Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person who enjoys working with people and you’re passionate about the medical field, a career as a medical assistant can be the right fit for you.
To be employed as a Medical Assisting in the state of Washington, you must be certified or registered with the Washington Department of Health, Medical Assisting Credentialing.
There are many schools that offer programs designed to provide you with a certificate or diploma and prepare you for the credentialing exam.
Most programs can be completed in less than one year and combine classroom training with hands-on instruction.
Blended formats that allow students to complete part of the program online are also available.
1Pima Medical Institute
About the School
Pima Medical Institute offers programs in dental and medical assisting, pharmacy technician, and veterinary medicine.
Students learn through hands-on training and are ready to enter the workforce right after graduation.
The Seattle campus is located off the I-5 in the Northgate area of Seattle.
Courses Offered
The Certificate Program in Medical Assisting available at Pima Medical Institute feature a fully hands-on approach and prepares students to enter the workforce quickly and with confidence.
The program can be completed in nine months.
Students work closely with doctors, nurses, and other members of the medical team.
Courses focus on anatomy, routine laboratory procedures, and frequent patient care procedures.
Graduates are ready for employment in physicians’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and outpatient medical facilities.
Most programs at Pima Medical Institute also include a clinical externship that provides students with the chance to be mentored by full-time professionals and interface with real patients.
The curriculum includes classes on Anatomy, Physiology, Terminology, Computer Basics, Medical Office Management, Professional Documentation, Clinical Aspects of Billing and Coding, Medical Law and Ethics, and Medical Specialty Procedures.
Contact Information
- Address: 9709 3rd Ave NE Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98115
- Phone: 800-477-PIMA
- Website: https://pmi.edu
2Health Professionals Institute
About the School
Health Professionals Institute provides training programs for health professionals in the Greater Seattle Area.
The school provides industry-leading instructors, small class sizes, and technological learning aids.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant Program available at Health Professionals Institute teaches students how to provide direct patient care and perform administrative and clinical procedures.
To qualify for admission to this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or higher education equivalency
- Provide documentation of a completed two-step tuberculosis test
- Clinical facilities require Covid vaccine Documents and may require MMR and Hepatitis vaccine
This program costs $17,000.
The registration fee is $100.
Students learn skills such as:
- Assisting doctors and nurses during exams
- Recording patients’ medical histories
- Filing patient records
- Providing general care for patients
- Checking vital signs
Contact Information
- Address: 33305 1st Way S, Ste. B100, Federal Way, WA 98003
- Phone: (253) 252-3956
- Website: https://healthprofessionalsinstitute.com
3Charter College
About the School
Charter College provides hands-on career training for students who want to start a career in the medical assisting field.
The blended learning curriculum combines hands-on classroom experience with online coursework.
The course offers students more flexibility and allows them to work and manage family life while preparing for a new career.
The classes are kept small to provide students with individualized attention.
Charter College has six campuses in Washington: East Wenatchee, Fife, Lacey, Pasco, Vancouver, and Yakima.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assisting program includes the following topics and classes:
- Compliance in Health Care Environments
- Patient Care Concepts
- Medical Office Emergencies
- Medical Terminology Fundamentals
- Functions of Health Records Management
- Medical Insurance Billing and Coding
The program can be completed in 10 months.
The Certificate in Medical Assisting program prepares students for entry-level Medical Assistant positions.
The program also equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for the National Certification Exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 595 Grant Rd #5, East Wenatchee, WA 98802
- Phone: (509) 415-3576
- Website: https://www.chartercollege.edu
4Carrington College
About the School
Carrington College offers training programs that prepare students for careers in the healthcare and dental fields.
The college’s Spokane campus is located in a two-story building with more than 10,000 square feet of space.
The facilities include an on-site library, computer labs, as well as dental assisting labs, medical assisting labs, and a pharmacy lab.
Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program available at Carrington College can be completed in as few as nine months.
The courses teach students about medical office administration, diagnostic tests, and assisting with patient procedures, equipment, and supplies.
Students also learn telephone techniques, oral communication, verbal follow-up, computers, appointments, records and filing, patient education, vitals, aseptic hand washing, lab safety, venipuncture, injections, capillary puncture, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 10102 E. Knox Ave., Suite 200, Spokane, WA 99206
- Phone: (509) 378-3628
- Website: https://carrington.edu
5UEI College
About the School
UEI College in Tacoma is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges.
The college has a new 30,000-square-foot facility.
Students learn in well-equipment classrooms and labs as well as industry-relevant technology that students get to learn how to use hands-on.
The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 20 to 1.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program at UEI College helps students earn a diploma in as few as 10 months.
The program is hybrid, which means that students complete a portion of their education online and at on-site labs where they practice the skills they’ve learned hands-on.
The curriculum includes classes on:
- Administrative Medical Assisting Duties
- Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
- Office Environmental Safety, Infection Control, and Laboratory
- Psychology and Special Senses
- Medical Management
- Clinical Medical Assisting Duties
- Pharmacology and Office Emergencies
- Externship
UEI College in Tacoma is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Contact Information
- Address: 1415 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404
- Phone: (877) 463-4472
- Website: https://www.uei.edu
6Clover Park Technical College
About the School
Clover Park Technical College has two campuses: Lakewood and Puyallup.
