Medical assistant programs in Kansas City include a Kansas community college and two Missouri campus locations. You can compare hybrid classes, clinical practice and national exam options below, with published lengths of nine months at Concorde and 11-15 months at KCKCC.
Community college optionKCKCC certificate: 11-15 months
Next private school startConcorde: November 2, 2026, at both Missouri locations
National exam choicesKCKCC names CCMA, RMA and CMA exams
Local median wage$45,300 annually, Kansas City, MO-KS metro, May 2025
Medical assistant classes on both sides of Kansas City
These listings cover local campus programs, including hybrid instruction. The check line under each school identifies institutional accreditation, rather than a personal medical assistant license.
College statement: "Kansas City Kansas Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission". Training is based at the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center; the externship is unpaid.
11-15 months; two semesters of coursework followed by a 180-hour externship
Hybrid options: online, blended and face-to-face courses; fall and spring coursework
2026-27 college tuition: $85/credit for Wyandotte County residents, $100/credit for other Kansas residents, $125.50/credit for eligible Missouri metro residents; $25/credit student and technology fees plus program fees
St. Joseph Medical Center location. Catalog statement: "Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges" (ACCSC). The program page and catalog both list nine months.
Broadway satellite location. Catalog statement: "Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges" (ACCSC). The program page describes an unpaid, in-person externship.
11-15 months; two semesters of coursework followed by a 180-hour externship
Schedule
Hybrid options: online, blended and face-to-face courses; fall and spring coursework
Published cost
2026-27 college tuition: $85/credit for Wyandotte County residents, $100/credit for other Kansas residents, $125.50/credit for eligible Missouri metro residents; $25/credit student and technology fees plus program fees
Medical assistants learn patient care and office duties. BLS describes certificate training, supervised practice and routes through on-the-job learning; compare the tasks each course teaches.
2
Check the admission requirements
KCKCC's application cover sheet lists a diploma or GED for adult applicants, placement assessment, transcripts, references and an interview. Ask the coordinator for the current checklist before submitting your program application.
3
Confirm campus and class times
Concorde's calendar lists November 2, 2026 starts at St. Joe and Broadway. Compare your classroom shift with externship hours, which the calendar says may run in daytime shifts of six to eight hours.
4
Complete the clinical practice
KCKCC requires a 180-hour externship after coursework. Concorde's catalog requires a clinical skill test before externship; ask how much patient contact your placement provides.
5
Choose your national exam
KCKCC names CCMA, RMA and CMA as certification exam options. Ask the school to document eligibility for your chosen exam, the testing organization and any fee before you commit.
Medical assistant employment and pay in Kansas City
BLS OEWS reported 4,220 medical assistant jobs in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area in May 2025. The median wage was $21.78 an hour, or $45,300 a year, for occupation 31-9092. See the BLS metro data table. These figures describe employed workers across experience levels, so use them as context when reviewing an offer.
BLS's occupation guide describes jobs in physicians' offices, hospitals and outpatient settings. You may handle both patient care and office work. Ask employers which certification they accept, what clinical tasks the role includes and whether the position requires evening or weekend shifts.
Published tuition and ways to pay
KCKCC's 2026-27 tuition schedule lists $85 per credit for Wyandotte County residents and $100 for other Kansas residents. Eligible Missouri metro residents pay $125.50 per credit. Student and technology fees add $25 per credit; program fees are separate. Ask for the full certificate bill. Concorde's catalog cost table, effective January 20, 2026, lists $18,998 tuition and a $19,993 total with estimated textbooks and a technology fee.
Complete the FAFSA to check Pell Grant eligibility. Eligible veterans and dependents can explore GI Bill benefits. Ask your local American Job Center about WIOA through Workforce Partnership in Kansas or the Full Employment Council in Missouri. For paid training, NKC Health describes a 14-week academy with an 18-month work commitment, but its next application date is not posted.
How long do local medical assistant programs take?
Concorde's Kansas City catalog lists nine months, including 32 instructional weeks. KCKCC's program page lists 11-15 months, with two semesters of coursework followed by a 180-hour externship. Request the completion date for your intended start, including clinical placement time, before comparing these schedules.
Is national certification the same as a state license?
No. National medical assistant certification and state permission to practice are separate matters. BLS says most states do not require certification, but employers may prefer or require it. Ask a prospective Missouri or Kansas employer which credential and supervised duties apply to the position you want.
Can I keep working while taking medical assistant classes?
Check both the class timetable and the placement schedule. Concorde lists morning and evening classes at both locations, plus afternoon classes at St. Joe. Its externship schedule may involve six-to-eight-hour daytime shifts. Ask how those shifts fit around your paid work before choosing an evening class.
What does a hybrid medical assistant program involve?
Hybrid training combines online study with campus work. Concorde's catalog says courses may be online, on campus or blended. It also describes laboratory skill checks. Request the weekly campus calendar and ask which externship activities involve patients, so you can plan transportation, childcare and study time.
Can an employer pay for medical assistant training?
NKC Health's Medical Assistant Academy describes 14 weeks of paid training, a certification exam voucher and an 18-month work commitment. Its page says a new cohort will open soon, without a date. Treat it as an option to monitor and request the full employment terms when applications reopen.