Kansas employs roughly 4,700 medical assistants across physician offices, outpatient clinics, and hospital systems, with demand holding steady as primary care networks expand in both urban and rural corridors. According to 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, medical assistants in the state earned a median annual wage of $39,090, though pay can climb above $45,000 in metros like Topeka where staffing competition is tighter.
Choosing a program means weighing accreditation status, tuition, and format against the certification exam you plan to sit for. Community college certificates can cost under $6,000; private career schools sometimes exceed $15,000 for similar coursework. The sections ahead break down how to become a medical assistant, including accredited options, online and hybrid formats, certification pathways, and salary differences by metro area.
Accredited Medical Assistant Programs in Kansas
Kansas employers and certifying bodies now treat programmatic accreditation as the practical gatekeeper for medical assistant credentials, which makes it the first thing to check before comparing tuition, format, or commute time.
Why CAAHEP and ABHES matter
The CMA (AAMA) credential, one of several Medical Assistant Certifications, requires graduation from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Institutional accreditation alone is not enough. A medical assistant school can be fully licensed to operate and still lack the program-level review that confirms the curriculum, clinical experience, and faculty meet medical assisting standards. Employers often look for the same signals, so a program without CAAHEP or ABHES approval can limit both certification eligibility and job options.
Programmatic accreditation applies to the program, not the delivery format. A hybrid or online track must still carry CAAHEP or ABHES approval if you plan to sit for the CMA exam. Check the program's current status in the accreditor's directory1 rather than assuming a school's overall regional accreditation covers the medical assistant certificate.
Accredited Kansas programs to compare
- Coffeyville Community College, Coffeyville: CAAHEP-accredited. Its most recent annual report shows a 100% exam passage rate for 2023. Placement and graduation rates are not published for this program.2
- Northwest Kansas Technical College, Goodland: CAAHEP-accredited, also known as Fort Hays Tech Northwest. The program reports an 86% job placement rate over a five-year period, though it does not publish separate exam pass or graduation rates.
- WellSpring School of Allied Health, Wichita: Older listings show ABHES accreditation and Kansas Board of Regents approval.3 The 10-month residential certificate reports a 94% graduation rate and prepares graduates for both CMA and CPT exams.3 However, as of July 2026, public ABHES listings do not identify a current Kansas program, so confirm the status directly before enrolling.1
What these outcomes tell you
A high exam pass rate is a strong sign, but it only matters if the program is still accredited when you enroll. Coffeyville's 100% 2023 pass rate is impressive,2 while Northwest Kansas Tech's 86% placement rate over five years suggests employer demand in its region. WellSpring's 94% graduation rate and dual exam preparation are appealing3, but the unresolved accreditation listing is a reminder to verify program status rather than rely on marketing.1
One more option to verify
Kansas City Kansas Community College in Kansas City, KS, offers a Medical Assistant Certificate and prepares students for the CCMA exam.4 Its programmatic accreditation status is not clearly confirmed in current public listings, so treat it as a campus to contact rather than an accredited program to assume.
Online Vs. On-Campus Medical Assistant Training in Kansas
Kansas medical assistant students can choose between online or hybrid programs and more traditional on-campus formats. Both tracks still require in-person clinical externships to graduate. The side-by-side comparison below shows how the formats differ by flexibility, hands-on labs, and typical student profile.
What Does Medical Assistant Training Cost in Kansas?
Medical assistant training costs in Kansas vary widely by school type. Community college and short-term noncredit options can run from about $2,500 to roughly $5,500, while private career school diplomas and certificates often range from about $10,000 to nearly $20,000. Financial aid is not uniform: credit-bearing public programs commonly qualify for federal and state aid, while private and workforce-style programs may rely more on KansasWORKS, employer sponsorship, or school financing plans.
| School | Program Length | Est. Total Cost | Financial Aid Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Kansas Community College, Medical Assistant Certificate | 38 credit hours (certificate) | $4,066 to $5,491 total tuition and fees, depending on residency | Eligible for federal Pell Grants and loans; may qualify for Kansas Comprehensive Grant or Kansas Promise Scholarship if program is designated high-demand | Community college option in Kansas City. Tuition per credit ranges from $107 (Wyandotte County residents) to $144.50 (KC Metro rate); Kansas residents pay $119.50. Books and supplies not itemized in source. |
| Concorde Career College, Medical Assistant Diploma (Kansas City campus) | Approximately 9 months | $19,935 total ($19,163 tuition, $522 textbooks, $250 technology fee) | Participates in federal financial aid; students commonly use Pell Grants, subsidized/unsubsidized loans, and school-specific scholarships | Private nationally accredited career school. Blended learning format includes books and fees in the estimate. |
| WellSpring School of Allied Health, Medical Assistant Certificate (Kansas City) | 10 months | $17,400 total (certificate option; books and supplies may be additional) | Markets financing options; may participate in federal aid for eligible programs. Many students use payment plans, private loans, or employer tuition assistance. Kansas residents may qualify for local workforce grants | Private career school in the Kansas City metro. 10-month CMA plus CPT certificate with externship included. |
| Mid-America College of Health Sciences, Medical Assistant Training Program (Lenexa, KS) | 22 weeks | $10,118 total in-state program cost ($8,800 tuition, $25 registration fee, other required fees) | Listed in KansasWORKS Eligible Training Provider catalog; may be fundable through WIOA grants or KansasWorks vouchers | Private non-degree program in Lenexa, Kansas City metro. CCMA preparation with externship. Cost includes all required program fees. |
| M2Y Career Academy, Medical Assistant Training Program (Overland Park, KS) | Approximately 6 months | $10,118 total in-state program cost ($8,800 tuition, $25 registration fee, other required fees) | Also appears in KansasWORKS catalog; qualifying residents can access state and federal workforce grants. Employer partnerships occasionally sponsor students | Private workforce-style career academy in Johnson County. 6-month CCMA program. |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College, Clinical Medical Assistant (Health Ed Today partnership) | Short-term noncredit, often 11 to 24 weeks | $2,499 tuition (books and exam fees may be additional, not itemized) | Not specified in cited source | Noncredit CCMA training delivered online through Health Ed Today with KCKCC as host. One of the least expensive short-term paths in the Kansas City area. |
Medical Assistant Certification in Kansas: CMA, RMA, or CCMA?
Certification for medical assistants in Kansas is not a state license; it is a national credential you earn by passing an exam. The three most common credentials are the CMA from the American Association of Medical Assistants, the RMA from American Medical Technologists, and the CCMA from the National Healthcareer Association. Employers ask for these far more than any state-issued permission, so choosing the right exam early helps you pick a program that lines up.
CMA (AAMA): The accreditation-based option
The CMA credential is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To sit for the exam, you generally need to graduate from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.1 There is no path that uses work experience alone, so this route favors students who complete a formal program.1 The AAMA also allows some alternative routes, such as previous certification or educator status, but program completion is the most common path. The CMA exam is 200 questions delivered in 160 minutes and covers general, administrative, and clinical duties. In 2026, the AAMA lists a $125 exam fee for qualifying recent graduates and members, though prices can vary by category. Accredited programs that feed into the CMA also build in hands-on practice; CAAHEP and ABHES standards require at least 160 clinical hours.
RMA (AMT) and CCMA (NHA): More flexible routes
The RMA, offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT), accepts three common eligibility routes: an accredited medical assisting program, qualifying military training, or five years of documented medical assisting work experience. The exam fee is typically around $120 to $195.
The CCMA, offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), requires completion of an NHA-approved training program or equivalent experience. The exam fee is about $155. The CCMA may appeal to students in shorter or online programs that are not CAAHEP or ABHES accredited, because the NHA route does not hinge on those two accreditors. However, "equivalent experience" is not a clearly published fixed pathway, so most candidates still complete a program.
