covering the certification exam fee. However, please research your state's requirements by visiting your state's medical board site before enrolling to ensure this course is the right fit for you.

Please note: Students intending to work in Washington state may be required to provide or request an official transcript from the school they are enrolled with to qualify for employment as a Medical Assistant – Certified. This Certified Clinical Medical Assistant course does not meet state requirements for students intending to work in South Carolina, effective July 15th, 2026. Certification exams offered by NHA are only available online to candidates located in the US.

The course also includes an opportunity to participate in a clinical experience.

Disclaimer: To qualify for the clinical experience application process, students must successfully complete the online course and ensure their account balances are current (at a minimum). It is important to note that ed2go cannot guarantee placement at any clinical site, and students must take full responsibility for fulfilling their clinical requirements. However, our affiliated partnerships can increase the likelihood of finding a site that matches student needs. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process two weeks before completing courses.

Funding Disclaimer: For Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded students, please consult with your funding source representative before taking advantage of the Medical Terminology test-out feature. Different funding programs may have specific requirements and/or restrictions. If you attempt the test-out feature(s) in the Medical Terminology course without getting approval, your funding benefits may be jeopardized.

What you will learn

• You will learn the necessary skills to function as a vital member of the healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
• The course will emphasize ethical behavior, therapeutic communication, protecting the privacy of patient information, the importance of a first impression, maintaining a safe office environment, medical terminology, and clinical procedures.
• Identify the professional traits that a medical assistant must possess
• Discuss the various administrative and clinical job duties of a medical assistant
• Recognize the importance of professional certification

How you will benefit

• Summarize the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Security Rule
• Demonstrate basic medical terminology knowledge
• Discuss government and private insurance
• Identify the functions of the major body systems
• Demonstrate how to write a chief complaint and obtain a patient history
• Discuss the importance of medical and surgical asepsis
• Explain the information contained in different types of medical records.
• Identify the three methods used to perform venipuncture
• Professionalism represents the types of behavior that demonstrate your moral, ethical, and respectful attributes when interacting with patients and coworkers
• The medical assistant has a critical role in the ambulatory care setting, performing both administrative and clinical tasks under the direction of the provider
• An increasing number of employers now require that their medical assistants be certified. Certification shows that the medical assistant has met certain educational requirements and has committed to continuing their education going forward

Syllabus

1. Medical TerminologyGetting Started
   How to Take This Course
   Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
   Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
   The Musculoskeletal System
   The Cardiovascular System
   The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
   The Respiratory System
   The Digestive System
   The Urinary System
   Midterm
   Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
   The Nervous System
   Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
   The Integumentary System
   The Endocrine System
   Mental Health
   Male and Female Reproductive Systems
   Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
   Final Exam
   
2. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
1. Medical Assisting Foundations
2. Professional Behavior
3. Legal and Ethical Issues
4. The Art of Communicating
5. Telecommunications, Telephone Professionalism, and Telephone Techniques
6. Written Communications
7. Medical Office Environment
8. Patient Scheduling
9. Managing Medical Records
10. Introduction to Health Insurance
11. Medical Coding: An Overview
12. Patient Accounts
13. Insurance Claims, Patient Billing, and Collections
14. Daily Financial Practices
15. Managing the Office
16. Pharmacology
17. Pathophysiology
18. Infection Control and Medical Asepsis
19. The Chief Complaint and Patient History
20. Body Measurements and Vital Signs
21. Preparing for Examinations
22. The Complete Physical Examination (CPE)
23. Specialty Examinations and Procedures
24. The Physician's Office Laboratory (POL)
25. Specimen Collection and Processing
26. Introduction to Phlebotomy
27. Diagnostic Testing
28. Minor Office Surgeries
29. Medication Dosage Calculations
30. Administering Medications
31. Emergencies in the Medical Office
32. First Aid Procedures and Mental Health Issues
33. Rehabilitation
34. Nutrition and Special Diets
35. Certification
36. Preparing for Your Career

Requirements

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment.

The following digital textbook for the Medical Terminology course is accessed via links in the course lessons:

• Comprehensive Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 1st Edition (eBook)

The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the CCMA course:

• Medical Assisting: Administrative & Clinical Competencies, by Michelle Blesi
• Workbook to Accompany Medical Assisting: Administrative & Clinical Competencies, by Michelle Blesi

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take these courses.

Certification Requirements:

In order to sit for the national certification exam, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

While you'll learn everything you need to know to pass the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA), you'll still need to ensure that the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant course will meet your state's requirements. Please visit your state's Medical Board site for more information.

Please note: Students intending to work in Washington state may be required to provide or request an official transcript from the school they are enrolled with to qualify for employment as a Medical Assistant – Certified. This Certified Clinical Medical Assistant course does not meet state requirements for students intending to work in South Carolina, effective July 15th, 2026. Certification exams offered by NHA are only available online to candidates located in the US.