Palm Beach State College (PBSC), a public state college, offers two CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting programs at its Lake Worth and Loxahatchee Groves campuses:
- Medical Assisting Specialist College Credit Certificate (44 credits)
- Medical Assisting Advanced Associate in Science (65 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Specialist CCC | ~$6,500 (est.) | 15 months | 44 |
| Medical Assisting Advanced AS | ~$9,600 (published) | 2 years | 65 |
PBSC publishes an all-in estimate of about $9,600 for the AS, including tuition, books, and uniform, for Florida residents. The certificate estimate applies the same all-in cost per credit (about $148) to its 44 credits. Durations are PBSC’s stated full-time lengths.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public state college (Florida College System) |
| Campuses | Lake Worth and Loxahatchee Groves |
| Format | Hybrid; about 75% of the core curriculum is online or hybrid |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation, since 2001 (reaccredited 2023) |
| Institutional accreditation | SACSCOC |
| Exams named | CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA), CPT (NHA) |
| Clinical training | 173 hours in the externship course |
| Start terms | Fall and spring |
| Exam pass rate | 84.44%, five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
Medical Assisting Specialist CCC
The certificate costs an estimated $6,500 for Florida residents and takes 15 months full time, starting in fall or spring. See the official program page.
CCC Curriculum
Structure. The 44 credits run across four terms. Students take college-level anatomy and physiology alongside the medical assisting core.
- BSC2085/L and BSC2086/L Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 with labs: 8 credits
- HSC2531 Medical Terminology: 3 credits
- CGS1100 Microcomputer Applications: 3 credits
- MEA1007 Introduction to Medical Assisting: 3 credits
- MEA1304 Introduction to Medical Office Procedures: 3 credits
- MEA1021C and MEA1250C Diseases, Disorders and Treatments 1 and 2: 6 credits
- MEA2246C Pharmacology for Medical Assistants: 3 credits
- MEA2248C Basic Lab and Phlebotomy: 3 credits
- MEA2252C Diagnostic Procedures: 3 credits
- MEA1355 Physician Reimbursement and Revenue: 3 credits
- MEA2305 Advanced Medical Office Procedures: 3 credits
- MEA2803C Externship for Medical Assisting: 3 credits
Distinctive elements. Every certificate course counts toward the AS, so graduates can continue to the degree without repeating coursework. The certificate is earned in college credit, not clock hours, unlike Florida technical college programs.
You Should Know
- PBSC lists the certificate at 15 months, but the catalog’s sample sequence spans four fall and spring terms, which runs closer to 20 months if summers are skipped. Ask whether summer terms are used.
- PBSC replaced its 1,300-clock-hour career certificate with this credit certificate. Older directory listings may still describe the clock-hour program.
CCC Externship
- 173 hours of clinical training in MEA2803C, 13 hours above the 160-hour CAAHEP minimum
- Training takes place in a healthcare setting in the final course
- Whether PBSC places students is not stated; pay is not stated
CCC Admissions
- PBSC admission application with official high school or GED transcripts
- Placement test scores, unless exempt
- Program-specific steps on PBSC’s controlled access program page
- A grade of C or higher in every program course to graduate
You Should Know
- PBSC’s catalog leaves the certificate’s program-specific admission section blank. Check the controlled access page for background check, drug screen, and immunization requirements, which are typical before the externship.
Medical Assisting Advanced AS
The AS costs about $9,600 for Florida residents and takes two years full time, starting in fall or spring. See the official program page.
AS Curriculum
Structure. The 65 credits include 23 credits of general education and 42 credits of required courses. The AS contains every certificate course and adds:
- ENC1101 English Composition 1: 3 credits
- SPC1017 Fundamentals of Speech Communication: 3 credits
- US history or American government: 3 credits
- Humanities elective: 3 credits
- Mathematics elective: 3 credits
- MEA2090 Leadership for the Medical Assistants: 3 credits
- MEA2939 Seminar in Medical Assisting: 3 credits
Distinctive elements. The leadership and seminar courses prepare graduates for lead medical assistant and office supervisor roles. The degree also gives a base for later bachelor’s study.
You Should Know
- PBSC’s program page lists the AS at 64 credits, while the 2026-27 catalog lists 65. The catalog total is used here.
AS Externship
- Same 173-hour externship as the certificate (MEA2803C)
AS Admissions
- High school diploma or GED
- Select program code 2314 on the PBSC application
- Follow the medical assisting steps on PBSC’s controlled access program page
Tuition
PBSC charges $101 per credit hour, including fees, for Florida residents and $363 for non-residents in 2026-27.
| Program | Tuition and Fees (in-state) | All-in Estimate (in-state) | All-in Estimate (out-of-state) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Specialist CCC (44 credits) | $4,444 | ~$6,500 | ~$18,000 |
| Medical Assisting Advanced AS (65 credits) | $6,565 | ~$9,600 (published) | ~$26,600 |
- Financial aid is available to eligible students, and both programs qualify because they award college credit.
Be aware that:
- The AS estimate implies about $3,000 in books, uniform, and course fees beyond tuition. PBSC does not itemize them. Some courses carry material and use fees listed in Appendix A of PBSC’s fee schedule.
- Out-of-state estimates apply the $363 rate and keep the same non-tuition costs, scaled by credits for the certificate.
- Certification exam fees are extra. The CMA (AAMA) costs $125 for members and $250 for non-members.
Outcomes
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Credentialing exam pass rate | 84.44% | PBSC program pages, five-year average, 2020 to 2024 |
| Job placement | Not published | PBSC program pages |
| Retention | Not published | PBSC program pages |
The 84.44% pass rate is above Daytona State College’s 76%. PBSC does not say which exam the rate covers, though CAAHEP programs report CMA results to MAERB.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
PBSC fits a Palm Beach County resident who wants an accredited program with substantial online coursework and a built-in path to a degree.
Flexibility. About three-quarters of the core curriculum is online or hybrid, and students choose between two campuses and two start terms a year.
Stackable credentials. The certificate leads straight into the AS, and graduates can sit for four different credentialing exams.
Local standing. PBSC calls its program the only CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting program of its kind in Palm Beach County, with accreditation dating to 2001.
Cost. The certificate costs more than Orange Technical College ($4,826) or Daytona State College (about $4,878) but far less than Keiser University’s associate degrees (about $43,900).
Drawbacks. The certificate takes longer than 900-hour technical college programs, and PBSC’s materials disagree on its length and the AS credit total.
Accreditation
Palm Beach State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its medical assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Accreditation began April 19, 2001, and was last renewed in 2023. Graduates are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam, and the RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA), and CPT (NHA) are also named as options.