NCMA
MT
Michelle Townsend
Medical Assistant Program Instructor
MS
Public Education/Health, Purdue Global
BA
Public Administration, Point Park University
AS
Medical Assistant Management, ICM School of Business and Medical Careers
Get the Skills to Start Your Medical Assistant Career in Pittsburgh, PA
No-Cost 7-Month Medical Assistant Training
Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
Length
7 Months
Education Level
Diploma
Work Experience
Externship
Tuition
$0*
Your No-Cost Medical Assistant Training Starts Here
Medical assistants combine clinical and administrative skills to support patients and healthcare teams. At Bidwell Training Center, you'll build those skills through classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and a supervised externship. In as little as 7 months, you can prepare for an entry-level healthcare career.
You don't have to have everything figured out before you apply. Whether you’re entering healthcare for the first time, changing careers, or returning to school, our Admissions team can answer your questions and help you understand your next steps.
For eligible students, tuition is provided at no cost, helping remove financial barriers so you can focus on preparing for your future. With an 84% employment rate, Bidwell graduates leave ready to pursue opportunities in the healthcare field.
NEXT START DATE
October 12th, 2026
Is a Career as a Medical Assistant Right for You?
Take the Bidwell Training Center Medical Assistant Career Readiness Quiz
This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style, plus the career paths you’re a good fit for.
The best way to see if Bidwell Training Center is the right fit for you is to come in and visit. Tour our facilities and meet with instructors. Book an Appointment Now or Get More Info.
Build Career-Ready Medical Assistant Skills
Patient Care
Practice taking vital signs, preparing patients, and assisting with medical exams and procedures.
Clinical Skills
Practice collecting blood samples while following established safety and infection-control procedures.
Medical Office Operations
Help keep healthcare offices running smoothly by scheduling appointments and managing patient records.
Professional Skills
Develop communication, teamwork, and professional skills for healthcare workplaces.
Learning in Action
Classroom Instruction
Build a strong foundation in the clinical and administrative concepts medical assistants use in the workplace.
Hands-On Labs
Practice essential skills in a supportive learning environment before working with patients.
Supervised Externship
Apply your skills during a supervised externship with a healthcare employer.
Instructor Support
Learn from experienced instructors who guide and support you throughout the program.
Get Program Details
Request your free program guide and get everything you need to take the first step.
Career Prospects
Next Start Dates
Tuition Costs
Funding Options
Free · No obligation · Takes 30 seconds
Program Schedule
Your training combines classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and real-world experience.
1
Classroom & Clinical Lab Training
24
weeks
Build the clinical and administrative skills you'll use as a medical assistant through hands-on labs.
2
Supervised Externship
4
weeks
Complete a supervised externship in a real healthcare setting before you graduate.
Total Duration
7 Months
Externship
Put Your Skills into Practice
Apply your training in a healthcare setting by completing a 4-week supervised externship. You'll apply the skills you've developed throughout the program, gain valuable real-world experience, and build confidence before entering the workforce.
No-Cost Tuition
$0
tuition, fees & supplies
100%
of programs offered at no cost
0
loans or payment plans
What's covered
Eligible Pennsylvania residents with a high school diploma or GED train at no cost—thanks to funding from the State of Pennsylvania, private foundations, and individual donors. Accepted students automatically receive a one-time institutional grant, no separate application needed.
✓ Tuition
✓ Fees
✓ Uniforms & scrubs
✓ Supplies
✓ Textbooks
Ready to see if you qualify?
✓
Pennsylvania resident
✓
HS diploma or GED
Learn from Working Professionals
Every instructor in this program brings hands-on industry experience into the classroom, backed by real credentials.
BJ
Bobbi Jeffries
Employment Coordinator & Professional Development Instructor, Medical Assistant
AAS
Human Services, Monroe Community College
JJ
Jada Johnson
Allied Health Program Instructor - Medical Billing
AK
Andrew Krizman
Computer Applications Instructors & Allied Health Program Coordinator
CU
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Prepare for In-Demand Medical Assistant Careers
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 12% between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 112,300 job openings projected each year nationwide, making this a great time to prepare for a career in healthcare.**
Is a career as a Medical Assistant is right for you? Take our Career Training Readiness Quiz. It's free, quick and reveals your strengths and social style, plus the training and positions you're best suited for.
Positions you may pursue include:
Hospital · Clinic · Lab
Medical Assistant
Support patient care and assist with clinical and administrative tasks.
Insurance · Clinics
Medical Records Clerk
Maintain patient records and health information.
Hospital · Clinic · Remote
Medical Transcriber
Convert physician recordings into accurate medical documentation.
Clinical Lab · Hospital
Phlebotomy Technician
Draw blood, prepare samples, and support patient testing.
Hospital · Cardiology
EKG Technician
Perform EKGs to help monitor heart health.
Our Employer Partners
Bidwell Training Center partners with leading healthcare organizations across the region to connect graduates with real job opportunities. Some of our employer partners include:
Allegheny Health Network
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
St. Clair Health
Prepare for the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Exam
Completing the program prepares you to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam offered through the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
At Bidwell Training Center, your program covers all of the essential knowledge needed to prepare for this exam including performing EKGs, phlebotomy, electronic health records, vital signs, and more.