What Kansas programs actually prepare you for
Kansas does not publish one state-level pass-rate report for medical assistant programs, so your best check is to ask the school which exam its curriculum aligns with. The Kansas Board of Regents encourages schools offering medical assistant technical certificate B, technical certificate C, and associate degree programs to structure coursework so graduates can pursue CMA, RMA, or CCMA,2 with about 15 general education credits built in.3 That guidance is a workforce preference, not a legal requirement. If CMA is your goal, confirm the program holds current CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation before enrolling. Some online options marketed to Kansas students prepare for several exams. U.S. Career Institute, for example, reports a 95% first-time pass rate on the CCMA exam for its graduates, compared with an 84% national average, and says its program prepares students for CCMA, CMA, RMA, and NCMA.4
Do you need certification to work in Kansas?
No. Kansas does not require a state medical assistant license or state certification to work as a medical assistant. In practice, most employers in clinics, hospitals, and physician offices prefer or require a national credential, and CMA, RMA, and CCMA are the ones most often named in job posts. Earning one of them is the most practical way to stand out and show you can handle both administrative and clinical tasks. If you are weighing programs, choose the credential you plan to earn first, then pick a program with the matching accreditation and exam preparation.
Medical Assistant Salary in Kansas
Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 2024 show medical assistants in Kansas earned a median annual wage of $39,090. Actual pay varies by experience, certification, and work setting, so these figures are best used as a starting point rather than a guarantee.
| Salary measure | Medical assistants in Kansas (2024) |
|---|---|
| Total employment | 4,920 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $36,530 |
| Median annual wage | $39,090 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $45,040 |
| Mean annual wage | $40,700 |
Medical Assistant Salary by Metro Area in Kansas
In 2024, medical assistant pay varied across Kansas metro areas. Topeka posted the highest median annual wage among the metros shown at $45,040, while Wichita had the most medical assistant jobs at 1,180. These figures reflect the Kansas portion of each metro area where possible; some metro areas, such as Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas, cross state lines and are not shown here as a Kansas only estimate.
| Kansas metro area | Medical assistants employed | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 1180 | 37080 |
| Topeka, KS | 410 | 45040 |
| Lawrence, KS | 160 | 40910 |
| Manhattan, KS | 100 | 36260 |
Kansas by City
Related Articles
Where Medical Assistants Work in Kansas: Top Employers and Cities
Large integrated health systems and small specialty clinics represent two ends of the employment spectrum for medical assistants in Kansas. Both offer steady work, yet each comes with different cultures, advancement paths, and daily routines. Understanding where openings cluster helps you target applications and plan your commute before you even finish training.
Major Employers Hiring Medical Assistants
Kansas healthcare employment centers on a handful of prominent systems and a network of private practices scattered across the state.
- University of Kansas Health System: The state's flagship academic medical center in Kansas City had at least six medical assistant openings across departments such as cardiology, ambulatory float pools, and specialty clinics as of mid-2026.1 Positions here often come with tuition assistance and structured career ladders.
- Ascension Via Christi: With hospitals and clinics in Wichita and surrounding communities, Ascension is one of the largest Catholic health systems in the region, frequently posting MA roles in primary care and urgent care settings.
- Stormont Vail Health: Based in Topeka, Stormont Vail operates a multi-hospital network plus dozens of outpatient clinics, drawing medical assistants for internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgical specialties.
- AdventHealth Shawnee Mission: Located in the Kansas City metro, this facility was advertising uncertified MA positions in late 2025 with pay ranges from $16.89 to $27.02 per hour.2
- Saint Luke's Health System: Although headquartered in Missouri, Saint Luke's runs clinics and primary care offices on the Kansas side of the metro. Recent openings have appeared in women's health and family medicine.
