Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person who wants to help people, a career as a medical assistant can be a good fit for you.
This profession requires both clerical and clinical skills, and before being ready to apply for your first job in the field, you have to complete a diploma, degree, or certificate program at a trade school or community college.
Florida offers plenty of training options and most programs take less than one year to complete.
To help you choose the one that best fits your needs, on this page we have compiled information about the best medical schools in the region.
After reading our list you will have an idea about what to expect in terms of cost, curriculum, and duration, among other factors.
However, before deciding where to enroll we encourage you to continue the research and make sure the program you choose meets all your requirements.
1Medical Institute of Palm Beach
About the School
Medical Institute of Palm Beach helps students achieve their professional dreams in nine months or less.
Day and night classes are available to fit students’ schedules.
The Medical Institute of Palm Beach is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program available at the Medical Institute of Palm Beach can be completed in nine months and leads to a Diploma.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students for employment as Nationally Certified Medical Assistants in hospitals, EKG units, blood banks, medical labs, urgent care clinics, emergency rooms, and other healthcare settings.
Students enrolled in the Medical Assistant program take classes on:
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Office Management
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Procedures
- Laboratory Procedures
- Word Processing and Business English
- Clinical Externship
In total, the program includes 900 hours.
Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider certification is also required.
Tuition is $15,250, while the registration fee is $50.
Tuition includes books, uniforms, and certification fees.
To qualify for admission, students need a high school diploma or GED.
Contact Information
- Address: 5821-B Lake Worth Rd, Greenacres, Fl 33463
- Phone: 561 -964 -5148
- Website: https://www.medicalinstitutepb.edu
2Florida Health Care Academy
About the School
Florida Health Care Academy offers medical career training for future Medical Assistants, Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, Phlebotomists, and Electrocardiograph Aides.
The school is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education- License.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program trains students on the clinical side of medical assisting, including:
- Measuring a patient’s height, weight, and vital signs
- Recording patients’ medical history
- Preparing exam rooms
- Organizing and disinfecting medical instruments
- Phlebotomy work
- Giving injections
- And more
Tuition for the Medical Assistant program is $6,550.
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- A valid Photo ID
- Make a tuition deposit at the moment of enrollment
Students can take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam at the schools’ facilities accredited by the National Healthcare Association.
Contact Information
- Address: 5804 Lake Underhill RD. Suite B, Orlando, FL 32807
- Phone: (407) 275-5880
- Website: https://fhcaorlando.com
3Hollywood Career Institute
About the School
Hollywood Career Institute offers certification and healthcare training in Hollywood, Florida.
The school has state-of-the-art training classrooms and courses are taught by instructors with experience in their field of expertise.
Payment plans and flexible schedules are available to accommodate students’ lifestyles and budgets.
Weekday, evening, and weekend classes are available to match different student schedules.
Hollywood Career Institute is affiliated with different organizations, such as National Health Career Association, National Testing for EKG/Phlebotomy, and Prometric.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the Hollywood Career Institute:
- Home Health Aide
- Patient Care Technician
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
The school also provides courses such as:
- NCLEX Review LPN/RN
- Behavioral Health Technician
- Med Tech- Four-hour Medication Assistance Certification- initial training and two-hour Medication Assistance Certification Renewal
- Certified Nursing Assistant Test Prep
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1617 S 21st Avenue, Hollywood, FL 33020
- Phone: 954-866-3220
- Website: https://www.hollywoodcareerinstitute.com
4FVI School of Nursing and Technology
About the School
FVI School of Nursing and Technology offers Associate Degree and Diploma programs that prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry.
The school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The school’s catalog includes a Medical Assistant Program that combines instructor-led live online classes and safe on-campus practices.
The program is available in Miami and Miramar.
Students learn how to:
- Prepare patients for physical examinations and minor surgeries
- Collect blood specimens
- Perform specialized medical tests
- Record pharmacological data
The program also covers reception, booking appointments, records management, insurance billing, and other office management tasks.
Students can choose between on-campus day classes, on-campus evening classes, or live online classes via Synchronous Learning.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam and the Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant exam.
