Medical assistant employment across Tennessee is projected to grow 12 percent from 2024 to 2034, and Memphis employers from Baptist Memorial Health Care to Regional One are actively competing for credentialed MAs. That demand gives local students real leverage, but only if they choose the right training path and earn a recognized certification.
Memphis residents can pick from campus programs at community and career colleges, hybrid formats that mix online coursework with in-person labs, or fully online options that pair with local clinical sites. Costs, completion timelines, and accreditation status vary widely, so the details matter more than the marketing.
Jump straight to the program list below.
Memphis Medical Assisting: Local Healthcare Landscape and Employers
Memphis medical assisting is no longer defined by a single hospital employer. It now behaves like a competitive metro market where health systems, specialty groups, and community clinics all recruit from the same pool of credentialed MAs. Baptist Memorial Health Care, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Regional One Health, Gastro One, and Christ Community Health Services have all appeared in recent local medical assistant and CMA hiring.1 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital adds a research and specialty presence to the landscape for pediatric medical assistant roles.
Where Memphis MAs Actually Work
The most visible demand is in outpatient clinics, hospital-owned physician groups, and specialty offices, not only inside the hospital itself. A recent Methodist Le Bonheur posting for a CMA II in a neurology clinic is a good example: a specialty practice needs medical assistants for rooming, intake, and patient flow support.2 This is the setting where many new graduates get their first job.
Tennessee Scope of Practice and Credentials
Tennessee does not require a separate state license for medical assistants. The practical requirement comes from employers, most of whom expect a national credential such as CMA, RMA, or CCMA. For students, that means the program decision should be tied to certification eligibility rather than a state licensing board.
Externships, Commutes, and Placement Realities
Memphis training draws students from a wide commuter area: West Memphis, Arkansas; Southaven and Olive Branch, Mississippi; and Germantown, Bartlett, and Collierville, Tennessee. Clinical sites can be just as spread out, so location and transportation matter. Concorde has used Mid South Pain Center in Germantown as an externship site and keeps a full-time MA externship coordinator6, but the college does not guarantee externship placement or employment.3 The Health Collective partners with the University of Memphis and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative for its training model5, though it does not publish a specific externship list. TCAT Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College, and Health-Tech Institute also do not publish externship partner rosters or placement rates. None of the Memphis-area programs in this guide publishes employment outcomes for 2025-2026. Ask any school directly where recent students completed clinical hours and whether the site hires its own externs.
Treat an externship as a working interview rather than a promise of a job. The strongest candidates are usually those who can start quickly with certification in hand. That is especially true for neurology medical assistant roles and other specialty settings like gastroenterology and community health.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical assistants will grow 12 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Closer to home, Tennessee's labor market projections expect healthcare support jobs, which include medical assistants, to add about 3,680 positions by 2027, a 3.37 percent increase statewide.
Online and Hybrid Medical Assistant Programs Serving Memphis Students
Fully online medical assistant programs and hybrid formats each offer Memphis students a path into medical assisting, but understanding the difference matters before you enroll. A fully online program delivers all classroom instruction through a virtual platform, while a hybrid program blends online coursework with scheduled in-person sessions at a local campus or clinical site.
Are There Online Medical Assistant Programs in Memphis?
Yes, but with an important caveat. Even programs marketed as "fully online" typically require some form of hands-on training, whether that is a clinical externship at a local healthcare facility or a short on-campus skills lab. Memphis-area clinics and physician offices frequently serve as externship sites for students in nationally available programs, though placement coordination varies by provider.
National Online Providers Open to Memphis Students
- Penn Foster (Diploma): Self-paced online coursework plus a minimum 100-hour clinical externship1 arranged near your home. An associate degree option runs four semesters, covers 60 credits across 22 courses, and includes an externship component.2
- MedCerts: Offers an online Medical Assistant Apprenticeship that pairs coursework with 2,000 hours of on-the-job training3. Tennessee residents can access MedCerts through Tennessee Board of Regents partner colleges.4
- U.S. Career Institute: Another nationally available online option worth exploring, though Memphis-specific externship coordination details should be confirmed directly with the school.
