Nine-month certificates and 16-to-19-month medical assistant associate's degrees both lead to medical assisting work in Colorado, but they make different promises about cost, clinical depth, and certification eligibility. Colorado's healthcare employers continue to hire medical assistants faster than the state's overall workforce, with national job growth projected at 12 percent from 2024 to 2034. Accredited online and on-campus options are available in Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, and smaller communities, though externships still require in-person hours. The right choice comes down to a program's accreditation, total cost, length, and whether it sets up CMA or CCMA eligibility. Employers in Colorado increasingly treat a national credential as a baseline rather than a bonus.
Best Medical Assistant Programs in Colorado
Medical assistant training in Colorado comes in several formats, from nine-month certificates to associate degrees, and many programs now offer hybrid or evening schedules. The schools below stand out for their clinical externships, accreditation, student support, and real-world readiness rather than a single score. For most Colorado students, these ten programs are the strongest starting points to explore first.
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
#1Aurora, CO · $23,000/yr
Best for: Working adults needing hybrid flexibility
Pima's Aurora campus offers a nine-month medical assistant certificate with a hybrid option, blending online coursework with in-person labs. Students complete hands-on training in vital signs, phlebotomy, injections, and EKGs, then finish with a clinical externship at local Colorado clinics. The program's ABHES accreditation and strong employer ties make it a practical pathway into physicians' offices and outpatient settings.
- 9-month hybrid certificate
- Clinical externship included
- Hands-on training in vital signs, phlebotomy, and EKGs
- ABHES accredited Aurora campus
Pima Medical Institute-Denver
#2Denver, CO · ~$22,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Denver metro students wanting evening classes
This Denver location delivers the same nine-month medical assistant certificate with a hybrid format and evening classes for working adults. Students train in clinical procedures, medical office lab work, and pharmacology, then complete an externship and job-search support. Its higher retention and open admissions policy make it accessible for many metro-area learners.
- 9-month hybrid certificate
- Evening classes available
- Clinical externship and career services
- Covers phlebotomy, lab work, and pharmacology
Pickens Technical College
#3Aurora, CO · $5,000 – $9,000/yr
Best for: Cost-conscious Colorado residents
Pickens Technical College provides a one-year medical assisting certificate in Aurora with morning or afternoon classes and a 160-hour clinical internship. The program covers phlebotomy, ECG or EKG, vital signs, medication administration, and medical office tasks such as billing and coding. It is open to both high school and adult students, and qualifying Colorado residents may use Career Advance Colorado funding to cover tuition and fees.
- 1-year certificate with 160 clinical hours
- Prepares for CCMA national exam
- Morning or afternoon schedules
- Eligible for Career Advance Colorado funding
Front Range Community College
#4Westminster, CO · $10,000 – $15,000/yr
Front Range Community College offers a two-semester, 26-credit medical assistant certificate across Boulder County, Larimer, and Westminster campuses. The program includes an internship or paid apprenticeship, giving students real clinical experience while some earn wages through local employer partnerships. It also offers county-specific funding for Larimer residents and a path into one of Colorado's strongest healthcare apprenticeship networks.
- 2-semester, 26-credit certificate
- Internship or paid apprenticeship included
- Three campus locations in northern Colorado
- Larimer County scholarship funding available
- Fall and summer starts available
Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
#5Colorado Springs, CO · $27,000/yr (net price)
Pima's Colorado Springs campus offers the same nine-month medical assistant certificate with a hybrid learning option and clinical externships. Students train with industry-standard equipment and receive career services support, with access to Pima's broad employer network. The program is a practical choice for Colorado Springs learners seeking direct entry into clinics and hospitals.
- 9-month hybrid certificate
- Clinical externship included
- Strong Colorado employer network
- Hands-on training with industry equipment
Concorde Career College-Aurora
#6Aurora, CO · $17,000/yr (net price)
Concorde's Aurora campus offers a nine-month medical assistant diploma using a hybrid model that combines online coursework with on-campus labs. Students complete a 230-hour externship split into two modules, supported by dedicated externship coordinators. The rolling admissions schedule and hybrid format make it easier for adults to start quickly, though externship hours generally require weekday daytime availability.
