Medical Assistant Training in Florida – Schools, Programs and Other Education Options
With 10,000 baby boomers entering the Medicare age of 65 every day, the U.S. 65+ population, now comprising 15% of all Americans, is projected to double over the next decade. This rapidly aging group holds great promise for those entering the medical field at practically any level (specialist doctors, general physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and other).[Leer en español]
Earning your diploma is a great first career step that embarks you into this vastly promising medical field. Medical assistants are critical to the effective functioning of most medical centers, whether in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and wherever else people go for their health needs.
Florida State Requirements
There is a distinction in Florida between “medical assistant” and “certified medical assistant”.
Medical assistants: For medical assistants, the State of Florida does not have any specific licensing or certification requirements, other than being aware of the regulations of the Florida Board of Medicine. The Board empowers licensed health care providers, at their discretion, to train employees, either through a formal study program, or by way of hands-on training, or both. The licensed health practitioner can however require that the medical assistant they hire be certified.
Certified medical assistants: While the State of Florida does not have any certification requirements, you can obtain a certificate through one of these two certifying institutions, both accredited by the Florida Board of Medicine:
- You can get a national certification as a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) by American Medical technologists (AMT). AMT provides a list of study requirements that lead to the exam you must pass to obtain your certification.
- Or you can also get nationally certified as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). They require that you first graduate from an accredited medical assisting program (CAAHEP1 or ABHES2), then sit for their exam.
Job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for medical assistants in 2016 the U.S. was $15.17 per hour, or $31,540 per year, with a typical entry-level education of post-secondary vocational. For the entire country, the demand for assistants is estimated to grow by 23% over the period 2014 to 2024.
There were 42,409 medical assistants in Florida in 2015, estimated to grow by 10,842 by 2023, for a total of 53,251. This represents a growth rate of 25.6% for those years.
Salaries for Medical Assistants in Florida
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), salary ranges for 2016 were as follows:
Florida’s overall mean hourly wage = $14.94 (this compares with $17.61 in California, $14.56 in Texas, and $17.08 in New York). The corresponding mean annual wage for Florida is $31,080.
The Florida annual mean entry-level wage (lowest 10%) is $10.76 ($22,380 on an annual basis). This goes up to a mean hourly wage of $12.7 for the first 25% ($26,420 on an annual basis).
The Florida annual median hourly wage for the first 25% is $14.59, increasing to $17.24 for the first 75% ($30,340 annually), and to $19.19 for the first 90% ($39,920 annually). The top 10% can naturally earn more.
Florida entry-level (First 10%) wages break down into the following sample of regions:
- Tallahassee: hourly mean wage of $10.49 ($21,830 annually)
- Tampa-St Petersburg- Clearwater: hourly mean wage of $10.94 ($22,750 annually)
- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: hourly mean wage of $13.94 ($28,990 annually)
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: hourly mean wage of $11.00 ($22,890 annually)
- Panama City: hourly mean wage of $10.00 ($20,800 annually)
Salaries by Metropolitan Area in DC
Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 1,250 | $15.03 | $31,270 |
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 210 | $12.50 | $26,000 |
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 860 | $15.12 | $31,440 |
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, FL Metropolitan Division | 4,080 | $14.66 | $30,500 |
Gainesville, FL | 560 | $12.98 | $27,000 |
Jacksonville, FL | 2,940 | $13.41 | $27,880 |
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 810 | $12.73 | $26,480 |
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL Metropolitan Division | 4,760 | $12.71 | $26,430 |
Naples-Marco Island, FL | 500 | $16.93 | $35,210 |
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 1,100 | $15.45 | $32,130 |
Ocala, FL | 1,030 | $12.74 | $26,490 |
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 4,890 | $13.79 | $28,690 |
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1,630 | $12.93 | $26,900 |
Palm Coast, FL | 80 | $12.31 | $25,610 |
Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach, FL | 260 | $12.53 | $26,060 |
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 1,010 | $12.17 | $25,320 |
Port St. Lucie, FL | 610 | $14.20 | $29,540 |
Punta Gorda, FL | 320 | $12.99 | $27,030 |
Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 170 | $15.22 | $31,660 |
Tallahassee, FL | 630 | $13.55 | $28,190 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 6,390 | $13.71 | $28,520 |
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Metropolitan Division | 2,440 | $15.55 | $32,350 |
Well-Known Schools in Florida
The first thing to do is pick from the list we provide those schools that are close to you and research them carefully. Generally, a one-year diploma at a vocational school costs $1,200-$4,000+, depending on each program. The same can cost $2,500-$10,000 for an associate’s degree at a community college. In view of these disparities, you will need to contact the school of your choice and ask about tuition costs and other expenses. Here though is a description of what a few typical schools offer:
Milan Institute, Bakersfield: Located on 2822 F Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301 (888- 207-9460), and with other campuses in Fresno, Merced, Palm Desert, and Visalia, this institute offers a one-year (full-time) diploma, or a two-year (full-time) Medical assistant Associate Degree, considered a stepping stone to a Bachelor’s degree. This institute is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Concord Career Institute-Tampa: Located at 4202 W Spruce, Tampa, Florida 33607 (813-874-0094), this school offers an accelerated 8-month medical assistant diploma program that includes courses in scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining medical records, performing CPR and first aid, administering injections, and assisting physicians with examinations and treatments. Various scholarships are also available for those who qualify, and they are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Fortis College Online Programs: Fortis College is well known for its fully online as well as hybrid career courses that are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Fortis offers a Medical Assisting Associate Degree course that can be taken in flexible schedules to suit your other activities. They may be reached at 1-855-436-7847 or viewed at https://www.fortis.edu/
