Online Medical Administrative Assistant Classes (2026)

By May BargasaUpdated Jun 29, 2026

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Online medical administrative assistant classes prepare students for front-office healthcare work, with CMAA certification through the National Healthcareer Association as the standard credential. The best program depends on which credential you actually want. CMAA prepares for medical administrative assistant work, CHAA prepares for patient access services, and coding tracks prepare for billing, records, and reimbursement work. Each has a different exam, fee, and career direction. BLS reports a median annual wage of $44,640 for medical secretaries and administrative assistants in May 2024 and $50,250 for medical records specialists. The fix is straightforward: pick the credential first, then compare programs.

Medical Administrative Assistant programs for you

CCI Training Center

Online Medical Assistant Program

Online

Takes 7 Months to Complete, 100% Online + Hands-On Clinical Experience
Founded in 1984 & National Accreditation by ACCET & PTCB

Financial aid (may be available)

Ultimate Medical Academy

A.S. Health Sciences - Medical Administrative Assistant

Online

Fully Online: Complete your degree online in 18 months or more
Receive academic, job search, and 24/7 technical support for your success

Financial aid (may be available)

Southern New Hampshire University

BS Healthcare Administration

Online

Complete your degree at your own pace
24/7 online accessibility

Financial aid (may be available)

Stautzenberger College - Online

Diploma Medical Office Billing and Coding

Online

Complete your diploma in 10 months through 100% online format
Master ICD and CPT coding systems for insurance claims and medical records

Financial aid (may be available)

Key Points

Online medical administration programs can prepare students for front-office, patient access, billing, coding, medical records, and medical office support roles.
CMAA is usually the strongest match for medical administrative assistant training, while CHAA is more focused on patient access services.
Coding-focused tracks should include ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, reimbursement, compliance, and hands-on coding practice.
BLS reports a median annual wage of $44,640 for medical secretaries and administrative assistants and $50,250 for medical records specialists in May 2024.
The best program is not always the fastest or cheapest option; it is the one that matches your target credential, schedule, budget, and career direction.

What Are Online Medical Administrative Assistant Classes?

Online medical administrative assistant classes teach the office, records, billing, scheduling, and communication skills used in healthcare settings. These programs differ from healthcare administration degrees, which usually focus on management, operations, and leadership.

Most online medical administrative assistant programs cover:

Medical terminology
Electronic health records
Patient scheduling
Insurance and reimbursement basics
Medical office procedures
Privacy, compliance, and HIPAA-related concepts
Billing and coding fundamentals
Professional communication

Some programs prepare students for a certification exam, while others lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. Before comparing schools, check whether the program supports the credential or career track you actually want.

Compare the Main Online Medical Administration Tracks

Medical administration is not one single training path. A CMAA-focused program is not the same as a medical coding program, and a patient access route is not the same as a general associate degree in medical office administration.

CMAA Track: Medical Administrative Assistant

The CMAA track is usually the strongest route if you want front-office medical administration. It can prepare students for tasks such as scheduling appointments, updating patient records, handling office communication, and supporting billing or insurance paperwork.

The [National Healthcareer Association's CMAA exam](https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/medical-admin-assistant-(cmaa)) has an eligibility path that includes a high school diploma or GED plus a medical administrative assistant training program completed within the last five years. Key exam details:

Exam fee: approximately $129
Passing scaled score: 390 out of 500
Format: 110 scored items plus 25 pretest, 2 hours 15 minutes
Recertification: every two years with 10 continuing education credits

NHA reported a 2024 first-attempt pass rate of 62.68 percent for CMAA, which is on the lower end for NHA's allied health credentials.

Choose a CMAA-focused program if you want training in medical office procedures, patient scheduling, medical records support, medical terminology, insurance and billing basics, and professional communication in healthcare settings.

CHAA Track: Patient Access

The CHAA track is more specific to patient access services. Patient access can include registration, pre-registration, scheduling, insurance verification, financial clearance, and patient communication before or during care.

The NAHAM Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) credential is designed for associate-level patient access professionals who meet eligibility requirements. The CHAA exam fee is $255 and is paid directly to NAHAM. The exam covers knowledge used in patient access services.

Choose a CHAA-focused path if you are more interested in patient registration, insurance verification, scheduling and pre-registration, patient finance support, hospital access services, and revenue cycle basics.

Here's the thing about CHAA versus CMAA: CMAA is broader medical administrative assistant certification, while CHAA is more focused on patient access. If CHAA is your goal, verify that the program includes patient access coursework and CHAA preparation before applying.