Full-time students can typically complete this certificate and diploma program within nine months.
Contact Information
- Address: 7757 West Flagler Street, Suite 220, Miami, Florida 33144
- Phone: 786.574.3350
- Website: https://fvi.edu
5I.T. of Central Florida Vocational School
About the School
Intensive Training of Central Florida Vocational School provides student-centered education in the healthcare field.
Students prepare for careers as Certified Medical Assistants, Billing, and Coding Specialists, Home Health Aides, and other allied health fields.
The training programs are intensive and prepare students for entry-level employment as safe and competent healthcare providers.
Courses Offered
The school’s catalog includes a Medical Assistant program that focuses on providing a good foundation in basic medical assisting knowledge and skills, critical thinking, as well as personal qualities.
The curriculum includes 1060 hours focused on administrative, clinical, and interpersonal skills needed for success in the medical assisting field.
After completing the program students are ready to take the national exam for Clinical Certified Medical Assistant.
Students take classes in Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology and Disease Process, Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health Care, basic Pharmacology concepts, as well as Medical Office Procedures.
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma or GED
Contact Information
- Address: 5462 Hoffner Ave Suite 501, Orlando, Florida 32812
- Phone: (407) 658-0043
- Website: https://www.itofcentralfl.com
6The Lighthouse Medical Academy
About the School
The Lighthouse Medical Academy offers training programs for students who want to begin careers in the fields of medical assisting, phlebotomy, home health aide, and EKG.
The school is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education.
Courses Offered
The Academy provides a Medical Assistant program designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as medical assistants in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
The Medical Assisting training focuses on developing skills such as:
- Appointment scheduling, billing, telephone skills, transcription, computer applications, and other administrative skills
- EKG, blood draws, injections, vital signs, patient exam preparation, assisting physicians, and other clinical skills
- Lab procedures
- 120 hours of unpaid practicum
After completing the program, graduates are ready for careers in physicians’ offices and hospitals.
Those interested can contact the enrollment staff through the school’s website.
Contact Information
- Address: 1501 E. Altamonte Dr. Suite 2039, Casselberry, FL 32730
- Phone: 321-512-2794
- Website: https://thelihma.com
7Fortis Institute
About the School
Fortis Institute offers training programs for students who want to become nurses, medical assistants, dental assistants, or HVAC-R technicians.
The programs are available at the institute’s St. Lucie campus.
Courses Offered
The institute’s catalog includes Medical Assisting and Medical Assisting with Basic X-Ray Operation programs.
The Medical Assisting program teaches skills in office administration, computer, and clinical areas.
This program includes 780 contact hours that can be completed in 36 instructional weeks.
Students take classes in:
- Introduction to Health Professions
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Anatomy and Physiology
- Laboratory Procedures and Techniques
- Invasive Clinical Procedures
- Medical Office Procedures
- Electronic Health Records
- And many other topics
In addition to basic medical assisting skills, the Medical Assisting with Basic X-Ray Operation program also prepares students who can complete X-ray procedures that are typically performed in a doctor’s office or walk-in medical clinic.
This program includes 1020 contact hours that are completed in 48 instructional weeks.
To qualify for admission, applicants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent.
A personal interview with the admission staff also takes place.
During the interview, students receive help in finding the program that fits their skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 9022 South US Highway 1, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
- Phone: (772) 221-9799
- Website: https://www.fortis.edu
8QM Career Institute
About the School
QM Career Institute offers accredited and licensed short-term courses in the healthcare and beauty fields.
The institute is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education and licensed by the Commission for Independent Education from the Florida Department of Education.
Courses Offered
The institute provides a Medical Assistant program designed to prepare students in all the relevant aspects of this profession.
The curriculum covers reception, booking appointments, records management, informatics, insurance billing, and other medical office management skills, as well as preparing patients for physical exams and minor surgeries, performing urinalysis and other specialized tests, phlebotomy, EKG, and additional clinical skills.
Graduates are ready to work in entry-level positions in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical practices.