Florida State College-Jacksonville: A substantial college with over 150 different programs and campuses in various locations in Florida, FSCJ is located at 501 W State Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202 (904-633-8100). This college offers a Medical Assisting Workforce Certificate (W.C.) that qualified you to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant exam following which you become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Employment Options
Employment options are plentiful in Florida. To cite just the one example of the Orlando area, there are numerous hospitals, specialized doctors’ offices and other medical centers to which you could apply. Here are but a few:
- Orlando Regional Medical Center
- United Health Group
- Mid Florida Dermatology
- University of Central Florida
- Orlando Health
- Florida Hospital Orlando
- Florida Hospital East Orlando
- Kindred Hospice
- Alternative Home Health Agency
- East Orlando Health and Rehab Center
References
1 CAAHEP refers to Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
2 ABHES refers to Accredited Bureau of Health Education Schools
Popular Schools
College Listings
College | Address | Program Information |
---|---|---|
Southern Technical College | 1685 Medical Lane Fort Myers Florida 33907 | Associate Program Tuition: $14,940 Program Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Daytona College | 425 South Nova Road Ormond Beach Florida 32174 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $13,331 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Daytona State College | 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach Florida 32114 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $3,112, Out-of-State $12,001 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Atlantic Technical College | 4700 Coconut Creek Parkway Coconut Creek Florida 33063 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,565 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Broward College | 111 East Las Olas Blvd Fort Lauderdale Florida 33301 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,753, Out-of-State $8,875 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
City College-Fort Lauderdale | 2000 W. Commercial Boulevard Fort Lauderdale Florida 33309 | Associate Program Tuition: $13,098 |
Concorde Career Institute-Miramar | 10933 Marks Way Miramar Florida 33025 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,990 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Florida Career College | 7891 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines Florida 33024 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $15,240 |
Florida Career College-Lauderdale Lakes | 3383 North State Road 7 Lauderdale Lakes Florida 33319 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $15,240 |
Florida Career College-Margate | 3271 N. State Road 7 Margate Florida 33063 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $19,350 |
Fortis Institute-Fort Lauderdale | 4850 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Lauderdale Lakes Florida 33313 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | 1500 NW 49th St. Fort Lauderdale Florida 33309 | Associate Program Tuition: $18,368 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges Program Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Sheridan Technical College | 5400 Sheridan St Hollywood Florida 33021 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,209 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
William T McFatter Technical College | 6500 Nova Drive Davie Florida 33317 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,209 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
City College-Gainesville | 7001 N.W. 4th Blvd. Gainesville Florida 32607 | Associate Program Tuition: $13,098 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | 7259 Salisbury Road Jacksonville Florida 32256 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $40,060 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
First Coast Technical College | 2980 Collins Ave Saint Augustine Florida 32084 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $5,856 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Florida Career College-Jacksonville | 6600 Youngerman Circle Jacksonville Florida 32244 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $15,240 |
Florida State College at Jacksonville | 501 W State St Jacksonville Florida 32202 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,878, Out-of-State $9,992 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Fortis College-Orange Park | 700 Blanding Blvd. Suite 16 Orange Park Florida 32065 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,709 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Southeastern College-Jacksonville | 6700 Southpoint Parkway Jacksonville Florida 32216 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $17,584 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
City College-Miami | 9300 S Dadeland Blvd. Miami Florida 33156 | Associate Program Tuition: $13,098 |
College of Business and Technology-Cutler Bay | 19151 South Dixie Hwy # 205 Cutler Bay Florida 33157 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $13,052 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
College of Business and Technology-Flagler | 8230 W Flagler St. Miami Florida 33144 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $13,052 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
College of Business and Technology-Miami Gardens | 5190 NW 167 Street Miami Gardens Florida 33014 | Associate Program Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: $13,052 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Compu-Med Vocational Careers Corp | 2900 W 12th Ave 3rd Fl #28 Hialeah Florida 33012 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $7,300 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Florida Career College-Hialeah | 3750 West 18 Avenue Hialeah Florida 33012 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $19,350 |
Florida Career College-Kendall | 11731 Mills Drive Miami Florida 33183 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $15,240 |
Florida Career College-Miami | 1321 SW 107 Ave Ste 201B Miami Florida 33174 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $19,350 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Florida Education Institute | 5818 SW 8th St Miami Florida 33144 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $16,350 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Florida International Training Institute | 9300 Northwest 25th Street - Suite 207 Doral Florida 33172 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $7,200 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training |
Florida National University-Main Campus | 4425 West. Jose Regueiro (20th) Avenue Hialeah Florida 33012 | Associate Program Tuition: $13,250 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Florida Vocational Institute | 7757 West Flagler Suite 220 Miami Florida 33144 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,885 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Fortis College-Cutler Bay | 19600 S Dixie Highway Suite B Cutler Bay Florida 33157 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Miami Dade College | 300 NE 2nd Avenue Miami Florida 33132 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,834, Out-of-State $9,661 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College | 5780 NW 158th St Miami Lakes Florida 33014 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $2,250 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