Local and Regional Hybrid Options
- University of Memphis Healthcare Career Academy: A fully online MA program that requires a two- to three-day in-person clinical skills lab before completion. Applications for the next cohort carry a $50 fee, with a deposit deadline of January 15, 2027, and orientation starting January 25, 2027.5
- The Health Collective (Memphis Medical District Collaborative): An eight-month hybrid program that opens with three weeks of in-person training plus a three-day hands-on session at the University of Memphis, then transitions to a mix of in-person and at-home digital learning.6
- Concorde Career College (Memphis and Southaven): A hybrid diploma program that includes 230 hours of clinical externship split across two rotations, combining ground-based labs with online theory.7
Flexibility for Working Students
Self-paced national programs like Penn Foster let you log in on your own schedule, making it realistic to keep a job while you complete your medical assistant training program. Hybrid programs with set cohort start dates offer more structure but may be less flexible week to week. Before committing, ask each program whether evening or part-time pacing is available, especially if you are balancing work or family responsibilities. The right format depends on how much structure you need and how quickly you want to finish.
Comparing Accredited Memphis Medical Assistant Programs: Cost, Length, and Format
The table below compares six Memphis-area medical assistant programs using published program details. Costs are shown as total tuition and fees where available, including books, supplies, and selected fees when the school reports them. Accreditation status is listed as not stated when sources do not identify CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation. Campus-based, online, and hybrid formats have different in-person requirements, and externship hours vary by program.
| Program | Accreditation | Format | Length | Total Tuition/Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concorde Career College - Memphis (Medical / Clinical Assistant) | Not stated in available sources | Campus with hybrid option (up to 50% of 800 hours online) | 8 months | $18,062 tuition and fees plus $588 books/supplies | Also lists a 9-month Medical Assistant Diploma ($16,489 total) and an 18-month Medical Assisting AAS ($32,602 total). |
| University of Memphis - Healthcare Career Academy (Medical Assisting) | Not stated in available sources | Fully online with a 2 to 3 day in-person clinical skills lab | 6 months | $4,500 tuition, books, and instruction plus $50 application fee | Prepares for NHA CCMA exam; payment split into deposit and block payments. |
| The Health Collective - Medical Assistant Program (Memphis) | Not stated in available sources | Hybrid (3-week in-person start, 3-day hands-on lab, then mixed in-person and online learning) | 8 months | $0 for qualifying participants; $400 monthly stipend | Tuition fully paid for eligible participants; includes certification preparation and employer interviews. |
| Health-Tech Institute of Memphis - Medical Assistant | Not stated in available sources | Campus-based with classroom, lab, and required 240-hour externship | 37 weeks | $13,542 (900 contact hours) | Catalog does not itemize books, supplies, or exam fees separately. |
| TCAT Memphis - Medical Assistant | Not stated in available sources | Campus-based, full-time (1,296 clock hours) | 12 months | $3,936 tuition/fees | Program-specific line does not list separate books/supplies cost. |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College - Medical Assistant (Live Online) | Not stated in available sources | Live online (remote synchronous instruction) | Not listed | $3,495 listed price | A related HealthedToday online training option lists $2,499 tuition. |
Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook in Memphis
Official Memphis metro median wage and job growth data for medical assistants are not available in our current sources. The table below summarizes recent pay figures from salary aggregators and local job postings, which should be read as real-world signals rather than official BLS statistics. To get official numbers, check the BLS OEWS tool at bls.gov (select the Memphis metro area and search SOC 31-9092), the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development regional outlook reports, and Memphis healthcare employer career pages like Baptist Memorial, Methodist Le Bonheur, and St. Jude; also review AAMA and NHA salary surveys, search Indeed or Glassdoor for real-time pay and hiring volume, and ask local medical assistant programs about alumni placement and employer partnerships.
