The Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (GACTC) Medical Assistant diploma program offers a comprehensive blend of theory coursework and simulation and clinical experiences, including an 8-week externship at a medical facility. An exciting change is coming to our Medical Assistant diploma program; beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the duration of the program has reduced to 9 months (1,140 hours). Our comprehensive and rigorous career program provides training in all essential competencies and duties of a medical assistant through simulation, hands-on learning, and theory coursework. We’ll continue to offer both the in-person and hybrid/online formats of this program for 2025-2026.

Medical assistants work alongside physicians, primarily in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics.  As integral members of the healthcare team, medical Assistants interact directly with both providers and patients, with the primary goal of delivering quality healthcare and ensuring patient safety.  Medical assistants can perform both administrative and clinical duties, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 14% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

The GACTC is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 cohorts of the Medical Assistant diploma program, which include the in-person (starts in September 2025) and hybrid/online (starts in January 2026) programs. The schedule for the in-person program is 8 am to 4 pm, Mondays through Thursdays, and for the hybrid/online program, in-person class sessions are held at the GACTC on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 – 8:30 pm. For more information about the Medical Assistant program, or to apply, please visit www.gactc.edu or call (814) 941-8324.