New Professions Technical Institute | 4000 W. Flagler St. Miami Florida 33134 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,895 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training |
Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical College | 18180 SW 122nd Ave Miami Florida 33177 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $3,927 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
South Florida Institute of Technology | 720 NW 27th Avenue Miami Florida 33125 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $7,550 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Yechanlaz Instituto Vocacional | 6617 SW 8th Street Miami Florida 33144 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $3,665 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Lorenzo Walker Technical College | 3702 Estey Avenue Naples Florida 34104 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,916 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Manatee Technical College | 6305 State Rd 70 East Bradenton Florida 34203 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,566 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Meridian College | 7020 Professional Pkwy E Sarasota Florida 34240 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $16,900 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Marion Technical College | 1014 SW 7th Rd Ocala Florida 34471 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,032 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Rasmussen College-Florida | 4755 Southwest 46th Court Ocala Florida 34474 | Associate Program Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: $9,360 Institutional Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission |
American College for Medical Careers | 5959 Lake Ellenor Lake Orlando Florida 32809 | Associate Program Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: $28,050 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
City College-Altamonte Springs | 177 Montgomery Road Altamonte Springs Florida 32714 | Associate Program Tuition: $13,098 |
Concorde Career Institute-Orlando | 3444 McCrory Place Orlando Florida 32803 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $15,430 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Florida Career College-Orlando | 989 North Semoran Boulevard Orlando Florida 32807 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,332 |
Florida Technical College | 12900 Challenger Parkway Orlando Florida 32826 | Associate Program Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: $17,439 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Lake Technical College | 2001 Kurt Street Eustis Florida 32726 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,707 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Gwinnett Institute-Orlando Campus | 2000 N. Alafaya Trail Orlando Florida 32826 | <1 year Certificate Program Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Orange Technical College-Winter Park Campus | 901 Webster Ave Winter Park Florida 32789 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $4,556 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Southern Technical College | 1485 Florida Mall Avenue Orlando Florida 32809 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $34,290 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools |
Technical Education Center-Osceola | 501 Simpson Rd Kissimmee Florida 34744 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $3,900 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Eastern Florida State College | 1519 Clearlake Rd Cocoa Florida 32922 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,496, Out-of-State $9,739 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Flagler Technical Institute | 5400 E. Highway 100 Palm Coast Florida 32164 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $1,059 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Fortis Institute-Pensacola | 4081 E Olive Rd Ste B Pensacola Florida 32514 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,437 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Pensacola School of Massage Therapy & Health Careers | 2409 Creighton Rd Pensacola Florida 32504 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $11,500 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Pensacola State College | 1000 College Blvd Pensacola Florida 32504 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,704, Out-of-State $10,875 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Fortis Institute-Port Saint Lucie | 9022 South US Highway 1 Port Saint Lucie Florida 34952 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,662 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Indian River State College | 3209 Virginia Ave Fort Pierce Florida 34981 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,764, Out-of-State $10,201 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
South Florida State College | 600 W College Dr Avon Park Florida 33825 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $3,165, Out-of-State $11,859 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Lively Technical Center | 500 N Appleyard Dr Tallahassee Florida 32304 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $5,987 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
ATA Career Education | 7351 Spring Hill Drive Spring Hill Florida 34606 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $12,625 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | 4202 W Spruce Tampa Florida 33607 | <1 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,790 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Erwin Technical College | 2010 E. Hillsborough Avenue Tampa Florida 33610 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $3,903 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education Program Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |
Alterius Career College-Tampa | 3319 W Hillsborough Ave Tampa Florida 33614 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: $12,879 |
Florida Career College-Tampa | 9950 Princess Palm Avenue Suite 100 Tampa Florida 33619 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $14,332 |
Florida Career College-Boynton Beach | 1749 North Congress Avenue Boynton Beach Florida 33426 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $15,208 |
Florida Career College-West Palm Beach | 6058 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach Florida 33417 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $19,350 |
Medical Institute of Palm Beach | 5821B Lake Worth Rd Greenacres Florida 33463 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Tuition: $17,000 Institutional Accreditation: Council on Occupational Education |
Palm Beach State College | 4200 Congress Ave Lake Worth Florida 33461 | Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition: In-State $2,444, Out-of-State $8,732 Institutional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges |
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | 2801 Vista Parkway West Palm Beach Florida 33411 | 1 to <2 year Certificate Program Associate Program Tuition: $18,288 Institutional Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges Program Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools |