Yes — completely. There are no in-person classes, no campus requirements, and no set schedule. You log in when it works for you, move at your own pace, and complete everything through the CapYear Academy and NHA learning platforms. There are minimum progress requirements to stay in academic good standing, which you can read about in the Program Catalog.

The program is 201 clock hours and you have 12 months to complete it. Some students finish in as little as 9 weeks. You complete the program around your schedule. For more on minimum progress requirements, see the Program Catalog.

To stay in academic good standing, you need to log in at least once every 60 days and meet minimum progress benchmarks at 90-day intervals. These requirements exist to keep you on track — not to create pressure. If you ever fall behind, the CapYear team will reach out to help. Full details are in the Program Catalog.

The curriculum covers everything you need to work as a clinical medical assistant: anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control, patient screenings and vital signs, phlebotomy, lab procedures, pharmacology, EKGs, billing and coding, and professional ethics. It is 201 hours of content delivered through a mix of readings, interactive videos, and simulations — all mapped to the NHA CCMA and AMCA CMAC certification exams.

When you complete the program, you receive a certificate of completion from CapYear Academy and become eligible to sit for either the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam or the AMCA Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) exam. Both are nationally recognized credentials. The CapYear Academy team will help you register for your exam, and exam fees are included in your tuition. Nothing more to pay.

Absolutely — and we expect it. Most of our students are pre-health students managing coursework, jobs, clinical hours, and everything else that comes with a full schedule. If you need to step away, you can request a Leave of Absence for up to 6 months. Pause when you need to, pick it back up over a break or when your schedule opens up. That flexibility is built into the program on purpose.

No!  You do not have to complete a clinical externship to sit for either the AMCA or CCMA medical assistant certification exams to become certified as a medical assistant.

In fact, many of our students complete the training program, sit for the exam as soon as possible, and then schedule their externship when it works well for their schedule.  

Yes! We’re committed to helping you succeed beyond completing your training program.

Upon completing the program, you are eligible to sit for two nationally recognized medical assistant certifications:

CapYear Academy graduates pass the CCMA exam at a 98% first-time rate. That is not an accident. The entire curriculum is mapped directly to the NHA CCMA test plan, and the program includes a dedicated final study guide and practice exams before you sit for the real thing.

The final stretch of the program is built around exam prep. You will work through a 19-hour study guide that reviews every major topic, then complete timed practice exams with focused review based on your responses. You need to score 80% or higher on the practice exams before you are eligible to sit for the certification exam, so by the time you test, you are ready.

Completing the CapYear Academy program satisfies the educational eligibility requirement to sit for the NHA CCMA or AMCA CMAC exam. If you do not pass on the first attempt, you can retake the NHA CCMA or AMCA CMAC exam after 30 days. The CapYear team is available to help you prepare for a retake.

In most states, passing the CCMA or CMAC exam is all you need to begin working as a certified medical assistant.

The externship is an optional 90-hour hands-on clinical experience that gives you real patient contact hours in a healthcare setting. It is available to students who have completed the CapYear Academy program and is included in the cost of tuition.  There is no additional fee.

No. The externship is optional and separate from the program itself. You receive your certificate of completion and become eligible to sit for your certification exam upon completing the 201-hour program. The externship is the next step for students who want to add real clinical hours to their resume before applying for medical assistant positions.

The externship is available after you complete the program. We strongly encourage completing your CCMA or CMAC certification exam first. Because the externship requires a commitment of at least 16 hours per week, most students complete it over a school break or during a period when their schedule opens up.

CapYear’s externship coordination team works with you to identify and secure a clinical site near you. You will not be navigating the process alone. While CapYear cannot guarantee placement at every site or in every location, placements have been successful across the country. Externship placement support is available for up to one year after you complete the program.

Yes. In addition to successfully completing the CapYear Academy training program, you need to have a current CPR/BLS certification before beginning your externship. CPR/BLS certification must be obtained through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. CapYear does not arrange CPR/BLS training.  Students complete CPR/BLS independently prior to starting their clinical hours.

