Top 25 Medical Assistant Schools In Texas (2026)

Texas offers a comprehensive and well-regulated landscape for medical assistant education, with programs accredited by bodies like the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). These programs prepare students for national certification exams like the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), which are crucial for career advancement.

With job growth projected at 22% and a median hourly wage of $19 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, medical assisting offers a stable and rewarding career path. Programs range from fast-track certificates to more comprehensive associate degrees, with costs varying widely from approximately $1,700 at community colleges to over $8,000 at private institutions .

Top 25 Medical Assistant Schools In Texas

1. Dallas College – El Centro Campus (Dallas)

Dallas College offers one of the few CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting programs for college credit in North Texas, a key marker of quality. The program is a 12-month certificate, beginning with an online first semester and progressing to intensive, hands-on clinical training. Students complete a 160-hour internship at local physician’s offices or clinics and train in a state-of-the-art health sciences center that features teaching labs simulating surgical and hospital settings. Tuition for Dallas County residents is approximately $4,678 to $7,478.

2. Houston Community College (Houston)

Houston Community College offers a Medical Assisting Level 2 Certificate that is CAAHEP-accredited, ensuring the program meets national educational standards. HCC’s Coleman College for Health Sciences is known for its strong employer network in the Houston medical community, which can be a major advantage in the job market. The program is available at the Coleman College campus and prepares students to take the CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) certification exams. Tuition ranges from $5,171 to $8,319 for the 12-month program.

3. The College of Health Care Professions (Multiple Locations)

The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) is a major provider of medical assistant education in Texas, with ABHES-accredited certificate programs at multiple campuses across the state. Locations include Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Houston, McAllen, and San Antonio. In a recent year, the CHCP network graduated over 800 medical assistant students, making it one of the largest producers in the state. The program is designed to be career-focused, with strong emphasis on practical, hands-on skills needed for immediate employment.

4. San Jacinto Community College (Houston)

San Jacinto Community College in Houston offers a comprehensive 3-semester medical assistant program that places a strong emphasis on real-world experience. The 39-credit course includes a mandatory 240-hour unpaid externship at well-established healthcare facilities in the Houston area, providing vital hands-on experience. In a recent year, 77 students graduated from the program, demonstrating its capacity to train a large number of professionals. The curriculum covers medical terminology, clerical procedures, human anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical procedures.

5. Collin College (McKinney)

Collin College is a price leader in the North Texas area, offering a CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Advanced Practice Certificate for a very competitive in-district tuition rate. The program is designed for students who can commit to a full-time, cohort-based schedule. In a recent year, 63 students graduated, with the majority earning certificates, and the program offers a pathway to pursue CMA (AAMA) certification. The hybrid format combines online coursework with on-campus lab work.

6. Tarrant County College (Fort Worth)

Tarrant County College provides a strong value option in the Fort Worth area, with a Medical Assistant Certificate program that keeps total costs low while maintaining an accredited externship pathway. The program is recommended for students who can attend full-time and want to avoid the higher tuition of private career schools. Tuition is estimated between $2,960 and $4,500 for the 10-month program, and the college graduated 25 students with certificates in a recent year.

7. San Antonio College (San Antonio)

San Antonio College offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Medical Assisting, which is a longer but more comprehensive credential compared to certificate-only options. This structure can be beneficial for students seeking a fuller college credential and may lead to higher earning potential. Tuition is estimated at $3,273 to $6,000 for the 2-year program. In a recent year, 11 students graduated from the program.

8. Texas Woman’s University (Dallas)

Texas Woman’s University offers a Medical Assistant Hybrid Program for rapid career entry, with no prior experience required and certification preparation included. The program is part of TWU’s workforce training initiative, designed for new students, working adults, and career changers. It requires a 20-week part-time commitment, with tuition at $4,500 for the hybrid format, which combines online and in-person instruction at the Dallas campus.

9. Blinn College (Bryan)

Blinn College offers one of the most affordable entry points to medical assisting in Texas, with tuition of just $1,700 for its 200-hour training program. The program leads to examination for certification by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and is conducted at the Blinn Post Office Campus in Bryan. It includes both administrative and clinical training, covering duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, drawing blood, and taking vital signs.

10. Amarillo College (Amarillo)

Amarillo College offers two medical assisting programs, including a 28-semester-hour option that focuses on general education and core clinical skills. Historically, the college has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, with 100% of students in its first class passing their certification exams. In a recent year, the college graduated 16 students with certificates and 5 with associate degrees . The program is designed to prepare students for the national certification exam and includes both general education and specialized medical assisting coursework.

11. South Texas College (McAllen)

South Texas College offers 3 Medical/Clinical Assistant degree programs, providing flexibility for students in the Rio Grande Valley. In a recent year, 55 students graduated from the program, with the majority earning Certificates . The college offers both certificate and associate degree options, catering to students with different career goals and timelines.

12. Del Mar College (Corpus Christi)

Del Mar College offers a medical assisting program on its Corpus Christi campus, graduating 19 students in a recent year with certificates . The college provides accessible medical assistant education to students in the Coastal Bend region, offering a valuable entry point into the healthcare field.

