Everything is bigger in Texas, including career opportunities. As the second largest state in the country, Texas is home to nearly 25 million people. The healthcare industry in Texas has experienced tremendous growth over the last five years, and this trend is expected to continue for several years to come.
Students in Texas can pursue medical assistant training through accredited programs that offer professional certificates and associate’s degrees.
Students that need financial assistance to pay for training can look to programs such as the Tuition Equalization Grant and the Texas Public Educational Grant.
The Medical Assisting Employment Environment in Texas
Texas is ranked second in the country in terms of employment in the field of medical assisting, and is in the upper-middle range for medical assistant salaries, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The average salary for medical assistants in the state is $27,860, but salaries can be significantly higher for those with formal training, work experience, and professional certification. As such, it is vital that students choose a quality program and sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants Certified Medical Assistant examination.
The Future of Medical Assisting in Texas
The job market within the healthcare industry in Texas is strong, and is expected to get even stronger over the next decade. This will create numerous medical assistant job openings, as well as result in increased salaries as employers find themselves competing for the most qualified employees.
If you are thinking of becoming a medical assistant in Texas, you can look forward to a very promising career with a lucrative salary.
List of Medical Assistant Schools in Texas
College of Health Care Professions
- Program Link: Medical Assistant certificate program; Medical Assistant associate’s degree
- Description: The College of Health Care Professions has campuses in several locations across Texas and offers medical assistant training at the certificate or associate’s degree level. The school was founded by physicians to provide a highly skilled workforce for the healthcare industry. Students who choose this school can attend classes during day or evening hours and may be able to take some classes online. In addition, medical assistant students have the opportunity to practice skills in controlled clinical settings before entering the externship assignment.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate; Associate of Applied Science
- Average Program Length: certificate – less than one year; degree – two years
- Tuition: certificate – $17,400
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: The College of Health Care Professions is designated as a military friendly school.
Concorde Career College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: At Concorde’s campuses in Dallas, Arlington, and San Antonio, students can complete medical assistant training in less than a year and at an affordable price. Students at Concorde have access to state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and technology and get a chance to refine skills through an externship experience before graduation. The program includes both clinical and administrative skills and prepares students to sit for national credentialing examinations.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: 9 months
- Tuition: $16,875
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 69%
- Fun Fact: Concorde Career Institute provides students with hands-on experience with industry standard equipment.
Pima Medical Institute
- Program Link: Medical Assistant certificate program
- Description: Pima Medical Institute’s campus in Houston offers students a medical assistant certificate program that can be completed in less than one year. Students who attend this program will receive clinical and administrative training, allowing them to work as general medical assistants in the front office area or in direct patient care in a variety of healthcare facilities. Upon graduation from this program, students are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination offered through the American Association of Medical Assistants.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: 9 months
- Tuition: $11,959
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 73%
- Fun Fact: PMI has been in business since 1972 and now includes thirteen campuses in seven states.
Cisco College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: Cisco College offers certificates in clinical, administrative, and general medical assisting as well as an associate’s degree in medical assisting. Students who choose Cisco can get exactly the education they need in order to meet their personal career goals at an affordable price. Cisco College provides students with full student support services, groups and organizations, and a variety of activities to provide a rich, full student experience. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination offered by the AAMA.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate; associate’s degree
- Average Program Length: certificate – less than one year; degree; two years
- Tuition: certificate – $3,296; degree – $125/credit hour
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: certificate – 40%; degree – not available
- Fun Fact: Cisco College was started in 1909 to provide an affordable education to Texas students.
Richland College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting program
- Description: Richland College in Dallas offers a medical assistant certificate program that can be completed in one year of full-time study during either day or evening hours. The program provides clinical and administrative training as well as hands-on externship experience in a real-world healthcare facility. The school was named recipient of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in 2005 and is the only community college to ever receive the award.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: one year
- Tuition: $4,019
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Richland students can complete medical assistant training during day or evening hours.