Medical Assistant Certificate in Tampa: Career-Ready in 7 Months

Earn 30 college credits and prepare for the nationally recognized CCMA exam in 7 months at NLU's Tampa campus, with hands-on Skills Labs and a paid externship with an Accelerate U employer partner.

  • CCMA Exam Eligibility
  • Paid Externship With an Employer Partner
  • 30 Transferable College Credits
  • Tampa Campus Skills Labs

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Our stunning Tampa Florida Campus is conveniently located on West Hillsborough Ave. just west of Tampa Airport

Map showing the campus location
Map showing the campus location

Why Choose NLU for Medical Assisting?

Tampa Campus
Train at NLU's Tampa campus

Online coursework plus monthly in-person Skills Labs where you practice hands-on clinical skills in small groups.

Paid Externship
A stipend during your 160-hour clinical placement

Get paid while you train inside a real healthcare facility with an Accelerate U employer partner.

CCMA + 30 Credits
National certification eligibility plus transferable college credit

Two assets in seven months, with the door open to a bachelor's degree.

$44,200
Average first-year MA pay, Tampa area (NLU)

Medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations.

112,300
Annual medical assistant openings (BLS)

Projected 12 percent growth through 2034, much faster than average.

Get Started Today

Program at a Glance

How long?
7 Months
24 weeks of training plus an externship
What credential?
CCMA
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (NHA)
What experience?
160 Hours
Paid clinical externship with an employer partner
What salary?
$44,200
Average first-year MA pay, Tampa area (NLU)

What You'll Learn

  • Perform phlebotomy, EKG, and vital signs accurately
  • Administer immunizations safely
  • Manage billing, scheduling, and medical records
  • Apply HIPAA and regulatory compliance standards
  • Earn the CCMA credential through the NHA exam
  • Complete a paid externship with an employer partner

Full Course List

Clinical Foundations
The body systems and medications behind clinical practice.
Phlebotomy
Drawing blood and collecting specimens safely.
Diagnostics
Administering EKGs and measuring vital signs accurately.
Safety
Infection control and sterile technique.
Immunizations
Safe administration of injections and immunizations.
Administrative
Billing, insurance, scheduling, and HIPAA-compliant records.
Communication
Communicating with patients, physicians, and care teams.
Externship
A 160-hour paid placement in a real healthcare facility.

Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • No prior healthcare experience required
  • A commitment of about 18 to 20 hours per week
  • Online application at nl.edu (no application fee)
  • An advisor confirms eligibility and externship placement
  • Hybrid format with monthly in-person Skills Labs at the Tampa campus
Request Info

Self-doubt holds us back. So when I feel like those thoughts are creeping in, I remind myself where I was a year ago.

Damaris Townes Medical Assistant, Accelerate U
Train at NLU's Tampa Campus

Online coursework plus monthly in-person Skills Labs at the Accelerate U facility in Tampa, where you practice hands-on clinical skills in small groups.

Two Assets in Seven Months

Eligibility for the nationally recognized CCMA exam plus 30 transferable college credits, a career launch and an education head start at once.

Get Paid to Train

Your clinical externship includes a stipend, so you earn while you build real skills inside a healthcare facility.

Where Will Your Certificate Take You?

112,300
Annual medical assistant openings (BLS)
Certified Medical Assistant
Clinical Medical Assistant
Pediatric Medical Assistant
Specialty Clinic MA
Medical Office Coordinator
Pathway to LPN or RN

Medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations in the country, with 12 percent projected growth through 2034 and more than 112,000 openings a year. At NLU’s Tampa campus, Accelerate U connects you to area healthcare employers through a field-based externship with an employer partner.

First-year medical assistants in the Tampa area earn about $44,200 a year (NLU), and the 30 college credits you earn leave the door open to a bachelor’s degree.

Get Started Now

How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Request Information

    Submit the form above. An NLU Accelerate U advisor will reach out within one business day with cohort start dates and tuition assistance options.

  2. Connect With an Advisor

    Your advisor confirms your eligibility, reviews the 18 to 20 hour weekly commitment, and plans your externship with an Accelerate U employer partner.

  3. Apply and Start Classes

    Submit your application at nl.edu with no application fee. Next start: September 21, 2026. Your advisor guides you from enrollment through externship placement.

Get Started

Take the First Step

No commitment required. An NLU Accelerate U advisor will reach out within one business day with cohort dates and tuition assistance options.

Take the First Step
  • CCMA Exam Eligibility
  • Paid Externship With an Employer Partner
  • 30 Transferable College Credits
  • Tampa Campus Skills Labs

*Salary and openings: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), May 2024.

**Program format, externship, and Tampa-area pay: National Louis University Accelerate U Medical Assistant Pathway (Tampa) program page (nl.edu).