Medical Assistant Program Cost in California

The cost of a medical assistant program in California can range from free to around $18,244; however, these figures are actually both misleading. Depending on the program, a free option may not provide you with the skills you need to actually obtain employment in your chosen career. More expensive options may put you off by their price tag but tend to qualify for more financial aid options. A longer, higher-quality program may actually wind up costing nothing at all or can be offset with low-interest loans. 

When asking how much a medical assistant program costs in California, you really need to think about the return on your investment. Quality will determine how much you pay out-of-pocket and whether your education will meet the stringent standards of the healthcare providers you want to work with.

How Much Does a Medical Assistant Program Cost in California?

Costs for medical assistant programs in the Bay Area vary from as little as free for an 11-week program to $18,244. That incredibly broad range occurs because of how different these programs are from school to school. 

For example, some schools may provide medical assistant training that doesn’t lead to a national certification. Those schools may offer a program certificate, but that will not be enough to secure a career with the best employers. 

They can do this because you don’t have to be certified to be a medical assistant in California, at least not under state law. 

However, most of the best employers will require some type of certification to prove your experience and knowledge. To obtain this, you’ll want to attend an accredited school. The table below shows the length and cost of the top accredited medical assistant programs in the Bay Area.

At BAMA, our accredited medical assistant training program exceeds state requirements to ensure our students graduate with confidence. BAMA has an excellent reputation with Bay Area employers which will make it easier to land an externship and open doors to finding the best job after graduation.

Funding to Help With Medical Assistant Training at Bay Area Medical Academy

BAMA works with our students to fund their medical assistant program costs in California as thoroughly as possible. Our admissions representatives look for eligibility under federal student aid and federal Pell grants when creating a package for incoming students. 

In addition, we also offer a Free* Medical Assistant Training Program using multiple funding sources from a combination of:

• FAFSA
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
• Scholarship programs (for those who qualify) 

Individuals who live in the Bay Area may be eligible for these funding sources, which offer coverage for tuition expenses and certification/licensing fees. 

Our scholarship offerings are also pretty extensive. To help drive diversity in the professional medical industry, we offer multiple programs for our students of:

• African American
• Latinx
• Asian American
• Indigenous American

Backgrounds residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. We work with several nonprofit agencies to help students from disenfranchised backgrounds attain the education they need to improve their lives.

You shouldn’t let concern over the cost of a medical assistant program stop you from getting an education, as it may be more affordable than you think. 

The credentials you get with a well-qualified program will be worth it in terms of future earning potential. Meanwhile, there is a wide range of funding options to help you on your way.

Worried about the medical assistant program cost in California? Bay Area Medical Academy has private, state, and federal level accreditations that allow us to offer our students extensive financial aid options to offset or eliminate the cost of their education. To learn more, contact an admissions representative.