Clinical Medical Assistant Training for Experienced CMAAs
A page within Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Wisconsin
Become a Trained CCMA
Clinical Medical Assistant Training for Experiences CMAAs
Take the next step in your healthcare career with our online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Training for experienced Certified Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAAs). This program is designed for professionals who already possess administrative medical office knowledge and want to expand their skillset into direct patient care and clinical procedures.
Through comprehensive online training, you will gain the specialized clinical knowledge needed to support healthcare providers in ambulatory care settings. Topics include patient assessment, vital signs, infection control, laboratory procedures, phlebotomy, electrocardiography (ECG), injections, and other essential clinical competencies.
The medical terminology course module introduces key concepts of medical language and human anatomy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body systems in health and disease. 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.
This CCMA course also includes the opportunity to become CPR certified and participate in an unpaid clinical experience. Upon successful completion, you will be prepared to sit for the CCMA certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), helping you increase your career opportunities and demonstrate your commitment to professional excellence. Please research your state's requirements by visiting your state's medical board site prior to enrolling to ensure this course is the right fit for you.
Job Outlook for Clinical Medical Assistants
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 12% through 2034, with approximately 112,300 job openings each year. Additionally, Indeed salary data shows that the average base salary for medical assistants is $44,452 annually, with top earners making more than $69,000 as of June 2026.
Clinical medical assistants play a vital role in physician offices, outpatient clinics, specialty practices, and other ambulatory healthcare settings. As healthcare providers continue to expand services and improve patient access, trained clinical professionals are needed to support both patient care and practice operations.
Earning your CCMA certificationcan help strengthen your resume, validate your clinical expertise, and demonstrate your readiness to work directly with patients in a variety of healthcare environments.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant FAQs
What is a medical assistant?
According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), medical assistants, otherwise known as clinical medical assistants, typically work alongside physicians in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. As a clinical medical assistant, you will interact directly with patients daily. You will likely be the first person a patient encounters after passing reception and the last person they see before exiting the facility. It will be your job to put them at ease, assure them they will be properly cared for, and leave them with a good impression. To be successful in this job, you will need to learn Electronic Health Record (EHR) software.
What do medical assistants do?
You will be responsible for taking the medical histories and recording patients' vital signs. Exact duties will vary by location, healthcare specialty, and practice size, but you will also likely complete clerical and administrative tasks within physician's offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. You will also need to understand how and what information can be shared and adhere to confidentiality laws, like HIPAA, in patient treatment.
Duties can include administrative and clinical tasks such as the following:
- Taking medical histories
- Explaining treatment procedures to patients
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Assisting the physician during examinations
- Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
- Performing basic laboratory tests
- Instructing patients about medication and special diets
- Preparing and administering medications, including by intramuscular, intradermal, and subcutaneous injections—including vaccinations/immunizations, as directed by a physician or other licensed provider (e.g., a nurse practitioner or physician assistant)
- Transmitting prescription refills as directed
- Phlebotomy
- Taking electrocardiograms
- Wound care and changing dressings
- Using computer applications
- Answering telephones
- Welcoming patients
- Updating and filing patient medical records
- Coding and filling out insurance forms
- Scheduling appointments
- Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
- Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping
Does this course prepare you for a certification?
Yes. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification exam offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The registration fee for the exam is included with this course.
Course Objectives
- Gain the specialized skills needed to contribute to a healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
- Identify the professional traits and duties of medical assistants
- Identify the functions of the major body systems
- Describe how to measure vital signs and list the steps for obtaining a throat culture
- Discuss the importance of medical and surgical asepsis
- Summarize the basic guidelines for administration of injections
- Explain the three methods used to perform venipuncture
- Identify the placement of electrodes for an ECG
- State how to conduct physical and chemical examinations of urine
- Prepare for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Prerequisites and Certification Requirements
This course is intended for experienced medical assistants. If you do not have previous experience in the profession, we recommend completing our Certified Medical Administrative Assistant course prior to enrolling. In order to sit for the national certification exam, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Certification exams offered by NHA are only available online to candidates located in the U.S.
State Requirements:
This program does not meet the educational requirements to apply for professional licensure or certification in the states of South Carolina, effective July 15th, 2026. 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.
Each state's licensure or certification authority is responsible for establishing the requirements for professional licensure or certification in its state. Completing this program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing authority to confirm the requirements for licensure or a certificate in the state where they live, work, or intend to live or work.
Clinical Experience Requirements:
The course also includes an opportunity to participate in a clinical experience. 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.
Please note that students in Washington State will be required to participate in a 180-hour clinical experience to qualify for employment as a Medical Assistant – Certified.
Instructor
Nancy Smith
Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.
Medical Terminology
Instructors Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.
Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Start anytime.
Clinical Experience
The CCMA course also includes an opportunity to participate in a clinical experience. 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.
Please note that students in Washington state will be required to participate in a 180-hour clinical experience to qualify for employment as a Medical Assistant – Certified.
Washington State and South Carolina: 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 CCMA training program 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 U.S.
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.