How Much Does Stepful Medical Assistant Cost?

Our data shows total tuition for the Stepful Medical Assistant program runs between $1,799 and $2,399 (≈4 weeks of continuous work at $15/hour) in 2025, with every core course, exam, and career service rolled into a single flat fee. Knowing the exact price—and how payment structure, aid, or seasonal deals adjust the bill—helps future medical assistants judge value before they enroll.

Article Insights

• Stepful tuition sits between $1,799 and $2,399 (≈4 weeks of continuous work at $15/hour).
• Bi-weekly payments total $1,993 (≈3.3 weeks of your working life at $15/hour); monthly loan hits $2,051 (≈3.4 weeks of salary time at $15/hour) after fees.
• MyCAA knocks tuition to near $0 for military spouses.
• All plans include NHA exam, live classes, and career coaching.
• Retake of the NHA costs $155 (≈1.3 days of continuous work at a $15/hour job) if needed.
• Graduates earn $35k (≈2.3 hours of uninterrupted labor at $15/hour)–$47k (≈3.1 hours of uninterrupted labor at $15/hour), recouping tuition inside eight weeks.
• Early-bird or holiday promos trim $100 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job)–$300 (≈2.5 days of labor continuously at a $15/hour wage) from the sticker.

How Much Does Stepful Medical Assistant Cost?

Stepful medical assistant tuition cost starts from approximately $1,800 (≈3 weeks of continuous work at $15/hour) up to $2,400 (≈4 weeks of salary time at $15/hour).

We gathered current catalog figures, student invoices, and advisor emails. Stepful lists three bracketed program totals:

The sticker covers live classes, practice exam attempts, NHA certification test voucher, career-change curriculum, and lifetime access to recorded sessions. MyCAA (military spouse) funding applies up to $2,000 (≈3.3 weeks trading your time for $15/hour), effectively dropping tuition to $0 – $399 (≈3.3 days working every waking hour at $15/hour) for eligible learners. Need-based scholarships range $200 (≈1.7 days working without days off at $15/hour)–$500 (≈4.2 days of your career at $15/hour) off the top.

According to Dreambound, Stepful’s tuition is $1,449 (≈2.4 weeks working every single day at $15/hour), which places it slightly higher than some competitors like the US Career Institute but well below the average cost of many other medical assistant programs. This price is confirmed by multiple student reports, including a Reddit thread where several students state they paid $1,500 (≈2.5 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour) for the program, with referral discounts available that can reduce the cost by $300 (≈2.5 days of labor continuously at a $15/hour wage) for new enrollees.

Stepful’s program is 100% online, takes about four months to complete, and prepares students for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. The cost covers the coursework, job interview preparation, resume services, and 1:1 support, but students are responsible for purchasing their own basic medical equipment (such as a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, which can be bought for around $20 (≈1.3 hours of your life traded for $15/hour) on Amazon) [Reddit]. The program also includes in-person clinical hours, which Stepful helps coordinate locally for students who are available during standard weekday hours Stepful.

While the program cost is generally fixed, Stepful notes that scholarships and flexible payment plans are available to help offset tuition. However, the CCMA certification exam fee itself (about $155 (≈1.3 days of continuous work at a $15/hour job)) is not included in the tuition and must be paid separately after program completion.

Stepful Medical Assistants

We found Stepful positions itself as an online, accelerated training platform built to move students from zero experience to certified medical assistant in 16 weeks. The program blends daily live Zoom classes with interactive labs, one-on-one coaching, and externships at partner clinics. Demand for entry-level healthcare staff keeps climbing, so many learners look for a faster, cheaper route than two-year community-college diplomas.

Cost clarity matters. Prospects compare tuition cost against wages that start near $17–$23 per hour and wish to avoid ballooning debt. This guide maps every money point—headline numbers, hidden fees, scholarship impact, and long-term payback—so readers can choose with confidence.

Real-Life Cost Examples

Bi-weekly Plan Maria, a pharmacy cashier in Tampa, paid the $59 deposit, then eight $249 installments. Her total outlay reached $1,993. She landed a hospital assistant role three weeks after graduating, recouping tuition in her first two paychecks.

Loan Plan with Scholarship Devon, an Army spouse in El Paso, secured a $500 Stepful grant and used the 12-month loan. Monthly auto-drafts of $124 (after discount) totaled $1,987 (give or take a few dollars). MyCAA later reimbursed $1,800, leaving Dev personally responsible for $187.

Pay in Full Kali, a daycare aide in Chicago, chose the up-front route at $1,799 during a back-to-school promo that waived the deposit. She reported zero surprise fees and free retake of a failed module quiz.

Cost Breakdown

Instruction & Platform Access – $1,200: Live class sessions, interactive simulations, and mobile LMS with unlimited replays.

Certification Prep – $250: NHA exam prep portal, mock quizzes, and flashcard deck. The first official test attempt (list price $155) is included.

