Clinical Skills Institute vs ACT vs Stepful – Which Online MA Program Is Best in 2025?

Elnaz Sarabchian
Jul 2
2 min read

Why Clinical Skills Institute Beats ACT and Stepful in 2025

If you’re looking to become a certified Medical Assistant, you’ve probably come across three popular online programs:

Clinical Skills Institute (CSI)
Advanced eClinical Training (ACT)
Stepful

All three offer NHA-accredited CCMA pathways. But only one gives you the same certification, job readiness, and support — for a fraction of the cost.

Let’s compare the numbers.

💵 Program Cost Comparison (2025)

Program	Total Cost 💰	NHA Exam Fee	Format	Completion Time	Payment Plan
Clinical Skills Institute	✅ $900	✅ Included ($165)	100% Online, Self-Paced	3–4 Months	✅ $100 to start
ACT	❌ $4,500	✅ Included	100% Online, Self-Paced	8–12 Weeks	✅ Available
Stepful	⚠️ $2,200	✅ Included	Online w/ Live Cohorts	4 Months	✅ Available

💡 Why Students Are Choosing Clinical Skills Institute

✅ 1. The Most Affordable Program — by FAR

CSI: $900
Stepful: $2,200
ACT: $4,500

That means CSI costs 80% less than ACT and over $1,000 less than Stepful, with no corners cut.

✅ 2. Start Anytime. Study on Your Time.

Unlike Stepful, which requires you to join a live cohort, CSI lets you start immediately and move at your own pace.

You can finish in as little as 3 months — or take up to 12 months if life gets busy.

✅ 3. Exam Fee Included — No Surprise Costs

Our $900 tuition includes:

📘 NHA CCMA exam fee ($165 value)
🧪 Practice tests & full curriculum
💼 Resume help + job board access
📆 Lifetime course access

Other programs may advertise “all-inclusive” — but CSI means it.

✅ 4. Optional Externship — Not Mandatory

CSI offers an optional externship, matched by ZIP code.Stepful requires externship completion, which can delay your certification if clinic placement is slow. ACT’s externship is virtual only.