The college provides training programs that prepare students for employment in a variety of in-demand industries.
Clover Park Technical College is a member institution of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant curriculum available at Clover Park Technical College covers a wide range of course areas, including anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, oral and written communication, financial record keeping, mathematics, insurance billing, medical coding, and more.
Students learn both administrative and clinical procedures performed in physicians’ offices and/or clinics.
Graduates are ready to take the national certification exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants.
The approximate tuition cost for attending CPTC for nine months (three quarters) is $5,277.
Contact Information
- Address: 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW Lakewood WA 98499-4004
- Phone: 253-589-5800
- Website: https://www.cptc.edu
7Sparrow Healthcare Education
About the School
Sparrow Healthcare Education provides a variety of training programs that prepare students for healthcare careers.
The school features an up-to-date facility with a reception area and three classrooms.
The facility also has large clinical lab areas in each classroom equipped with all the needed supplies and equipment.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Adequate English Language Proficiency is evidenced by a high school diploma, GED, a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or similar proficiency exam, an evaluation by a specialized organization, or a passing score on the Ability to Benefit test.
- Pass a Background Test
- Negative two-step TB skin test
- Be able to physically perform duties
Courses Offered
A Medical Assistant Hybrid program prepares students for entry-level medical assistant positions.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age before the first day of class.
The program includes 300 lecture hours and 240 lab hours.
A 180 clinical practicum is also included in the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 11707 E Sprague Ave – STE LL101, Spokane Valley, WA 99206
- Phone: (509) 290-5489
- Website: https://sparrowhealthed.com
8Whatcom Community College
About the School
Whatcom Community College provides a variety of academic programs in a wide range of areas of study.
The college is recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to accredit postsecondary institutions.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting, among many other programs.
The program is aligned with new Washington state laws for medical assisting credentials.
The Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
The A.A.S. requires 90 credits and courses such as:
- English Composition
- General Psychology
- Essentials of Care Navigation
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Concepts of Effective Communication
- The Human Body in Health and Disease
- Pharmacology
- And more
A Certificate is also available and requires 66 credits.
Scholarships and financial aid are available for students who qualify.
Contact Information
- Address: 237 W. Kellogg Road Bellingham, WA 98226
- Phone: 360.383.3000
- Website: https://www.whatcom.edu
9Centralia College
About the School
Centralia College provides training programs that prepare students for in-demand careers in Information Technology, Healthcare, Business, Diesel Technology, Welding, and more.
In total, the college offers 57 areas of study.
Centralia College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Courses Offered
The following healthcare programs are available at the college:
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Nursing Assistant
- Nursing
- Phlebotomy
- Pre-Health
The Medical Assistant program available at Centralia College prepares students who can perform a wide range of tasks in medical offices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.
This program is accredited at the institutional level by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Medical Terminology
- Nursing Assistant Certification
- Human Biology
- Keyboarding for Business
- Human Relations in the Workplace
- Medical Law & Ethics
- Health and Fitness Distribution
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 600 Centralia College Blvd. Centralia, WA 98531
- Phone: 360-736-9391
- Website: http://www.centralia.edu
10Northwest Phlebotomy School
About the School
Northwest Phlebotomy School has three campuses in Washington: Tacoma, Spokane, and Seattle.
The school offers small group environments to ensure each student has one-on-one training time with the school’s instructors.
Classes are usually 10 to 15 students.
The training combines lab and lecture and helps students become comfortable with various equipment and procedures.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the Northwest Phlebotomy School:
- Phlebotomy Course
- IV Certification Course
The Phlebotomy Course covers courses on Blood Collection, Safety in the Field, and Practical Exams.
Students learn general anatomy and physiology, phlebotomy techniques and equipment use, and special considerations for various patient demographics.
The programs also cover safe habits in daily practices.
Applicants need a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent based on state and national regulations.
Contact Information
- Address: 2102 South C. St Holiday Inn Express Downtown, Tacoma WA 98402
- Phone: 360-522-3226
- Website: https://www.nwphlebotomyschool.com
Regional Salary in Washington
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 470 | $45,550 | $21.9 | $55,340 | $37,700 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 550 | $48,480 | $23.31 | $62,400 | $38,380 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 660 | $44,880 | $21.58 | $55,590 | $38,130 |
| Longview, WA | 190 | $47,100 | $22.64 | $55,430 | $39,060 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 280 | $47,550 | $22.86 | $58,380 | $37,670 |
| Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 660 | $48,270 | $23.21 | $59,000 | $38,100 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 10,360 | $54,010 | $25.97 | $63,340 | $44,410 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,530 | $44,510 | $21.4 | $55,060 | $37,340 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 70 | $43,710 | $21.01 | $50,270 | $37,880 |
| Wenatchee, WA | 400 | $42,950 | $20.65 | $49,160 | $38,630 |
| Yakima, WA | 640 | $41,430 | $19.92 | $47,920 | $35,630 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you live in the state of Washington and you’re contemplating the idea of starting a career as a medical assistant, there are plenty of training options out there.
Now that you have read our selection of ten of the best medical assistant schools in the region, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs and career aspirations.