- 9-month diploma program
- Rolling admissions, monthly starts
- 230-hour externship with dedicated coordinators
- Hybrid online and on-campus labs
- Financial aid and scholarships available
IBMC College
#7Fort Collins, CO · $35,000/yr (net price)
IBMC College offers a 19-month medical assisting associate degree with evening courses Monday through Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Fort Collins, Greeley, and Longmont. The program combines clinical skills, management training, and preparation for Registered Medical Assistant certification. It is tailored to northern Colorado working adults who need a consistent evening schedule.
- 19-month evening program
- Classes Monday through Thursday, 6 to 10 p.m.
- Multiple northern Colorado locations
- Prepares for RMA certification
Aims Community College
#8Greeley, CO · $11,000/yr
Aims Community College offers a two-semester Medical Clinical Assistant Certificate with small class sizes and a one-semester internship in a Colorado clinical setting. The curriculum covers medical terminology, lab skills, EKGs, injections, and office administration, and prepares students for AMT or NCCT certification. Credits can later be applied toward an associate degree, keeping total debt lower.
- 2-semester certificate with internship
- Small class sizes
- Prepares for AMT or NCCT certification
- Credits apply toward associate degree
Red Rocks Community College
#9Lakewood, CO · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Red Rocks Community College provides both a CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting certificate and an Associate of Applied Science degree, located at the Arvada campus in the Denver metro. The certificate includes 225 clinical hours and stacked options to add phlebotomy or medical office administration credentials. The program's cohort structure, 98 percent retention, and 91 percent job placement rate reflect strong student support.
- 61-credit associate degree
- 225-hour internship
- Eligible for CMA (AAMA) exam
- Hybrid coursework with online components
- 28-credit certificate
- Stacked credential option
- 74% licensure pass rate
- 98% retention and 91% job placement
- Adds phlebotomy and RPT certification
- Multiple certification pathways
- State-of-the-art Arvada clinical space
- Prepares for CMA (AAMA) exam
- Adds medical office administration credential
- CAAHEP accredited
- Interprofessional education with PA students
- Optional stacked certificate
Intellitec College-Grand Junction
#10Grand Junction, CO · $19,000/yr
IntelliTec College's Grand Junction campus offers a 12-month medical assistant certificate with day or evening classes four days per week. Students complete a 160-hour externship with formal evaluations at 80 and 160 hours, plus preparation for RMA and phlebotomy certification. The program's smaller class setting and personalized support work well for western Colorado students starting or changing careers.
- 12-month certificate with day or evening classes
- 160-hour clinical externship
- Prepares for RMA and phlebotomy certification
- Classes four days per week
- Military benefits accepted
How to Choose an Accredited Colorado Medical Assistant Program
Choosing an accredited Colorado medical assistant program usually means weighing faster or cheaper Online Medical Assistant Certificate and Diploma Programs against a credential that keeps your certification path open. For CMA (AAMA) eligibility, the cleanest route is graduating from a medical assistant program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.1 Accreditation belongs to the specific program, not just the college, so a school with a good reputation may still have an unaccredited medical assistant track. Other routes exist for previously certified MAs or educators, but new students usually depend on this accredited pathway.
Why CAAHEP or ABHES Accreditation Matters
Both bodies set standards for curriculum, lab skills, and externship quality. CAAHEP-accredited Colorado Medical Assistant Schools include Red Rocks Community College, Front Range Community College, and Colorado Mountain College; Pima Medical Institute's Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs locations hold ABHES accreditation.2 If you plan to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam through the standard pathway, verify that your exact campus and program appear in the official directory before enrolling.
What to Check Before You Commit
- Accreditation status: Confirm the program holds current CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation and check the next review date.
- Outcomes: Ask about completion, certification pass rates, and job placement; schools with strong externship partners usually share this openly.