Prospective students must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 17 years of age
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Those who don’t have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent, must pass the Wonderlic Ability to Benefit exam with a minimum score of 12.
Contact Information
- Address: 4645 Gun Club Rd. West Palm Beach, FL 33415
- Phone: (561) 305-2635
- Website: https://qmcinstitute.edu
9Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology
About the School
Located just minutes north of Orlando, the Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology campus houses a 10,700-square-foot facility equipped with technology labs, classrooms, staff offices, and more.
In the technology labs, students get to work with many of the latest healthcare devices and equipment.
The school provides clinical and externship programs in partnership with many of the leading medical facilities in the area.
The college also has campuses in Miami and Delray Beach.
Courses Offered
A Medical Assistant Diploma program is available at the college.
This program can be completed in 36 weeks and prepares students for the Medical Assistant certification exam, as well as the Basic X-Ray Operator certification exam.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Medical Office Procedures
- Financial and Insurance Office
- Anatomy/ Physiology/ Related Diseases
- Electrocardiography
- Phlebotomy
- Clinical Procedures
- Medical Assisting Externship
- And many other topics
Contact Information
- Address: 460 E Altamonte Dr, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
- Phone: (407) 265-8383
- Website: https://www.cambridgehealth.edu
10Florida Health Institute
About the School
Florida Health Institute uses an applied teaching approach and hands-on training to prepare students for gainful employment in their field of choice.
Degree and non-degree programs are available as well as continuing education courses.
Courses Offered
A Medical Assistant Diploma program is available at the school and can be completed in less than 11 months.
In total the program includes 1328 hours of instruction structured as follows:
- 788 hours of theory
- 360 lab hours
- 180 hours of externship
This program costs $10,600 in total and includes tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
Students are trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, including:
- Use of computer applications
- Answering telephones
- Greeting patients
- Updating and filing patient medical records
- Coding and filling out insurance forms
- Scheduling appointments
- Taking medical histories
- Explaining treatment procedures
- Preparing patients for exams
- Performing basic lab tests
- Instructing patients about medication and special diets
- Drawing blood
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5460 N State Rd 7, Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33319
- Phone: 800-780-5092
- Website: https://fhi-edu.com
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 2,290 | $41,370 | $19.89 | $48,090 | $35,640 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 570 | $39,060 | $18.78 | $45,930 | $33,410 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 1,310 | $37,600 | $18.08 | $45,180 | $30,730 |
| Gainesville, FL | 740 | $39,190 | $18.84 | $51,420 | $30,790 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 320 | $37,340 | $17.95 | $44,780 | $29,900 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 4,790 | $41,080 | $19.75 | $47,520 | $35,670 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 1,510 | $37,670 | $18.11 | $44,150 | $31,730 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 15,190 | $41,830 | $20.11 | $48,290 | $35,160 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 950 | $42,880 | $20.61 | $49,260 | $37,480 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 2,380 | $42,600 | $20.48 | $47,570 | $36,200 |
| Ocala, FL | 930 | $37,350 | $17.96 | $45,260 | $31,310 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 6,670 | $40,210 | $19.33 | $46,990 | $31,730 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1,220 | $39,460 | $18.97 | $46,820 | $28,080 |
| Panama City, FL | 530 | $37,840 | $18.19 | $44,850 | $32,650 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 1,070 | $37,610 | $18.08 | $44,180 | $31,890 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1,390 | $40,740 | $19.59 | $47,870 | $34,990 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 560 | $41,550 | $19.98 | $48,950 | $35,730 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 360 | $40,630 | $19.53 | $48,950 | $34,960 |
| Sebring, FL | 280 | $37,050 | $17.81 | $44,140 | $31,090 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 1,140 | $36,870 | $17.73 | $43,270 | $31,080 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 8,870 | $40,200 | $19.33 | $47,100 | $35,360 |
| The Villages, FL | 410 | $38,570 | $18.54 | $46,380 | $32,350 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the best medical assistant schools in Florida, the next step is to decide where to enroll.
This is an important step so make sure you have information about all the factors that are relevant to you before sending in the application form.
