Florida has a particularly high demand for medical professionals because of the tourists that pass through here. The state is heavily populated, and many of the permanent residents here are approaching retirement. This means that the medical community is yearning for more workers to help them out. You could do that if you become a medical assistant. The information below will show you what medical assistant schools in Florida may do for you.
Florida Medical Assistant Schools at a Glance
Most medical assistant students attend college so they can earn an associate of science in medical assistance. This degree takes one to two years to complete, depending on the school. There are two accreditation boards that review these schools: the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the Accreditation Bureau of Health Education Schools. If you want the best education you can get, look for accreditation from one of those schools.
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Once you have completed your education, you will want to complete a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam from the National Healthcare Association or a similar organization in Florida. Having a certification is not a requirement for becoming a medical assistant, but it increases your chances of getting hired. There are a lot of current and aspiring medical assistants in FL, so you need to have as much authority as possible when applying for a job.
To learn more about this exam and the organization behind it, contact the Florida State Society of Medical Assistants through their website or Facebook page.
Medical Assistant Jobs in Florida
Florida has a staggering 38,080 medical assistants working within its borders, mainly to keep up with the heavy tourist population along its coastline. The average medical assistant in Florida earns $13.75 an hour, which is less than what you might expect for a state with a high standard of living. Ocala, Florida is the metropolitan area with the highest concentration of medical assistants in the country, averaging 11.52 medical assistants per 1,000 jobs. There are new job openings all the time in FL.
Top Medical Assistant Schools in Florida
- Location: Daytona Beach
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $7,342
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
Hodges University
- Location: Naples
- Programs: Associate’s
- Tuition*: $32,186
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Location: Lake Worth
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $6,749
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
Central Florida Institute
- Location: Orlando and Tampa Bay
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $13,950
- Accreditation: CAAHEP, ABHES
- Location: Pensacola
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $6,945
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
