Ready for a career in healthcare? Summer course just for NRHA residents!
Continuing Education
Why ODU for Certified Medical Assistant?
Our Certified Medical Assistant Program prepares you for a rewarding career in healthcare in just five months - and we have a summer 2025 course being offered exclusively for residents of the Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority. It provides a strong foundation in clinical skills and patient care, combining online coursework with hands-on clinical experience.
You will gain expertise in essential healthcare practices while preparing for three nationally recognized certifications: Clinical Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician.
ODU can also help you gain real-world experience through supervised clinical training, ensuring you are workforce-ready.
When you complete the program, you will be prepared to sit for National Healthcareer Association exams and begin your career in one of the nation’s fastest-growing fields.
Program Information
Students interested in the certified medical assistant program:
- Must pass a Criminal Background Check (completed by ODU School of Continuing Education)
- Must pass a Drug Screen (completed by student at your choice of locations)
- Attend Mandatory Orientation (date will be given once we have received your application)
- Student must be 18+ years of age (or 17 and a senior in high school or high school graduate)
- Transcript from High School, GED Program or College
- Copies of any current professional license, or certification (as it pertains to CMA or nursing)
- 1 Letter of recommendation from a professional source
- Copy of current immunization records to include: *Hepatitis B (3 shot series as a child or 2 shot series as adult), *PPD 2 Step within the past 60 days, *Varicella (2 shot series vaccine), *MMR (2 shot series vaccine), *Dtap (vaccine), *Influenza vaccine or declination form, and *COVID19 vaccine (2 shot series).
*Medical and religious exemptions are the discretion of the clinical facility.
Start your healthcare career in just five months with our Certified Medical Assistant Program. Enroll today and prepare for three in-demand certifications.
Summer 2025
Mandatory Orientation: TBD
Class Dates: TBD
Externship Dates: TBD
Asynchronous for class times. Set your own hours.
Access course materials 100% online and study from any location. This program is fully asynchronous, allowing you to set your own schedule and progress at your own pace.
An externship is required to complete your certification. These may be in-person or online depending on your assigned location.
Students interested in the certified medical assistant program:
- Must pass a Criminal Background Check (completed by ODU School of Continuing Education)
- Must pass a Drug Screen (completed by student at your choice of locations)
- Attend Mandatory Orientation (date will be given once we have received your application)
- Student must be 18+ years of age (or 17 and a senior in high school or high school graduate)
- Transcript from High School, GED Program or College
- Copies of any current professional license, or certification (as it pertains to CMA or nursing)
- 1 Letter of recommendation from a professional source
- Copy of current immunization records to include: *Hepatitis B (3 shot series as a child or 2 shot series as adult), *PPD 2 Step within the past 60 days, *Varicella (2 shot series vaccine), *MMR (2 shot series vaccine), *Dtap (vaccine), *Influenza vaccine or declination form, and *COVID19 vaccine (2 shot series).
*Medical and religious exemptions are the discretion of the clinical facility.
Start your healthcare career in just five months with our Certified Medical Assistant Program. Enroll today and prepare for three in-demand certifications.
Summer 2025
Mandatory Orientation: TBD
Class Dates: TBD
Externship Dates: TBD
Asynchronous for class times. Set your own hours.
Access course materials 100% online and study from any location. This program is fully asynchronous, allowing you to set your own schedule and progress at your own pace.
An externship is required to complete your certification. These may be in-person or online depending on your assigned location.
ODU offers a 16-week program in the comfort of your own home at whatever hour of the day you choose. During those 16 weeks, you will learn how to become a Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, and a Phlebotomist. Yes, that's 3 different certifications.
Laurel Pope
MSN, RN, Lead CMA Instructor
Program Certifications
Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative duties and assist a variety of providers including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. You will learn how to complete common duties of a medical assistant include administrative and clinical tasks like:
- Checking patients in and out upon arrival and departure
- Answering phone calls and questions
- Assisting providers with exams and procedures
- Administering injections or medications
- Working in the electronic health record (EHR)
- Performing EKG, phlebotomy, and laboratory procedures
- Taking patient vital signs
As an EKG Technician you may perform some or all of the following tasks:
- Set up and administer EKGs (electrocardiograms) and stress tests
- Prepare patients for Holter or ambulatory monitoring
- Edit and deliver final test results to physicians for analysis
- Schedule appointments
- Transcribe physicians' interpretations
As a Phlebotomy Technician, you may perform some or all of the following tasks:
- Draw blood from patients and blood donors
- Evaluate patients' ability to withstand procedure
- Explain blood-drawing procedure to patients and answer questions
- Perform basic point of care testing, such as blood glucose levels
- Prepare blood, urine, and other specimens for testing
- Verify patient/donor identity
- Maintain medical equipment such as needles, test tubes and blood vials
Cost & Aid
Calculating Cost
$4999
Continuing Education can accept payments for courses in several different forms. ODU's helpful staff can assist you in determining if you might qualify for any number of various funding options that could assist you with non-credit continuing educational opportunities to improve your marketability and advance your career.
Includes Workbook, Class Materials, Credential Exams, and Externship Support
Payment plan available: $1,550 down, with monthly payment plan no longer than 5 months. Contact our office for details.
Refund Policy
To withdraw from this course, you must send a request in writing to cepd@odu.edu seven days prior to the class start date and before starting the course. Failure to attend a course does not constitute withdrawal. Course registration fees, less a $100 processing fee, will be refunded back to your original form of payment. There are no refunds once you have logged in and the class has begun.
Careers in Certified Medical Assisting
Our graduates pursue careers as medical assistants, clinical assistants, patient coordinators, and healthcare administrative specialists, supporting doctors and nurses with both clinical and administrative tasks.
Patient Representatives
Growth
7.0%
Median Salary
$47,470
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Growth
5.4%
Median Salary
$40,640
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
Growth
5.6%
Median Salary
$44,490
Contact Continuing Education