Medical Assisting

The Medical Assisting program consists of 1060 hours of instruction (56 quarter credit hours) and is available in two schedules. Both the Day and Evening sessions require ten months (40 weeks) for completion on the basis of approximately 24 hours of instruction per week. The first five modules of the program are independent, thus the sequence in which they are offered to students may vary.

This program is taught in a Blended format (didactic/lecture material on-line and hands-on skills on-campus). As part of their materials, students receive a device which is fully compatible with the Learning Management System (LMS) used in the distance learning portion of courses.

This program intensively covers both the administrative and clinical functions performed by medical assistants. Students will develop an understanding of anatomy and physiology, disease processes and prevention, medical terminology, billing and records management, and the skills involved in vital signs, charting, lab work and specimen collections, examinations, CPR and first aid. Emphasis is placed on day-to-day operational skills along with the personal, professional and customer service skills needed to be a contributing member of a medical practice.

The sixth module of the program provides credentialing exam review where students will prepare to successfully pass the national exam. The final term of the program consists of 300 hours of externship and 40 hours of Professional Readiness where students practice their skills in a commercial or non-profit medical setting. It may be necessary for day and evening medical assisting students to accomplish their externships at a facility operating on a schedule of only daytime hours. Externships are unpaid. Students should be aware that some Externship sites will require background checks, drug tests and/or updated immunizations, including COVID, all of which would be the student’s financial responsibility. Externship sites are generally within a sixty (60) mile radius of campus.

The Medical Assisting classrooms and labs are equipped with the same kinds of medical, diagnostic, and administrative office equipment currently in use in physician’s offices, hospitals, and clinics. Computer workstations, EKG machines, blood and urine analyzers, adult and child mannequins, centrifuges, phlebotomy equipment, autoclaves, and microscopes are used by the students. The learning environment is enhanced through a variety of anatomical charts, models, and skeletons.

The program is taught over six 5-week modules and one 10-week term.

If you really like helping others and you want a career that’s in demand, here are just a few reasons you should get your Medical Assisting training at Porter and Chester Institute:

Patient Care Skills. We’ll teach you the clinical skills you need to become an important member of a healthcare team. From taking patient histories and serving as patient-physician liaison to performing actual medical tests like blood draws, lab procedures and EKGs, you’ll learn what you need in order to provide direct patient care.

Healthcare Administration Skills. We’ll teach you the ins-and-outs of today’s busy healthcare settings. At Porter and Chester Institute, you’ll learn to keep electronic medical records, schedule patient appointments and procedures and process insurance claims.

Hands-on Training. In addition to online instruction, you’ll have lots of hands-on training where you’ll be using the same kinds of medical, diagnostic and administrative equipment used in actual hospitals and healthcare facilities. You’ll also participate in an externship where you’ll get real-world experience out in the field.

Hybrid Learning. In an effort to create a more flexible learning environment, certain courses in this program are taught via a combination of distance learning and regular “onsite” instruction. This “hybrid learning” delivery method allows you to learn information online, at your convenience, and then put those corresponding skills into practice on-campus in the lab. Note: Hybrid learning is not currently implemented at our New London campus.

Qualified Instructors. Our instructors are not only professionals in their field with years of experience; they’re also excellent educators who care about you as a person. They want you to reach your full potential and will do everything they can to help you succeed.

Job Outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for Medical Assistants are expected to grow by 16 percent through 2031. There are plenty of jobs out there and we’ll help you prepare for them! Our Career Services Advisors will work with you until you find the career opportunity that matches your newly acquired skills.

Soft Skills. It’s not just technical skills that get you employed –it’s all those soft skills that today’s employers say they really want to see. At Porter and Chester Institute, we’ll teach you about workplace professionalism and proper patient interaction. We’ll teach you what it means to be a good employee in a real world setting.

Prior to enrollment at the Institute, an applicant must have graduated from high school or have acquired a state high school equivalency diploma or graduated from a college degree program. Instruction is only offered in English, requiring proficiency in written and spoken English.

Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Students may begin classes in the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. Students are encouraged to make early application for admission, as some forms of financial aid give preference to early applicants; and whenever aid is limited, it is made available to the first applicants.

Students will need approximately 24 hours per week for on-line instruction, activities and simulations and for on-campus lab work, with an additional six hours per week for reading assignments and other homework activities. Campus lab hours are 9-1 and 6-10. Students taking either day or evening labs need to plan on 2 lab sessions per week, based on course needs, and an occasional Saturday lab from 8-2. Lab schedules will be distributed to students prior to the start of each term. Course materials, assignments, and homework are accessible in an asynchronous format 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week through the Learning Management System (LMS).

Classes in Blended Dental Assisting and Medical Assisting Program meet Monday-Thursday from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM or 6:00 PM-10:00 PM. Medical Assisting and Dental Assisting are typically scheduled over four (4) hours per day Monday-Wednesday, and students attend additional class online on Thursdays (9:00 AM-3:30 PM) for a total of 24 hours per week.