At Bidwell Training Center, your program covers all of the essential knowledge needed to prepare for this exam including performing EKGs, phlebotomy, electronic health records, vital signs, and more.
MEdical Assistant
NHA CCMA
National Healthcare Association Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential, shows you're qualified to assist medical professionals in healthcare settings.
Courses
Build the clinical, administrative, and professional skills healthcare employers look for through hands-on training and coursework. Here is a look at the coursework:
-
01MA 100 Anatomy & Physiology/Medical Terminology I35 hours
-
02MA 110 Anatomy & Physiology/Medical Terminology II35 hours
-
03MA 120 Anatomy & Physiology/Medical Terminology III35 hours
-
04MA 101 Clinical Procedures & Laboratory Techniques I35 hours
-
05MA 111 Clinical Procedures & Laboratory Techniques II70 hours
-
06MA 121 Clinical Procedures & Laboratory Techniques III70 hours
-
07MA 103 Electronic Health Records35 hours
-
08MA 102 Fundamentals of Medical Assisting I35 hours
-
09MA 112 Fundamentals of Medical Assisting II35 hours
-
10MA 122 Fundamentals of Medical Assisting III35 hours
-
11MA 105 Mathematics35 hours
-
12MA 106 NHA Practice Certification Preparation and Review35 hours
-
13PD 100 Computer Applications35 hours
-
14PS 100 Professional Skills I35 hours
-
15PS 110 Professional Skills II35 hours
-
16PS 120 Professional Skills III35 hours
-
17MX 100 Externship160 hours
-
10MA 122 Fundamentals of Medical Assisting III35 hours
-
11MA 105 Mathematics35 hours
-
12MA 106 NHA Practice Certification Preparation and Review35 hours
-
13PD 100 Computer Applications35 hours
-
14PS 100 Professional Skills I35 hours
-
15PS 110 Professional Skills II35 hours
-
16PS 120 Professional Skills III35 hours
-
17MX 100 Externship160 hours
Get Program Details
Request your free program guide and get everything you need to take the first step.
Career Prospects
Next Start Dates
Tuition Costs
Funding Options
Free · No obligation · Takes 30 seconds
What Our Graduates Say
Bidwell gave me a good foundation and helped me succeed in my goals.
Embarking in a new career was a scary process for me but Bidwell gave me a good foundation and helped me succeed in my goals. I am very grateful for all the teachers and staff who helped me and my classmates became successful in finishing the program.
MQ
Minnie Quebral, Medical Assistant
Encouraged us daily to achieve our full potential.
The teachers at Bidwell Training Center encouraged us daily to achieve our full potential.
KC
Katrina Callen, Chemical Laboratory Technician
Throughout my time there, I was able to gain valuable hands-on experience...
I further developed essential skills, especially clinical work, patient interaction, or administrative tasks. The environment was both challenging and supportive, which allowed me to become more confident and comfortable in applying what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations.
SK
Savanna Klimek, Medical Assistant
Allowed me to achieve more.
I wanted to achieve more and Bidwell Training Center allowed me to do that.
VF
Vincent Falgione, Medical Coding
Bidwell turned learning something new into a career at a top chemical manufacturing company.
Bidwell has offered me the opportunity to learn something new, to take that something, and make it my own. I am now working at one of the best chemical manufacturing and supply companies in the world.
CT
Curtis E. Terry II, Chemical Laboratory Technician
Teaches everything you need to know — and inspires the drive to be successful.
Bidwell Training Center teaches everything you need to know in the field and inspires people to find the drive in themselves to be successful.
MB
Marcus Bland, Culinary Arts
75%
Ready?
Is a Career as a Medical Assistant Right for You?
Take Our Career Training Readiness Assessment
This fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style, plus the career paths you’re a fit for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bidwell Training Center's Medical Assistant program is designed to be completed in 7 months (28 weeks) on a full-time schedule, including 790 instructional hours of classroom instruction, hands-on lab training, and an externship. This structured timeline prepares students for entry-level medical assistant roles in Pittsburgh's healthcare system without years of traditional schooling.
Explore the CoursesThe curriculum covers taking vital signs, assisting with medical procedures, administering injections, performing lab tests, and specimen collection, along with electronic health records (EHR), medical documentation, insurance billing and coding, and professional communication. This combination prepares graduates for clinical and administrative responsibilities in medical offices and hospitals.
Get Program Details NowYes. Students complete hands-on lab training before applying their skills in a real healthcare setting through a 4-week externship, gaining supervised, on-the-job experience at locations such as physician offices, hospitals, or outpatient clinics.
Learn About Career ServicesBidwell Training Center's Medical Assistant program is tuition-free for eligible Pennsylvania residents with a high school diploma or equivalent. State-funded grants cover tuition, fees, uniforms, materials, and textbooks for accepted students.
Learn About No-Cost TuitionNo. The program is delivered in person, combining classroom instruction, hands-on lab training, and an externship to ensure students are fully prepared for employment in the healthcare field.
Schedule an Info SessionIs a Rewarding Career as a Medical Assistant Right For You?
If you’re interested in learning more about Medical Assistant careers and exploring whether Bidwell Training Center is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information from our friendly and knowledgeable Admissions team.
For immediate questions, call 412-402-9761
*For accepted Pennsylvania resident students, tuition, fees, uniforms, supplies, and textbooks are fully covered through state funding.