- Externship quality: Look for a supervised Medical Assistant Externship at real Colorado clinics or health systems, not a self-arranged shadow shift.
- Cost: Compare published tuition, fees, and whether certification exam prep is included.
Red Flags and Verification
Colorado does not require medical assistants to graduate from an accredited program, but that does not make every program equal.2 Watch for schools that promise certification without a supervised externship or use vague "nationally accredited" language while hiding the program-level status. Verify any program directly through the CAAHEP or ABHES website search tools rather than relying on a school's marketing page.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant in Colorado?
Most Colorado medical assistant certificate and diploma programs run 8 to 14 months,1 while associate degree tracks usually take 16 to 19 months when completed as designed.1 Concorde's Aurora diploma is 9 months,2 Herzing lists a 10-month option,3 and IBMC's diploma is 12 months.4
Certificate and diploma timelines
- Typical range: 8 to 14 months,1 with many Colorado diplomas clustering between 9 and 12 months.10
- Accelerated formats: Denver Medical Assistant School offers an 18-week hybrid program,5 and US Career Institute lists a 4-month full-time online path or 4 to 7 months part-time for Colorado residents.6
- College-based paths: Arapahoe Community College's certificate runs about 12 months,7 while Colorado Mountain College structures its certificate around 60 weeks and 42 credit hours.8
Associate degree timelines
Medical assistant associate's degree programs in Colorado tend to fall between 16 and 19 months,1 though a few listings stretch to 20. Herzing's associate pathway appears around 16 months in one table and 20 months in another section,3 while IBMC lists about 19 months4 and Pueblo Community College's medical office technology option totals about 60 credits.9 Some two-year college plans can reach closer to 24 months when general education courses and lighter course loads are included.
Planning around part-time and externships
These timelines generally assume full-time study or the school's designed pace. Part-time schedules are less standardized in Colorado, so your finish date depends on how many courses you take each term. Clinical externship hours are usually built into the published program length, so the months listed include supervised practice in a Colorado medical setting rather than adding a separate externship block after classes.
For most Colorado students, a realistic planning window to become a medical assistant is roughly 4 to 12 months for certificate or diploma formats and 16 to 24 months for associate degrees, with many associate programs landing between 16 and 19 months.
Admission Requirements and Prerequisites for Colorado Medical Assistant Programs
Colorado medical assistant programs set their own admission requirements, so check each school’s current checklist. Most programs share a core set of expectations, but details such as age and CPR timing vary.
- High school diploma or GEDMost Colorado medical assistant programs expect applicants to have a high school diploma or GED before enrolling.
- Minimum ageSchools that specify an age minimum, such as Emily Griffith Technical College and Red Rocks Community College, require students to be at least 18. Others may not list an age requirement.
- Background check and drug screeningBe prepared for a criminal background check and drug screening. Many programs require both before clinical placement, and the student usually covers the cost.
- ImmunizationsUpdated immunizations are commonly required. Expect to provide records for vaccines such as MMR, hepatitis B, tetanus, varicella, and TB screening, though exact lists differ by school.
- CPR certificationCPR requirements vary. Colorado Mountain College asks for current CPR for Healthcare Provider, while other programs may not list CPR as an admission item.
- Prerequisite courseworkPrerequisite coursework such as anatomy or medical terminology is generally not required before admission, though individual programs may recommend preparation.
Cost of Medical Assistant Programs in Colorado
Tuition for medical assistant programs in Colorado varies by school, and published figures often exclude books, uniforms, CPR certification, and certification exam fees. Some programs, such as Pima Medical Institute, list a total cost that includes textbooks and uniforms, while others provide tuition and fees only. Because financial aid, scholarships, and payment plan details are not consistently published, contact each school's financial aid office for current aid options. The table below lists ten Colorado programs in order of estimated net price, which reflects the amount a typical student pays after grants and scholarships.
| School | City | In-State Tuition and Fees | Out-of-State Tuition and Fees | Net Price | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak State College | Colorado Springs | $4,510 | $17,110 | $6,007 | 20.6% |
| Pickens Technical College | Aurora | $5,140 | $9,250 | $6,600 | 75.6% |
| Colorado Mountain College | Glenwood Springs | $2,616 | $12,840 | $7,813 | 27.4% |
| Red Rocks Community College | Lakewood | $4,859 | $17,459 | $9,044 | 32.0% |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | $4,902 | $17,136 | $9,450 | 20.0% |
| Trinidad State College | Trinidad | $4,608 | $7,318 | $10,772 | 54.5% |
| Otero College | La Junta | $4,576 | $7,286 | $11,103 | N/A |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | $2,258 | $11,786 | $11,463 | 39.6% |
| Arapahoe Community College | Littleton | $4,434 | $17,034 | $11,571 | 29.1% |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | $5,049 | $17,649 | $12,045 | 30.7% |
Online Vs. On-Campus Medical Assistant Training in Colorado
Online medical assistant training in Colorado gives you flexibility, but no reputable program is completely hands-off. The right choice depends on when you can study and how much in-person practice you want before your externship.
- Fully online medical assistant programs, such as U.S. Career Institute, let you study at your own pace and may be completed in roughly 4 to 7 months.
- Hybrid programs at Herzing University, Colorado Mountain College, and Colorado Springs Medical Assistant School offer day or evening classes with scheduled in-person skills practice.
- Evening options at IBMC College and IntelliTec College let working students train after daytime jobs without quitting work.
- Technical College of the Rockies combines online flexibility with hybrid sections, so you can reduce travel while still getting direct guidance.
- No legitimate online medical assistant program in Colorado is 100 percent remote; you still need in-person clinical labs and an externship to graduate.
- Hybrid and on-campus formats require you to attend labs at fixed times, which can be difficult if your work or family schedule changes.
- Evening sections may have fewer start dates or take longer to complete than full-time daytime tracks.
- Online self-paced programs shift more responsibility to you for staying on track, and some students miss the immediate feedback of a classroom.
Medical Assistant Certification Pathways in Colorado
Colorado does not require medical assistants to hold a state license.1 Many employers still prefer a national Medical Assistant Certification as proof of readiness, especially since medical assistants are in demand across the state.
The most common credentials are the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), and CCMA (NHA). The CMA (AAMA) route requires graduation from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.2 The CCMA (NHA) route requires a high school diploma or equivalent and completion of a training program.3 The RMA (AMT) offers multiple routes, including an accredited program, military training, or work experience.1
Several Colorado schools can help you meet these requirements. Metropolitan State University of Denver offers a fully online Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program.4 Colorado State University also offers a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant training program and includes a voucher for the certification exam.3 Arapahoe Community College offers a Medical Assistant Certificate, and Front Range Community College offers both Medical Assistant and Medical Office Administrative Assistant options.56
Before you enroll, check each program's admission details. Red Rocks Community College requires students to be at least 18 and may ask for a background check and current immunizations.7 Colorado Mountain College also requires a background check and drug screen.8 Choosing a credential first can help you compare programs and plan your next step with confidence.
Colorado Medical Assistant Licensure Requirements
Did you know medical assistant jobs are projected to grow 12 percent nationally from 2024 to 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a pace much faster than the average for all occupations? For Colorado job seekers, that means demand for well-trained, credentialed medical assistants should stay strong throughout this decade and beyond.
Additional Colorado Medical Assistant Programs to Consider
Beyond the programs highlighted in the ranking above, these Colorado schools offer additional medical assistant training options. Use this directory to compare locations, learning formats, and reported net prices as you build your shortlist.
Denver Metro
- Medical Assistant Certificate
- Medical Assisting
Colorado Springs Area
- Healthcare Administration: Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant
Southern Colorado
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant Certificate
- Medical Assistant Professional
Southeastern Colorado
- Medical Assistant
Western Slope
- Medical Office Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Certificate of Occupational Proficiency in Medical Assistant
Southwest Colorado
- Medical Assistant Certificate
