Clinical experience: to CCMA or not to CCMA?

Hi there! I have a question about medical assisting as a non traditional post grad premed who works full time in finance! Sorry for the buzzword salad lol.

I plan to apply to a formal post bacc program Fall 2027 (2028 entrance) and I have no clinical experience. I will be volunteering at a hospice unit starting in the next couple of months, but am interested in MA work to get more hands-on patient care experience to help with application and also determine if healthcare is really a field I want to dedicate my entire life to. I’m currently in NC in a city that doesn’t have many healthcare teaching programs/requires certification for almost every MA position listed online, so I think I have two options:

An ed2go online certification in medical assisting (hosted through several public universities). The program itself isn’t accredited (the universities are) but it seems to be eligible for NHA certification after completion.

- Can start right away

- Kinda pricy (not worried tooooo abt this if it’s worthwhile)

- Would have NHA certification which increases access to per diem work in my area (I don’t really care about hours or pay I just can only do weekends)

Medical assisting one semester certificate at nearby community college in the fall:

- Not Certification eligible

- Have to wait until fall (I want to start asap)

- Would have in-person labs (good for hands on)

TLDR: trying to figure out how to get into per diem medical assisting postgrad while working full time: online NOW with certification or in person LATER without certification, or neither!

Thank you!!!!!