Upcoming class starts published in the catalog's Program and Term Schedule are January 11, 2027; March 22, 2027; May 31, 2027; August 16, 2027; October 25, 2027; January 17, 2028; and March 27, 2028. If, in the opinion of the Institute, there is insufficient enrollment to make the class start of a program session or section feasible, the Institute reserves the right to cancel that class.

Tuition is $5,069 per term for 4 terms, for total tuition of $20,276.

Program fees may include materials, laboratory, technology, and graduation expenses. These fees are applied at various points throughout the student’s training, depending on the specific requirements of the program. All applicable fees are disclosed in the student’s Enrollment Agreement and are included as part of the overall cost of attendance. The Materials Fee covers all books, devices, tools, instruments, uniforms, supplies, and other materials that the students will receive from PCI during the course of their attendance in their program. Even if costs increase, students will never pay more than the fee specified in their Enrollment Agreement.

There are no additional charges for programs delivered via Distance Education (Hybrid or fully Online). After deducting all anticipated educational funding from the total charges for each term, any balance due to the Institute must be paid by the student out-of-pocket prior to the start of each term. Or, the student may request a monthly payment plan. The first payment on a monthly payment plan is due prior to the start of the first term.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Federal Title IV programs available to qualified students include Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). PCI also participates in the Imagine America scholarship program and offers institutional grants and awards to specific student populations.

Veterans’ Benefits are not currently available for this program. All Porter and Chester Institute campuses are approved to train veterans and their qualified dependents who are eligible for Veterans Administration educational benefits.

FAFSA code: 010779 (all PCI campuses other than Hamden). Use the Porter and Chester Institute Net Price Calculator to estimate how much your total career training program will cost you.

Cost of Attendance (COA). For federal student aid purposes, postsecondary institutions must estimate a student’s total cost of attending the institution for a specified period of time, as established by law. The COA includes tuition and fees; room and board (or an allowance for housing and food); an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and dependent care (if applicable); disability related expenses, and some miscellaneous expenses as well. Below is Porter and Chester’s estimate of a student’s cost of attendance, including estimated living expenses.

• Tuition and Fees: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)
• Books and Equipment: Included in the Student Services Fee (student living with parents); Included in the Student Services Fee (student with dependents)
• Room and Board: $906/month (student living with parents); $1576/month (student with dependents)
• Personal Expenses: $231/month (student living with parents); $353/month (student with dependents)
• Transportation: $348/month (student living with parents); $348/month (student with dependents)
• Loan Fees (other): $25/month (student living with parents); $25/month (student with dependents)
• Disability Costs: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)

Graduates receive a diploma in Medical Assisting and will have sufficient knowledge and skills for entry-level employment as a medical assistant in medical offices, hospitals, clinics and other allied health environments.

Licensing and certification. There is currently no license or certification requirement for entry-level employment or practice in CT, MA or PA. Certain industry-recognized certifications can enhance employability or may be required by the employer. PCI graduates are able to sit for a credentialing exam; the Certified Clinical Assistant (CCMA) administered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) as part of their program. The first attempt is covered in the cost of the program.

Graduation and employment rates. From the 2025 ACCSC annual report, for the 1/2023-12/2023 start cohort at this campus, Medical Assisting reported a graduation rate of 55% and an employment rate of 72% (starting population 65, graduate population 36).

How these rates are calculated. Porter and Chester Institute calculates a Graduation Rate and an Employment Rate for each program using formulas specified by our accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The graduation rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period as the denominator, and as the numerator uses the number of students from that group who graduated within 150% of the program length. The employment rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period and proceeded to graduate as the denominator. Those of the cohort whose self-reported employment in their field of training, or a related field has been verified by the school, form the numerator. The rate is calculated for the cohort after 150% of the program length has elapsed for all students in the cohort, with an additional three month allowance for placement related activities.

Graduation rate for the student body. The graduation rate for first-time full-time students who began their studies at Porter Chester Institute in Fall 2019 (310 students) and graduated within 150% of their program length (178 students) is 57.4%.

Where graduates work. Waterbury campus graduates are working at employers such as Bristol Health Medical Group, DOCS Urgent Care, Hartford Healthcare, Trinity Health of New England.

The Waterbury campus consists of approximately 62,500 square feet of space. All classrooms are air-conditioned, brightly illuminated and tiled or carpeted. There are approximately 300 parking spaces on the premises. Each curriculum division operates its own reference library which contains appropriate resource materials and multimedia. All student workstations are equipped with the same kinds of tools, equipment, and instrumentation in current use by advanced industrial and commercial firms.

Students attending distance education courses in either a hybrid or fully online program may receive their online, didactic instruction from faculty assigned to various campuses and may be in online classes with students from other campuses. Weekly lesson planning among faculty ensures that all students in hybrid courses receive online didactic instruction that aligns with their on campus, hands-on labs and that each student is adequately supported.

Each term, each campus holds a mandatory online or on-campus New Student Orientation, specifically for the incoming student body. Key staff are on hand to share important information.