The total cost of the CapYear Academy Clinical Medical Assistant Training program is $1,995. That includes everything: all course materials, access to the NHA learning platform, and your certification exam fee. There is nothing more to pay.

The program fee covers your full 201-hour curriculum, access to both the CapYear Academy and NHA learning platforms, all assessments and practice exams, and the fee to sit for either the NHA CCMA or AMCA CMAC certification exam. The optional externship is also included at no additional cost.

Yes. You can pay in full at enrollment or choose an interest-free installment plan. Payment plans begin with the $25 application fee, followed by your first installment 10 days later, with subsequent payments in 30-day intervals.

CapYear Academy periodically offers grants to support specific groups of students. Maryland residents are not eligible for grants per Maryland Higher Education Commission regulations. For the most current information on available grants, eligibility, and award amounts, contact us at academy@capyear.co.

There is a $25 non-refundable application fee. If you are not accepted into the program, the application fee is refunded in full.

If you withdraw before the program begins, you are only responsible for the application fee. Once you begin the program, your refund is calculated based on how far into the program you are at the time of withdrawal, per Ohio Administrative Code:

All student issues or complaints should first be directed to the school personnel involved. If not resolved, a written complaint should be submitted to the School Director. If still unsatisfied, complaints may also be directed to:

CapYear Academy primarily serves current college students and recent college graduates who are preparing for medical school, physician assistant school, or other advanced healthcare careers. However, anyone who meets the admissions requirements is welcome to apply.

To enroll, you must:

Complete the application on the CapYear Academy website. As part of the application, you will review your payment options and pay the $25 application fee. You will also review and sign your enrollment agreement. Once CapYear Academy countersigns your enrollment agreement, you are officially enrolled and will receive access to the learning platform.

CapYear Academy offers open enrollment. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and there are no set start dates. Once accepted, you can begin the program immediately.

If you believe your application was denied in error, you may submit a written appeal within 7 calendar days of the admissions decision. The School Director will review your appeal and respond in writing. If you are not accepted, your $25 application fee is refunded in full.

Criminal convictions may affect your ability to obtain certification or employment as a medical assistant, depending on the nature of the conviction. U.S. work authorization status may also affect your employment opportunities even with a CCMA or CMAC certification. If you have questions about either, contact us at academy@capyear.co before enrolling.

CapYear Academy is approved to operate in Maryland and enrolls Maryland residents. Maryland students are subject to the regulations of the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), which govern enrollment, refunds, grievances, and program performance disclosures. 

Maryland residents are not eligible for CapYear Academy tuition grants per Maryland Higher Education Commission regulations. All other pricing, payment plans, and program terms remain the same.

Maryland residents are subject to the Maryland Higher Education Commission refund schedule. The Maryland refund schedule is based on the proportion of the program completed at the time of withdrawal:

Maryland residents who have a grievance should first raise the concern with their instructor. If not resolved, the grievance should be submitted in writing to the School Director. If still unsatisfied, a written complaint may be submitted to any of the following:

CapYear Academy is a registered school with the California Bureau for Private Post Secondary Education. 

California residents are subject to a required disclosure regarding the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). The State of California established the STRF to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a California resident enrolled in a qualifying institution who prepaid tuition and suffered an economic loss due to school closure, program discontinuation, or other qualifying events.

CapYear Academy does not enroll residents of Washington State. The CapYear Academy program does not qualify graduates to work as medical assistants in Washington State, where specific in-state training and certification requirements apply. If you have questions, contact us at academy@capyear.co.

Our mission is to increase access to clinical opportunities for pre-health students. That’s why we have priced our program significantly less than traditional medical assistant programs.

The CapYear Academy program is $1,995 and includes all the learning materials, study guides, practice exams and the optional clinical externship. Even the cost of the CCMA or AMCA exam is included.

Our program consists of 19 clinical courses totaling 201 clock hours including the study guide and practice exams. Students can complete the self-paced program in as little as 9 weeks or take up to a full year—the choice is yours.

The time to completion will vary depending on the amount of time a student has to work toward completion. Most students finish the program in a few months working on it part-time around a school schedule.

Students have up to 12 months to complete our program. There are no required hours per week as long as all the content is completed within 12 months.