| Reported Pay Data | Amount | Source Context |
|---|---|---|
| Average hourly pay for medical assistants in Memphis | $18.49 | Indeed salary data (2026) |
| Entry-level hourly pay | $12.32 | PayScale (2025) |
| Early-career hourly pay | $13.53 | PayScale (2025) |
| Highest hourly pay reported | $18.46 | PayScale (2025) |
| Lowest hourly pay reported | $12.26 | PayScale (2025) |
| Salary range in one Memphis job posting | $31,000-$42,000 per year | Latino Memphis job posting |
| Minimum hourly pay in a Memphis job posting | $18.00 per hour (from $3,120 per month) | Consolidated Medical Practices of Memphis job posting |
| Hourly wage range in a local clinic posting | $17.00-$22.00 per hour | American Family Care job posting |
Median Medical Assistant Pay in Memphis
Medical Assistant Certification in Memphis: CCMA, CMAA, RMA, and CMA
Two common paths show up in Memphis: some students pick a certification first and then choose a program that teaches to that exam, while others choose an accredited program first and let local job postings confirm which credential is worth the cost. Both can work, but the second path is usually easier to reverse-engineer after you see what employers actually list.
The Four Credentials to Know
- CMA (AAMA): The Certified Medical Assistant from the American Association of Medical Assistants is a broad clinical and administrative credential.
- RMA (AMT): The Registered Medical Assistant from American Medical Technologists is another widely accepted option.
- CCMA (NHA): The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant from the National Healthcareer Association is heavily used in clinical settings.
- CMAA (NHA): The Certified Medical Administrative Assistant covers the front-office and administrative side.
Tennessee does not require certification, but employers strongly prefer it. State guidance recognizes CMA, RMA, CCMA, and NCMA credentials. A representative Methodist Le Bonheur posting required an NCCT Medical Assistant and preferred RMA, CCMA, NCMA, and CMA.1 In practice, Memphis hiring managers accept multiple credentials rather than one single gatekeeper.
Why an Accredited Program Helps
Accredited programs do not hand you a certification, but they make eligibility cleaner. CMA and RMA pathways typically expect completion of an accredited or approved program, while CCMA and CMAA paths may also accept a mix of training and work experience. Confirm exam-specific eligibility before you pay tuition or an exam fee.
Testing and Prep in Memphis
CCMA exams are scheduled through NHA and PSI, and Memphis appears as a major PSI testing location in 2026.2 For CMA, RMA, and NCMA, confirm local testing availability directly with the certifying body. University of Memphis offers two CCMA-aligned options: the Healthcare Career Academy program and the fully online PACE course. Neither publishes local first-time pass rates.
Pass-Rate Reality Check
Public sources do not report program-specific first-time pass rates for CCMA, CMAA, RMA, or CMA at Memphis-area medical assistant programs as of 2026. The only published figures are from non-Memphis online providers: Clinical Skills Institute reports a 97% school-wide CCMA first-attempt pass rate3, and U.S. Career Institute reports 95% compared with a national CCMA average of 84%.4 Treat those as useful context, not Memphis results. Before enrolling, ask any Memphis program for first-attempt pass rates from its last two cohorts.
Budget for the Exam Separately
Exam fees vary. CCMA runs $155, RMA ranges $120 to $195, and CMA runs $250 to $325. Check whether a program bundles the fee or leaves it to you.
Top Medical Assistant Programs for Memphis Students
Below are the top medical assistant programs serving Memphis students, ranked by completion outcomes, accreditation status, and program fit. The two strongest options this year are Concorde Career College's Southaven and Memphis campuses, each combining clinical and administrative training with hands-on lab work.
