Professional Certification Program

Medical Assisting Mastery

Since 2021, Union Centre Institute has been preparing aspiring medical assistants throughout the Greater Cincinnati area with career-focused education and hands-on clinical training. Our Medical Assisting Program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to provide exceptional patient care while supporting physicians and healthcare teams in a variety
of medical settings.

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Duration

21 Weeks (hybrid)

Next Start

September 2026

Medical Assistant
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Program Highlights

21 Weeks

600 Clock Hours

An intensive 21-week hybrid program of online lecture, hands-on lab, and externship.

Hands-On Lab Training

210 Lab Hours

Extensive clinical skill and provider-assistance drills in our large room lab suite.

Real-World Externship

90 Hour Placement

90 hours in professional medical environments before formal graduation.

NHA Certification

In-House Board Testing
Your NHA national exam fee is included, with testing right here at Union Centre Institute.

Comprehensive Curriculum

Our structured program covers everything you need to become a confident, certified medical assistant

21 Weeks · 600 Clock Hours · Lecture, Lab & Externship

Foundations & Sciences

Weeks 1-7
  • Anatomy, physiology & body systems
  • Medical terminology & abbreviations
  • Infection control & safety
  • HIPAA, ethics & medical law
  • Patient communication & professionalism
  • Documentation & charting basics

Clinical Competencies

Weeks 8-15
  • Vital signs & patient assessment
  • Assisting with exams & procedures
  • Pharmacology & medication administration
  • Phlebotomy & specimen collection
  • EKG & cardiovascular testing
  • Sterile technique & minor surgical assisting

Administrative, Externship & Certification

Weeks 16-21
  • Scheduling, records & EHR
  • Insurance, billing & coding
  • Front office & practice management
  • 90-hour real-world externship
  • NHA exam review & prep
  • In-house national board testing

Hybrid Delivery · In-House NHA Testing · Externship Included

Delivery Format

Hybrid Model
  • 300 hours online lecture
  • 210 hours in-house lab
  • 90 hours real-world externship
  • Labs Tue & Thu, 4:00 to 9:00 PM
  • 10 lab hours per week for 21 weeks
  • Externship in professional medical settings

Required Materials

Included with Tuition
  • Kinn's Medical Assisting Fundamentals, 3rd Edition
  • Sherpath adaptive learning suite
  • Interactive modules & vocabulary mapping
  • Quizzes linked to the Kinn's curriculum
  • NHA practice exam & study guide
  • Adaptive review benchmarks

Certification & Investment

$16,334 Per Student
  • NHA national certification exam
  • Exam registration voucher included
  • All Sherpath & Kinn's licenses
  • In-house testing at Union Centre Institute
  • Full lecture, lab & externship access
  • One all-inclusive tuition, no add-ons

Essential Skills You'll Learn

Vital Signs Phlebotomy EKG Testing Medication Administration Specimen Collection Patient Assessment Sterile Technique Electronic Health Records Billing & Coding Infection Control Patient Communication Medical Terminology

Your Career. Your Future.

Medical assisting provides a versatile foundation for careers across healthcare. Many medical assistants expand their knowledge through additional certifications, experience, and education to pursue a variety of clinical and allied health careers.

Medical Assistant

Provide both clinical and administrative support in physician offices, specialty practices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare settings.

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Many medical assistants pursue additional training to provide expanded hands-on patient care in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and acute care facilities.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

With additional education, professionals may specialize in diagnostic ultrasound imaging while working alongside physicians in hospitals, imaging centers, and specialty practices.

Nursing

Medical assisting experience provides a strong clinical foundation for individuals who continue their education to become Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), or pursue other nursing careers.

Student Success Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Medical Assisting Mastery program?

The program runs 21 weeks and covers 600 total clock hours: 300 hours of online lecture, 210 hours of in-house lab, and a 90-hour real-world externship.

When do classes meet?

It's a hybrid format. The lecture portion is studied online through curriculum dashboards on a flexible schedule, while the hands-on labs meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 9:00 PM for all 21 weeks. That's 5 hours per lab day, 10 hours per week, totaling 210 in-house training hours. The final 90 hours move into a professional externship setting.

How much is tuition and what does it cover?

Tuition is $16,334 per student, all-inclusive. That covers all 600 lecture, lab, and externship hours, every Sherpath and Kinn's license and software key, the NHA practice exam and study guide, and the NHA national certification exam fee.

What certification will I earn?

The program prepares you for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) medical assisting credential. Your exam registration voucher is included, and you sit for the national board exam right here in the testing labs at Union Centre Institute, with no travel required.

What books and materials do I need?

Everything is included when you register. You get Kinn's Medical Assisting Fundamentals, 3rd Edition, full access to the Sherpath adaptive learning suite with interactive modules and quizzes linked to the Kinn's text, and the NHA practice exam and study guide bundle.

Do I need prior medical experience to enroll?

No prior healthcare experience is required. This is a comprehensive, immersive track that builds from foundational anatomy and terminology through full clinical and administrative competencies, hands-on lab practice, and a real-world externship.

Ready to Start Your Medical Career?

Classes are filling fast. Secure your spot in our next Medical Assisting Mastery cohort and take the first step toward a rewarding healthcare career.

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