Career Support – $200: Personalized resume rebuild, interview coaching, and employer outreach. Graduates keep coach access for one year.

Externship Coordination – $150: Stepful blankets malpractice insurance and arranges 80 clinical hours.

Technology & Admin – $0: No separate textbook or software license. Students only need stable internet and a webcam; a few buy a $25 stethoscope and scrubs for practice.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Scholarships & Aid – Stepful awards needs-based grants each cohort. Average reduction: $300. MyCAA slices as high as $2,000.

Payment Plan – Paying in full knocks off service fees. Spreading payments adds $194–$252 in administrative costs but avoids upfront strain.

Promotional Timing – Holiday codes or nurse-week sales shave $100–$200. Early-bird enrollment often pairs with deposit waivers.

Location – Tuition is flat nationwide; only sales tax in New Jersey (where Stepful is registered) may add $54 for residents.

Alternative Products or Services

Community College Certificates last nine to twelve months and charge $4,000–$7,000, plus lab fees and textbooks ($400). Students gain campus labs yet juggle rigid schedules.

Trade Schools like Pima Medical run $14,000+ with federal loan eligibility and longer clinical rotations.

Self-paced MOOCs cost $800–$1,200 but lack live instructor time and externships, raising the risk of low certification pass rates.

Stepful’s niche sits between low-cost DIY and high-tuition brick-and-mortar—offering accelerated pacing without hollowing wallets.

Ways to Spend Less

Apply before cohort caps. Early registrants often receive an automatic $100 tuition coupon.

Referral program: each friend enrollment credits $150 toward your remaining balance or future upskilling courses.

Choose up-front payment to bypass plan fees. Students who self-fund save $252 over the loan route.

Active-duty and veteran spouses tap MyCAA for near-full coverage; Stepful counselors file documentation at no charge.

Expert Insights & Tips

• Liang Caro-Mkandawire, CMA, Stepful Instructor: “Attend every Zoom Consistent hands-on practice drops NHA retake probability below five percent—saving a $155 fee.”
• Aurelia Kwon-Djuric, Clinic Hiring Manager: “We hire Stepful grads because the externship hours mirror our charting system. That readiness shortens onboarding by two weeks, a cost benefit to both sides.”
• Sariah Odutayo-Fischer, Career Coach: “Complete your digital study guide twice, then sit the official practice test. Students who skip mocks face a 30-point average score dip and risk extra tuition for retakes.”

Total Costs

Students avoid hidden campus charges—no parking permit, no paper textbook bundle. Over four months, online study trims commuting fuel ($200) and childcare ($400) compared with on-site colleges.

With median starting pay of $38,000, graduates regain tuition in roughly eight weeks. Community-college graduates, even at the same salary, break even after nine months due to larger debt.

Stepful alumni gain permanent LMS access, side-stepping later continuing-education micro-purchase fees common to other platforms.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Failing the NHA exam triggers a $155 retake. Pass rates sit at 92 %; still, budgeting for one retake is prudent.

Late payment on installment plans incurs an $18 charge per missed cycle.

Refunds disappear once a student completes 25 % of modules; dropping after that eats most of the tuition—read the policy line-by-line.

Financing & Payment Options

Bi-weekly Plan – Eight automated pulls of $249 after a $59 deposit total $1,993.

Monthly Loan – Twelve installments of $166 plus deposit reach $2,051; no credit check yet a soft pull appears on reports.

Pay Up Front – $1,799 – $2,399 depending on promo code; pay by debit, credit, or ACH.

All methods carry a 14-day money-back window if students feel mis-matched with the course.

ROI & Career Outcomes

Stepful reports 86 % job placement within eight weeks. Alumni hold roles in outpatient clinics, hospitals, and telehealth centers.

Entry wages run $17–$23 per hour; annualized $35,000–$47,000. Two months’ salary offsets even the high-end $2,399 tuition.

Many graduates ladder into LPN or RN programs using on-the-job tuition benefits, making Stepful a low-risk healthcare starting point.

Seasonal & Promotional Timing Factors

Spring enrollment drives (April) attach $150 scholarships for the first 50 seats.

Labor-Day codes slash $200 off up-front tuition and reduce the deposit to $29.

Black Friday sees the deepest cut—historically $300 off all plans—though spots sell out within 48 hours.

Answers to Common Questions

What is the exact tuition range for Stepful’s Medical Assistant program? Full price spans $1,799 to $2,399, determined by current promotions and chosen payment plan.

Does Stepful accept FAFSA or Pell Grants? No. Federal Title IV funding is unavailable, but MyCAA, scholarships, and zero-interest plans soften the cost.

Are payment plans interest-free? Yes. Both bi-weekly and monthly schedules add only a small administrative fee, not interest.

Is the national certification exam included? One NHA exam attempt comes prepaid in tuition; a retake costs $155.

Will I need extra materials or textbooks? No. All study content resides in the online portal, and live instructors supply clinical supply lists using common household items.