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Medical Assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. Medical Assistants support physicians and nurse providers in a wide range of duties and are employed in varied healthcare settings examples include, private physician offices, large medical practices, clinics, urgent care centers and, other settings dedicated to providing ambulatory healthcare services.
Students in the Medical Assistant degree program are crossed trained to be entry-level prepared in administrative and clinical knowledge, skills, and behaviors relevant to the requirements of the profession. In their last semester of the program, advancing Medical Assistant students, complete an unpaid, supervised, 160-hour practicum in an ambulatory healthcare setting. Successful graduates of the program are eligible to apply for the national certification exam [CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), and/or NCMA (NCCT)].
2025 MAERB ANNUAL REPORT FORM (ARF)
Federal regulations require institutions of higher education to make a determination regarding whether an applicable academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the states where students are located at the time of initial enrollment, as well as in other states for which the institution has made a determination regarding such requirements.
Medical Assistant A.A.S.
The Medical Assistant A.A.S. program at SUNY Niagara is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Medical assisting is not a licensed profession in New York State. Therefore, completion of the Medical Assistant A.A.S. program does not result in New York State professional licensure.
The SUNY Niagara Medical Assistant A.A.S. program prepares students to pursue national professional certification. Successful graduates are eligible to apply for nationally recognized medical assisting certification examinations, including:
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA (AAMA)) through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through American Medical Technologists (AMT)
National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
Because the SUNY Niagara Medical Assistant program is CAAHEP accredited, students and graduates are eligible to apply for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination in accordance with current AAMA eligibility requirements. The AAMA specifically identifies students and graduates of CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting programs as an eligibility pathway for the CMA (AAMA) examination.
Students interested in national certification should review the eligibility requirements of the applicable credentialing organization:
CMA (AAMA)
American Association of Medical Assistants — CMA (AAMA) Eligibility Requirements
RMA (AMT)
American Medical Technologists — RMA Certification
NCMA (NCCT)
National Center for Competency Testing — Medical Assistant Certification
Certification organizations establish their own eligibility requirements, application procedures, examination requirements, fees, and certification policies. These requirements are subject to change.
Requirements for medical assisting practice and/or national certification may vary by state. SUNY Niagara has not determined that completion of the Medical Assistant A.A.S. program satisfies all requirements that may apply to medical assisting employment, registration, certification, or other professional requirements in every state.
Students who intend to seek employment or certification outside New York State are responsible for contacting the appropriate state regulatory agency and/or certification organization to determine the requirements applicable in that state.
SUNY Niagara does not award professional certification or licensure and cannot guarantee that completion of the program will result in certification, registration, or employment in a particular state.
The SUNY Niagara Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs9355 113th St. N., #7709Seminole, FL 33775(727)-210-2350www.caahep.org
Final acceptance into the Medical Assistant program depends upon the student submitting and the Wellness Center approving the physical exam prior to the student entering MED 103L, Phlebotomy, and MED 137N, Medical Assistant Externship. Health records must remain current during this period of enrollment.
The student is responsible for the costs associated with the physical examination report.
In order to meet the objectives of the Medical Assistant program, certain essential technical standards must be met. These essential technical standards are available from the Wellness Center and student handbook. The student must meet technical standards based on the results of the physical examination.
Certification in Basic Life Support or CPR for professional rescuer is required prior to entering MED 137, Medical Assistant Externship, and must be current throughout the program.
The Medical Assistant program at SUNY Niagara requires an in-person, hands-on laboratory experience for Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIO 213L), Human Anatomy & Physiology II (BIO 214L), and Microbiology (BIO 221L). Therefore, Biology labs from another college or university that were taken online will not be accepted for transfer credit.
Options for completing labs include: