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Need Clinical Hours for Med School? Here’s the Fastest & Most Affordable Way to Get Certified

  • Writer: Elnaz Sarabchian
    Elnaz Sarabchian
  • Aug 5
  • 3 min read

Updated: Aug 7

If you're a pre-med student, you're likely juggling a demanding academic load, MCAT prep, extracurriculars, and the constant pressure to build a strong med school application.

And if you've already started looking into how to get clinical experience, you've probably realized it's not as easy (or affordable) as it sounds.

The solution? Become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) — fully online, self-paced, and done in as little as 2–3 months through Clinical Skills Institute (CSI).

Online Medical Assistant Externship

Why Clinical Experience Is No Longer Optional

Medical schools don’t just want strong GPA and MCAT scores anymore — they expect to see meaningful clinical hours. That means hands-on experience where you interact with patients, assist medical teams, and gain insight into the healthcare field.

However, shadowing physicians often isn’t enough — and getting a hospital job without a certification is tough.

That’s why more and more pre-meds are getting MA certified to:


✅ Gain direct patient care hours

✅ Work in clinics or urgent care centers

✅ Strengthen their medical school applications

✅ Learn the clinical workflow from the inside


The Fastest Path to Clinical Hours: Clinical Skills Institute

Clinical Skills Institute (CSI) offers a 100% online, self-paced Medical Assistant certification program designed to help pre-meds get certified and start gaining clinical hours fast.


Here’s what makes it ideal:


✅ 1. 100% Online & Flexible

You can study anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re in school, working, or prepping for the MCAT, the program adapts to your schedule.


✅ 2. Affordable Tuition – Just $810

No $5,000+ price tags. CSI offers the full program — including the NHA CCMA exam, practice tests, and externship support — for only $810 total. Payment plans start at just $150/month.


✅ 3. NHA Accredited

You’ll graduate with a nationally recognized certification from the National Healthcareer Association — accepted by clinics, hospitals, and urgent care centers across the U.S.


✅ 4. Externship Support Near Your Zip Code

Once you pass the program, CSI helps match you with a real externship opportunity near you.


✅ 5. Med School Mentorship Included

CSI provides optional Zoom mentorship with real physicians and surgery residents who offer guidance on:


  • Personal statements

  • AMCAS applications

  • Gap year planning

  • Research opportunities


What You'll Learn in the Program

As a Clinical Medical Assistant student, you’ll learn:

  • Medical terminology and anatomy

  • How to take vital signs

  • How to assist in clinical procedures

  • HIPAA and patient safety

  • Admin skills like EHR, scheduling, and insurance

  • NHA exam prep strategies

By the end, you’ll be ready to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam and gain meaningful clinical experience before med school.


How Long Does It Take?

Most students complete the program in 2–3 months, take the NHA exam, and begin their externship shortly after.

You can work through the course faster if you already have some knowledge (many pre-meds fly through anatomy and medical terminology sections).


Real Student Testimonial

“I finished the CSI MA program in 8 weeks while studying for the MCAT. They helped me land an externship at Mayo Clinic and I even got mentorship from a surgery resident. This program gave me real experience — and helped me stand out on my med school apps.”– A. Shah, Jacksonville, FL

Is It Right for You?

If you’re a pre-med student who wants:

✅ Real clinical hours

✅ A nationally recognized healthcare certification

✅ Flexible, affordable training

✅ Application support from actual doctors

✅ To strengthen your resume before med school

Then Clinical Skills Institute is the best next step.


👉 Ready to Get Certified?

You can enroll today and start building your medical career now — before you even get to med school.

🔗 Click here to enroll now 📞 Questions? Call us at 1-888-596-2131


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