Due to the online asynchronous format, students can start at any time that works best for them. There are no set academic terms or set program start and end dates. There are minimum attendance and progress requirements to maintain enrollment. Please see our Student Catalog for more details.

Yes!

Students completing the CapYear Academy Clinical Medical Assistant Training program are eligible to enroll  in an optional medical assistant clinical readiness course hosted by our career platform, CapYear. 

**There is no additional charge for CapYear Academy graduates to enroll and participate in the medical assistant readiness course.**

The course consists of a 90-hour onsite clinical externship plus 5 hours of online modules and independently obtaining your CPR certification. 

Yes!  At CapYear Academy, your first attempt at the CCMA or AMCA certification exam is included in the tuition. 

We will give you a code when you complete the program which you can use when signing up for the certification exam so you can register at no additional cost! 

All our program content is online and asynchronous and includes interactive videos, written materials and exercises, and interactive simulations.

We get a lot of questions about the optional clinical externship.

Here’s how it works!

No!  You do not have to complete a clinical externship to sit for either the AMCA or CCMA medical assistant certification exams to become certified as a medical assistant.

In fact, many of our students complete the training program, sit for the exam as soon as possible, and then schedule their externship when it works well for their schedule.  

Yes! We’re committed to helping you succeed beyond completing your training program.

We currently offer:

Yes!  We are enrolling Maryland residents.  Per state requirements, our current enrollment is capped at 50 Maryland residents so space is limited.  We hope to be increasing space availability for Maryland students soon!   

Successful completion of CapYear Academy's clinical medical assistant training program satisfies the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for either the NHA's CCMA exam or the AMCA medical assistant certification exam. When you pass your certification exam, you’ll be qualified to work as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.

Absolutely. Many of our students are enrolled in college and balancing a pre-health course load.

The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification is recognized by employers in all 50 states.  However, due to state medical assistant licensing requirements, our program will not work for students looking to work in Washington State.

Washington State has special medical assistant licensing requirements.  Our program will not qualify you to work as a medical assistant in Washington State.  As a practice, we do not enroll students from Washington State or those who plan to work in Washington State.  If you have questions about eligibility, please contact academy@capyear.co.

No.  You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to enroll in our program or become a certified medical assistant.  Getting your certification is not a substitute for work autorization and each individual employer sets its own hiring policies. 

At CapYear Academy, we are all about making getting you medical assistant certification work for you.  That’s why you can enroll at any time.  We offer rolling admissions, so there are no pre-set start dates.  

You have up to 12 months to complete the program from the day you enroll but most students complete the program in a few months. 

The CCMA and AMCA certification exams are offered multiple times a month.  The AMCA is only offered online. The CCMA exam can be taken online or in person.  Contact academy@capyear.co for more information.

All coursework is held asynchronously and online at CapYear Academy. Course content is available 24/7 online. CapYear Academy has physical office locations for our staff in Baltimore, MD, and Newark, OH.

CapYear Academy's program is 100% online and asynchronous, so enrolled students can access program materials 24/7.

The curriculum is fully mapped to the guidelines provided by the NHA and the NHA CCMA test plan. 

Topics covered include:

A medical assistant is a vital part of the patient care team usually found in outpatient clinical settings.  Duties can include:

Medical assistant jobs are projected to grow 16% nationally from 2021 to 2031, faster than average for all occupations. About 123,000 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these openings result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force by retiring or other reasons.

Students who do not achieve a passing score on an end of module quiz may retake the quiz until they achieve a passing score. Please note this exception: The Final Practice Test only allows students one retake to score over 80%.  

CapYear Academy is a state licenced school. Our refund policies follow state regulations. For more information, please review the student catalog that pertains to your state of residence.

All student complaints should be first directed to the school personnel involved. If no resolution is forthcoming, a written complaint shall be submitted to the director of the school. Whether or not the problem or complaint has been resolved to his/her satisfaction by the school, the student may direct any problem or complaint to the Executive Director, State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, 30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, Phone 614-466-2752; toll-free 877-275-4219.

Students who have a grievance with the school are encouraged to resolve the matter with their