Medical Billing and Coding Track

A medical billing and coding track is stronger if you want to work more closely with health records, diagnostic codes, procedure codes, insurance claims, and reimbursement. These programs go deeper than a general medical office administration course.

A strong coding-focused program should include:

ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding
CPT procedure coding
HCPCS Level II coding
Medical terminology and anatomy
Reimbursement and insurance claims
Compliance and documentation
Hands-on coding practice

Students interested in coding may compare credentials such as the AHIMA Certified Coding Associate (CCA), CPC through AAPC, or CBCS through NHA. The CCA exam has 105 questions, runs 2 hours, costs $199 for AHIMA members (higher for non-members), and requires a passing scaled score of 300. The right credential depends on the type of coding role, employer expectations, and how much coding depth the program provides.

Associate Degree Track

An associate degree in medical office administration or medical administrative billing and coding may be better if you want a broader academic credential. These programs often include general education courses along with career-focused healthcare administration coursework.

This path may make sense if you want a longer program with broader foundations, more coursework in communication, records, billing, and office systems, a credential beyond a short certificate, or a possible pathway toward future healthcare or business education.

Associate degree programs usually take longer than certificate programs. Compare the timeline, cost, transfer policies, and credential preparation carefully before committing.

How to Choose the Best Online Medical Administrative Assistant Class

The best online medical administrative assistant class should match your target role, not just the keyword in the program title. Use the steps below to narrow your options before applying.

Step 1: Choose the credential you want

Start with the credential or career path, then compare schools. This prevents you from selecting a program that sounds right but prepares you for a different outcome.

Use this simple filter:

Choose CMAA if you want medical administrative assistant training
Choose CHAA if you want patient access and registration-focused training
Choose a coding track if you want billing, coding, records, claims, and reimbursement depth
Choose an associate degree if you want a broader academic credential

This matters because "medical administration" can describe several different pathways.

Step 2: Check exam eligibility

Do not assume every online program automatically qualifies you for a certification exam. Check the certifying organization's eligibility rules before committing. For CMAA, review the current NHA eligibility requirements and confirm the program prepares students for the exam. For CHAA, review NAHAM's current education, experience, and professional development requirements. For coding credentials, check the exam provider and make sure the curriculum includes the coding systems you need.

A good program should make exam preparation clear, not buried in fine print.

Step 3: Compare cost, length, and format

Online programs vary widely in schedule, pacing, support, and total cost. Some are self-paced, while others use instructor-led classes, weekly deadlines, externships, or live lectures.

Before choosing a program, compare:

Total tuition and required fees
Books, software, exam vouchers, and supplies
Program length
Self-paced or scheduled format
Live support or instructor access
Required externship or practicum
Financial aid availability
Refund and withdrawal policies

A shorter program may be useful if it fits your target credential. A longer program may be worth considering if it gives you broader coursework, stronger support, or an associate degree.

Step 4: Review career services without expecting guarantees

Career services can be useful, but they should not be treated as a guarantee. Look for practical support such as resume help, interview preparation, employer networking, externship support, or career coaching.

Avoid choosing a program based only on claims about job placement or fast hiring. Dreambound is a marketplace that helps students compare programs, but it is not a school and does not guarantee admission, certification, licensing, employment, salary, job placement, or program outcomes.

The safer question is: does this program give you the training, support, and credential preparation that fit your goal?

Step 5: Decide whether you need coding depth

If you want a medical administrative assistant role, a full coding program may be more than you need. If you want a coding-focused job, a general medical office administration program may not go deep enough.

For coding-focused students, look for clear coverage of ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, anatomy and medical terminology, claims and reimbursement, compliance, and coding practice cases. Coding requires precision. A program that only introduces billing and coding basics may not be enough if your main goal is a coding credential.

Online Medical Administrative Assistant Classes on Dreambound

Dreambound helps students compare healthcare training options from partner schools in one place. The six programs below cover the main online medical administration tracks, and each prepares students for a different credential, so use each program page to confirm format, length, tuition, exam preparation, financial aid options, and any required in-person components.