- American Family Care Wichita: This urgent care chain offered full-time positions in summer 2026 at $23.50 per hour, reflecting competitive pay for certified candidates willing to work fast-paced environments.3
Private groups such as Mid-America Physician Services, Kansas Physician Group, and Heartland Men's Health also hire regularly. Smaller employers may offer more flexible schedules, while larger systems tend to provide better benefits and continuing education support.
Typical Work Settings
Most medical assistants in Kansas find jobs in physician offices and outpatient clinics, where they room patients, take vitals, and assist with minor procedures. Hospital-based roles exist but are less common; these positions often require additional skills such as phlebotomy or EKG proficiency. Specialty practices in dermatology, orthopedics, and women's health represent growing niches, particularly in the Kansas City corridor.
Cities With the Most Openings
Job board data from 2026 highlights Wichita, Lawrence, Manhattan, Topeka, Kansas City, Hutchinson, Garden City, Salina, Gardner, and Emporia as the cities with the heaviest medical assistant demand.4 Those figures align with the metro medical assistant salary data from the previous section: areas with more openings also tend to offer higher average wages. Statewide, Medical Assistant Jobs in Kansas listings showed more than 400 positions in early 2025, and demand has remained steady into 2026. If you are completing a program in Topeka or Wichita, you can expect local employers to recruit directly from nearby schools, giving graduates a head start on their job search.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Kansas: Step-By-Step
Becoming a medical assistant in Kansas usually follows five clear milestones. Most employers expect national certification, so plan to take an exam before applying for jobs.
Directory of Accredited Medical Assistant Programs in Kansas
Only a handful of Kansas medical assistant programs have publicly documented CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, and no single 2026 directory captures them all. The programs below are grouped into two tiers: those with clearly named accreditors, and those that appear on statewide lists of accredited options but whose specific accreditor or current status could not be independently verified for 2026. Always confirm current accreditation directly with the school and with CAAHEP or ABHES before enrolling.
Programs with Documented Accreditation
- Kansas City Kansas Community College (Kansas City): Medical Assistant Certificate Program, 38 credits, on-campus delivery, accredited by CAAHEP. This is the clearest example of a CAAHEP-accredited option in the state and includes a required clinical externship as part of the certificate.
- WellSpring School of Allied Health (Wichita): Medical Assisting Certificate, roughly 10 months, on-campus with hands-on lab work, listed as ABHES-accredited. Note that sources conflict on whether any ABHES-accredited program is currently active in Kansas, so verify status with ABHES directly before applying.
Programs Listed as Accredited, Accreditor Not Confirmed
The following schools appear on published lists of CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited Kansas programs, but the specific accrediting body and 2026 status were not confirmed in the research. Treat these as leads to investigate, not as verified accredited programs.
- Coffeyville Community College (Coffeyville): Offers both an Associate of Applied Science and a certificate in medical assisting. The AAS track is reported as hybrid; the certificate track is reported as in-person.
- Northwest Kansas Technical College (Goodland): Offers an Associate of Applied Science and a Technical Certificate in medical assisting, delivered in person.
- Rasmussen College (Overland Park): Offers a Medical Assisting Diploma in a hybrid format, typically completed in about 12 months.
- Highland Community College: Referenced in program lists, but city, credential, and accreditation details were not documented in the sources reviewed. Contact the college directly if you want to consider it.
How to Verify Before You Enroll
Accreditation status can change between catalog years, and a school's marketing page is not always the most current record. Before you commit tuition or time to any Kansas medical assistant program, do three quick checks:
- Search the CAAHEP program directory at caahep.org for the school and campus you plan to attend.
- Search the ABHES program directory at abhes.org the same way.
- Ask the program's admissions office for the accreditor's name, the accreditation expiration date, and whether graduates are eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam, which requires CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation.
If a program cannot answer those three questions in writing, that alone is a signal to keep looking. Kansas has a small pool of confirmed accredited programs, but the ones that qualify open the door to Medical Assistant Certification and to employment across the state's hospital systems and clinics.
