Why Medical Students and College Students Should Consider Becoming a Medical Assistant
- Elnaz Sarabchian
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
If you’re a medical student, pre-med, nursing student, or a college student interested in healthcare, becoming a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) can give you a powerful advantage. Not only does it provide valuable clinical experience, but it also helps you earn income, build professional connections, and strengthen your application for medical or graduate school.
At Clinical Skills Institute (CSI), our NHA-accredited Medical Assistant program is designed to be affordable, flexible, and career-focused — perfect for students who want to get certified quickly while continuing their academic journey.

1. Gain Hands-On Clinical Experience
Medical schools, PA programs, and even graduate nursing programs highly value applicants with direct patient care experience. As a Certified Medical Assistant, you’ll:
Work alongside physicians, nurses, and healthcare teams.
Perform vital signs, injections, specimen collection, and EKGs.
Assist in procedures and learn clinical workflows.
This experience goes far beyond shadowing and shows admissions committees that you can thrive in a real healthcare setting.
2. Earn While You Learn
Unlike unpaid volunteering, Medical Assistant positions are paid roles. Many students work part-time as MAs during college, earning $17–$25/hour, while gaining experience that doubles as résumé-building clinical exposure.
3. Build Your Professional Network
Working as a Medical Assistant means working directly with physicians, PAs, and nurse practitioners who can become mentors and recommendation letter writers for your future applications.
4. Stand Out on Medical School Applications
Admissions officers look for students who are:
Passionate about patient care.
Experienced in real healthcare settings.
Able to balance academics with responsibility.
Having CCMA certification and actual work experience gives you a competitive edge over students who only have classroom or volunteer exposure.
5. Why Choose CSI’s Program?
Our program was designed with students in mind:
Affordable tuition: $900 when paid in full (exam included).
Flexible online format: Study at your own pace while in school.
Fast completion: Finish in as little as 3 months.
Externship support: Gain short-term experience at clinics and urgent care centers.
NHA-accredited: Your certification is nationally recognized.
6. How to Get Started
Enroll online today with Clinical Skills Institute.
Complete your training while continuing college courses.
Pass the NHA CCMA exam — we provide practice tests and pay for your first attempt.
Start working in healthcare while finishing your degree.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a medical or college student looking to gain clinical experience, earn money, and strengthen your healthcare career path, becoming a Certified Medical Assistant is one of the smartest steps you can take.
Comments