CCI Training Center: Online Medical Assistant Program

Format: 100 percent online with local clinical externships
Length: 7-month timeline, twice-weekly online lectures
Credential: CCMA preparation through NHA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, not CMAA)
Notes: Better viewed as a medical assistant program with administrative overlap, not a pure CMAA or CHAA program; ACCET-accredited

More programs to explore

Southern New Hampshire University

BS Healthcare Administration with concentration in Patient Safety and Quality

Online

Complete your degree at your own pace
24/7 online accessibility

Financial aid (may be available)

Colorado Technical University

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Healthcare Management

Online

Complete your healthcare management degree online with 5-week class format
Study health policymaking, healthcare operations, and business fundamentals

Financial aid (may be available)

Ultimate Medical Academy: A.S. Health Sciences, Medical Administrative Assistant

Format: Online associate degree
Length: 18-month timeline
Credential: Associate of Science in Health Sciences; CMAA exam preparation
Notes: ABHES-accredited; coursework in medical transcription, patient records management, coding, and reimbursement

Herzing University: Associate of Science in Medical Office Administration

Format: Online associate degree
Length: 16-month timeline
Credential: A.S. in Medical Office Administration; CMAA exam preparation
Notes: First CMAA exam attempt fee covered per the program page

Penn Foster: Medical Admin Assistant Certificate

Format: Self-paced online certificate
Length: Self-paced, flexible study
Credential: Certificate; voucher for the CMAA exam fee
Notes: Coursework includes medical terminology, electronic medical records, and basic pharmacology

Carrington College Online: Medical Administrative Assistant

Format: Online certificate
Length: Length varies by enrollment status
Credential: Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate
Notes: Training for medical office, dental office, or other health-related office settings; loans, grants, and scholarships may be available to those who qualify

Keiser University: A.S. in Medical Administrative Billing and Coding

Format: Online associate degree
Length: Length varies by enrollment status
Credential: Associate of Science in Medical Administrative Billing and Coding
Notes: Coursework focused on medical coding, claims, compliance, reimbursement, and related administrative functions

Program details can change. Confirm current cost, length, format, admission requirements, exam preparation, and financial aid options on the program page before applying.

Salary and Job Outlook for Medical Administration Careers

Salary depends on the job title, employer, location, experience, and credential. The closest BLS categories for this topic are medical secretaries and administrative assistants (for front-office medical administration) and medical records specialists (for coding and records-focused roles).

BLS reports a median annual wage of $44,640 for medical secretaries and administrative assistants in May 2024. BLS also projects employment for medical secretaries and administrative assistants to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, with about 35,300 jobs added over the decade.

For coding and records-focused roles, BLS reports a median annual wage of $50,250 for medical records specialists in May 2024, with the lowest 10 percent earning under $35,780 and the highest 10 percent earning over $80,950. BLS projects employment for medical records specialists to grow 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 14,200 openings per year on average.

Those numbers do not guarantee what you will earn. Use them as labor-market benchmarks while comparing programs, credentials, and local job requirements.

CMAA vs. CHAA vs. Coding Certifications

CMAA, CHAA, and coding credentials serve different goals. The right choice depends on whether you want front-office administration, patient access, or coding-focused work.

CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant): commonly connected to medical office support, scheduling, records, communication, and administrative duties
CHAA (Certified Healthcare Access Associate): more focused on patient access, registration, insurance verification, and revenue cycle entry points
Coding credentials (CCA, CPC, CBCS): focused on medical codes, claims, documentation, reimbursement, and compliance

Front-office work points toward CMAA. Patient access work points toward CHAA. Billing and coding work points toward a coding credential rather than general medical office support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a CMAA certification worth it?

A CMAA certification can be worth it if your goal is medical administrative assistant work and local employers recognize or prefer the credential. It may help show that you studied medical office procedures, scheduling, records, terminology, and communication. It is not a guarantee of a job or salary, so compare it with employer requirements in your area.

Which course is best in medical coding?

The best medical coding course depends on whether you want CPC, CCA, CBCS, or another coding credential. Look for ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, compliance, reimbursement, anatomy, medical terminology, and coding practice. A general medical administration course may not provide enough coding depth.

What is a passing score for the CMAA exam?

NHA uses a scaled passing score of 390 out of 500 for the CMAA exam. This is a scaled score, not a simple percentage of questions answered correctly. The exam has 110 scored questions plus 25 pretest items and runs 2 hours and 15 minutes. Review the current NHA candidate handbook before scheduling the exam.

Is a CMAA the same as a CMA?

No. CMAA and CMA are not the same credential. CMAA usually refers to Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, which focuses on front-office and administrative duties. CMA commonly refers to Certified Medical Assistant, a separate credential that includes both clinical and administrative responsibilities. CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant), like the credential CCI Training Center prepares for, is also clinical and administrative and is separate from CMAA.

Choose the Track Before You Choose the Program

Online medical administrative assistant classes are easier to compare when you start with the track: CMAA, CHAA, coding, or an associate degree. That one decision helps you avoid choosing a program that sounds similar but prepares you for a different path.

Dreambound can help you compare online options from partner schools, review program details, and move forward with the training path that fits your schedule and goals. The right program should be clear about what it prepares you for, what it costs, how long it takes, and which credential path it supports.