Concorde Career College-Southaven
#1Southaven, MS · $24,000/yr
Best for: Mississippi commuters prioritizing completion outcomes
Located just across the Mississippi state line from Memphis, the Southaven campus offers an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting that combines clinical skills like venipuncture and EKG with administrative training. The program can be completed in as few as eight months, with flexible scheduling and hands-on lab work. Federal data show a 65% completion rate and 80% retention, with an average net price around $23,600 after aid.
- Combines clinical and administrative skills
- Covers venipuncture, EKG, and lab diagnostics
- Complete in as few as eight months
- Flexible class schedules available
- Hands-on skills development included
- General education courses included
- Transfer credits accepted and block transfer available
Concorde Career College-Memphis
#2Memphis, TN · $25,000/yr
Best for: Memphis residents wanting on-campus clinical training
Located on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, the Memphis campus offers the same Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting with eight-month completion and hands-on training. Students train in clinical procedures, medical billing, and lab diagnostics. Federal data show a 55% completion rate, with an average net price of about $24,600 after aid.
- Combines clinical training with medical office administration
- Trains in venipuncture and EKG procedures
- Includes medical billing and computer applications training
- Covers vital sign measurement and laboratory diagnostics
- Offers transfer credit opportunities and block transfer for graduates
- Can be completed in as few as eight months
Paying for Your MA Training and Choosing the Right Memphis Program
The trade-off most Memphis students face is straightforward: pay less at a community college and spend more time in school, or pay more at a private career college for a faster finish. Neither choice is wrong, but understanding your funding options and decision criteria helps you land on the path that fits your life.
Funding Options for Memphis MA Students
Several state and federal programs can reduce your out-of-pocket costs significantly.
- Federal Pell Grants: Complete the FAFSA to see if you qualify. Concorde Career College reports that 85 percent of its Memphis students receive Pell funding, though that figure covers all programs campus-wide.1
- Tennessee Reconnect: If you are an adult without a prior associate or bachelor degree, this last-dollar grant covers tuition and mandatory fees at public community colleges after Pell and HOPE apply.2 Southwest Tennessee Community College's Medical Assisting A.S. and certificate both qualify. You must enroll in at least six credit hours per term, maintain a 2.0 GPA, and file both the FAFSA and a separate application at TNReconnect.gov. The fall deadline is typically September 1.3
- Tennessee HOPE Scholarship: Available at Southwest for eligible students pursuing associate degrees or certificates.4
- WIOA Grants: TCAT Memphis notes that Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding can cover books, supplies, transportation, and even daycare for qualifying students.5 Check with your local American Job Center to confirm MA program eligibility.
Institutional Aid and Grants
Concorde offers several grants worth exploring.
- Healthcare Demand Grant: Open to Medical Assistant students at the Memphis campus; the application deadline is July 20, 2026, for programs starting before July 27, 2026.6
- Finish Line Grant: Designed for students who withdrew before August 1, 2026, and re-enroll between August 2 and October 1, 2026. Awards range from $1,500 to $3,000, disbursed at graduation.7
- First Responder and High School Senior Grants: Qualifying applicants in those categories should ask admissions about requirements and amounts.8
Southwest Tennessee Community College (FAFSA code 0104399) maintains foundation scholarships with application windows, so check the financial aid office for current deadlines.4 Payment plan details are not widely published, so request specifics directly.
Choosing the Right Program
Beyond cost, weigh these factors before committing.
- Accreditation status: CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation keeps you eligible for major certifications.
- Schedule flexibility: Online or hybrid formats suit working students; full-time campus tracks finish faster.
- Externship sites: Ask where clinical hours take place and whether those facilities hire graduates.
- Job placement support: Some schools offer a Medical Assistant Resume Guide, interview coaching, or direct employer connections.
Before you enroll anywhere, request itemized cost breakdowns and externship site lists from at least two or three programs. Comparing those details side by side across the Medical Assistant Schools Near Me directory will reveal which option delivers the best value for your schedule and budget.