13. Laredo College (Laredo)

Laredo College offers 2 Medical/Clinical Assistant degree programs, with 16 students graduating in a recent year with a mix of certificates and associate degrees . The college serves the Laredo and South Texas region, providing both certificate and associate degree pathways for aspiring medical assistants.

14. College of the Mainland (Texas City)

College of the Mainland offers 2 Medical/Clinical Assistant degree programs, graduating 22 students in a recent year with a mix of certificates and associate degrees . The college provides accessible healthcare training for students in the Texas City and Galveston County area.

15. Galveston College (Galveston)

Galveston College offers a medical assisting program, graduating 5 students with Certificates in a recent year . Located on the Gulf Coast, the college provides accessible medical assistant education to the Galveston community.

16. Vista College (El Paso)

Vista College in El Paso offers both a 50-week diploma program and an 80-week associate degree track for medical assisting. The associate degree includes additional electives in specialties like cardiology, oncology, or gynecology. The program is designed to provide hands-on training and theory-based classes to prepare students for entry-level positions in the medical assisting field.

17. Southwest University at El Paso (El Paso)

Southwest University has been offering medical assisting education since 2004 and offers a rigorous certificate program consisting of a 60-credit curriculum. The 910-hour coursework includes 375 hours of classroom instruction, 345 hours of lab work, and a 190-hour clinical externship. In a recent year, 4 students graduated with Certificates from this program.

18. Concorde Career College (Multiple Locations)

Concorde Career College offers an 8-month comprehensive medical assistant program at its Dallas, Grand Prairie, and San Antonio campuses that combines classroom instruction with online coursework . The program covers front and back office procedures, anatomy, pathology, medical terminology, and phlebotomy. Students learn to take patient vitals, optimize patient flow, and prepare patients for examinations, providing a strong foundation for entry-level positions. In a recent year, the Grand Prairie campus graduated 234 students, the Dallas campus graduated 192, and the San Antonio campus graduated 142.

19. Hallmark University (San Antonio)

Hallmark University offers medical assisting programs in San Antonio, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 24:1 and an enrollment of 836 students . The private institution provides career-focused education in a supportive learning environment.

20. Western Technical College (El Paso)

Western Technical College offers medical assisting programs in El Paso, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1 and an enrollment of 611 students . The school provides accessible healthcare training for students in West Texas.

21. Pima Medical Institute (Houston, El Paso, San Antonio)

Pima Medical Institute offers medical assisting programs at its Houston, El Paso, and San Antonio campuses, with graduates prepared for the NCCT Medical Assistant exam as well as the CMA (AAMA) exam. The programs are ABHES accredited and include clinical externships. In a recent year, the Houston campus graduated 261 students, the El Paso campus graduated 146, and the San Antonio campus graduated 44.

22. Fortis Institute (Houston)

Fortis Institute in Houston offers medical assistant programs with a student-to-teacher ratio of 37:1 and an enrollment of 332 students . The private institution provides career-focused healthcare training for students in the Houston area.

23. Miller-Motte College-STVT (Multiple Locations)

Miller-Motte College-STVT offers medical assistant programs at its McAllen, Corpus Christi, and Arlington campuses . In a recent year, the McAllen campus graduated 94 students, the Corpus Christi campus graduated 68, and the Arlington campus was also active . The programs offer accelerated career training in medical assisting.

24. Southern Careers Institute (Multiple Locations)

Southern Careers Institute offers medical assistant programs at multiple locations across Texas. In a recent year, campuses in Pharr (161 graduates), Corpus Christi (125), Harlingen (109), Brownsville (104), San Antonio (100), Waco (90), and Austin (47) graduated students. The programs provide career-focused training for entry-level medical assisting positions.

25. CyberTex Institute of Technology (Austin)

CyberTex Institute of Technology in Austin offers a medical assistant certificate program that graduated 127 students in a recent year. The school provides accessible career training for students in the Austin area seeking entry into the healthcare field.

Comparison Table

Success Tips for Choosing a Medical Assistant School

Start by verifying that the program is accredited by a recognized body like CAAHEP or ABHES, as this is often a prerequisite for certification exams like the CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT).

Consider your budget and timeline; community colleges like Blinn College offer programs for as little as $1,700, while private institutions may cost more but offer faster completion times .

Evaluate the program format; if you need flexibility, look for hybrid options like the one at Dallas College, where the first semester is online.

Pay close attention to the clinical externship component, as this provides vital real-world experience; programs like San Jacinto College require a 240-hour externship.

Finally, be aware of the licensure implications of any prior criminal history, as some programs may be affected by Texas House Bill 1508.

Closing

Texas provides a comprehensive and diverse medical assistant education landscape, with options ranging from the most affordable programs at Blinn College to the career-focused and accredited programs at Dallas College and Houston Community College. The state’s strong job market, projected to grow by 22% in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, makes this career path particularly attractive.

When choosing a program, prioritize proper accreditation and clinical training opportunities to ensure you are well-prepared for certification exams and a rewarding career in healthcare . Note that all information, including tuition and program details, is subject to change, so it is essential to verify current details directly with each school.