MARIA COLLEGE INTRODUCES MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE TO MEET HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE DEMAND
Program Among the Inaugural Offerings from the College’s Institute for Continuing and Professional Education
Albany, N.Y. (August 12, 2025) — With the U.S. healthcare system facing a shortage of qualified frontline workers, Maria College will launch a new Medical Assistant Certificate Program this fall.
The certificate, recently approved by the New York State Education Department, is among the inaugural programs offered through Maria College’s new Institute for Continuing and Professional Education. Combining classroom instruction with clinical experience, it prepares students to support doctors and nurses by teaching essential skills such as managing patient records and insurance, billing and coding, hospital admissions and referrals, taking vital signs and medical histories, collecting lab specimens (including phlebotomy), performing electrocardiograms (ECGs), assisting with medical procedures, and preparing patients for exams across various healthcare settings.
“This certificate reflects Maria College’s commitment to practical, purpose-driven education,” said Dr. Lynn Ortale, president of Maria College. “By aligning with healthcare workforce needs, it lays the foundation for our new Institute for Continuing and Professional Education and opens pathways for students to begin or grow their careers. We continue to live by our founder Catherine McAuley’s belief that education is the foundation of true success.”
Offered in a weekend format, the certificate can be completed in nine months and is designed to accommodate working adults and career changers. Students receive clinical training in local healthcare settings and are eligible to sit for national certification upon completion. Graduates also have the option to continue their education at Maria through advanced placement into the Practical Nurse Certificate Program via the PNC 199 bridge course.
“We designed this program to help students step confidently into entry-level healthcare roles,” said Dr. Wendy Trevor, who oversaw the certificate’s development and approval. “Whether they’re supporting clinical staff or managing front-office operations, students will gain real-world experience that prepares them for immediate impact.”
Students may be eligible for Caring Gene® funding, a New York state initiative that supports those pursuing high-demand careers in healthcare. Employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 15 percent by 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. In the Albany area, salaries range from $41,000 to more than $54,000 annually for certified, experienced professionals.
A second program, the Sterile Processing Certificate, is scheduled to begin in the spring. Both certificate programs are part of a larger expansion at Maria College, which recently received state approval for five new programs, including an associate degree in Radiologic Technology and Surgical Technology.
Applications for the Medical Assistant Certificate Program are now open. For more information, visit https://mariacollege.edu/medical-assistant-and-medical-office-assistant-technologies or call (518) 438-3111.
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About Maria College
Founded in 1958, Maria College is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves approximately 800 students in a variety of associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree and certificate programs, including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, public health, and health and occupational sciences. Learn more at MariaCollege.edu.