Keiser University offers two associate degrees in medical assisting, at campuses across Florida and online:
- Associate of Science in Medical Assisting (60.5 credits)
- Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Science (60 credits)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| AS in Medical Assisting | ~$43,900 (est.) | 16 months | 60.5 |
| AS in Medical Assisting Science | ~$49,500 (est.) | 18 months | 60 |
Keiser charges tuition by the semester, not by the credit. Both estimates apply the Fall 2025 full-time rate of $10,624 per 16-week semester to each program’s stated length, plus the per-semester education and activity fees and the application fee. Books and kits are extra. The key difference between the two degrees is accreditation: Keiser lists CAAHEP accreditation for medical assisting only at its Daytona Beach campus.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Private nonprofit university |
| Campuses | Statewide Florida campuses plus an online division; availability differs by program |
| Format | Campus, Hybrid, or Online, depending on location |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, Daytona Beach campus only |
| Institutional accreditation | SACSCOC |
| Exam eligibility | CMA (AAMA) for the CAAHEP-accredited Daytona Beach program; RMA (AMT) named for both degrees |
| Externship | Two courses (7 credits) in the AS in Medical Assisting; one course (5 credits) in Medical Assisting Science |
| Schedule | One 4-week class at a time; frequent starts |
| Language option | Spanish-language AS in Medical Assisting at the Miami campus |
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
The AS in Medical Assisting costs an estimated $43,900 and takes about 16 months full time. See the official program page.
AS in Medical Assisting Curriculum
Structure. Students take one class at a time in 4-week terms, 17 courses in all: 36.5 credits of medical assisting coursework and 24 credits of general education. Keiser lists the program on campus, hybrid, and online, with availability varying by location.
- Clinical Procedures: 3.5 credits
- Medical Terminology: 1.5 credits
- Anatomy and Physiology: 6 credits
- Radiography: 6 credits
- Laboratory Procedures I: 4 credits
- Medical Office Management: 4.5 credits
- Laboratory Procedures II: 4 credits
- Externship I: 3.5 credits
- Externship II: 3.5 credits
- General education: 24 credits across behavioral science, communications, computers, English, humanities, math, and natural science
Distinctive elements. A 6-credit radiography course is unusual in a medical assisting degree and adds imaging content that most MA programs skip. A Spanish-language version runs at the Miami campus.
You Should Know
- Keiser’s program page lists 14 campuses, while its degree-finder page lists 17 campuses plus online. Confirm the program runs at your campus and in your chosen format.
- The general education options listed on the program page add up to more than the stated 24 credits, so some are electives. Confirm the required set with an advisor.
- Students must pass a Program Assessment Examination before Externship II.
AS in Medical Assisting Externship
- Two courses, Externship I and II, 3.5 credits each, at affiliated medical facilities
- Clock hours are not published
- Clinical Procedures and Laboratory Procedures I and II must be passed with a C or better before placement
AS in Medical Assisting Admissions
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Entrance test or qualifying scores (SAT, ACT, ASVAB, or Keiser’s exam), per the university catalog
- Interview with an admissions advisor
- Up to 12 transfer credits may apply
- Technical standards for medical assisting
You Should Know
- Keiser’s program page says the curriculum prepares students for AAMA, AMT, and NHA exams and names the CMA. CMA (AAMA) eligibility requires a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program, and Keiser lists CAAHEP accreditation only at Daytona Beach. Students at other campuses or online should not count on CMA eligibility.
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Science
The AS in Medical Assisting Science costs an estimated $49,500 and takes about 18 months. See the official program page.
Medical Assisting Science Curriculum
Structure. The degree combines a 20-credit common core, a 16-credit clinical block, and 24 credits of general education, in 4-week terms. Keiser lists it at Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Miami, Naples, West Palm Beach, and online.
- Introduction to Healthcare: 3 credits
- Anatomy and Physiology with Terminology and Disease Process: 4 credits
- Pharmacology: 3 credits
- Medical Law and Ethics: 3 credits
- Medical Office Procedures with Insurance: 3 credits
- Computerized Medical Office Management: 4 credits
- Clinical Lecture: 3 credits
- Clinical Procedures: 4 credits
- Laboratory Procedures: 4 credits
- Externship in Medical Assisting: 5 credits
- General education: 24 credits
Distinctive elements. This degree adds pharmacology, law and ethics, and insurance coursework in place of the radiography course. It is the version Keiser offers online.
You Should Know
- Keiser’s page for this degree says it does not require programmatic accreditation and names the RMA (AMT) as its exam. CMA (AAMA) eligibility is not claimed.
- Keiser’s own sources conflict on Daytona Beach. Its website and licensure disclosure say the CAAHEP-accredited Daytona program is the AS in Medical Assisting. The university catalog says it is the AS in Medical Assisting Science. Daytona students should confirm which degree carries CAAHEP accreditation before enrolling.
Medical Assisting Science Externship
- One 5-credit externship course at a medical facility
- Clock hours are not published
- Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Lecture, Clinical Procedures, and Laboratory Procedures must be passed with a C or better first
Medical Assisting Science Admissions
- Same university admission requirements as the AS in Medical Assisting
Tuition
Keiser bills a flat tuition per 16-week semester based on enrollment status. Its catalog addendum effective Fall 2025 sets full-time tuition (12 to 17.99 credits) at $10,624 per semester. That works out to about $700 per credit for a 60.5-credit degree finished in four semesters.
| Item | AS in Medical Assisting | AS in Medical Assisting Science |
|---|---|---|
| Semesters (est.) | 4 full-time | 4 full-time + 1 half-time |
| Tuition | $42,496 | $47,808 |
| Education and activity fees ($329 per semester) | $1,316 | $1,645 |
| Application fee | $50 | $50 |
| Total (est.) | ~$43,862 | ~$49,503 |
- Financial aid, scholarships, and military benefits are available to those who qualify.
- Keiser’s net price calculator estimates cost after grants.
Be aware that:
- These totals are estimates. Keiser publishes semester rates, not program totals, and the 2026-2027 rate table in the current catalog was not accessible. An earlier Fall 2024 schedule listed $11,928 per full-time semester, which would put the AS in Medical Assisting near $47,700.
- Textbooks are billed separately, estimated at up to $2,000 per semester, plus supplies, kits, background checks, and exam fees.
- Taking more semesters than planned, or dropping below full time, changes the total.
Outcomes
Keiser does not publish graduation, exam pass, or placement rates for either medical assisting degree. Its January 2026 student achievement report sets university-wide goals of 80% job placement and 80% licensure or certification pass rates, without program-level results. Ask the program director for the Daytona Beach program’s CAAHEP outcomes, which accredited programs must report.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
Keiser fits a student who wants a full associate degree, frequent start dates, and a campus or online option close to home.
Pathway choice. Students who want the CMA (AAMA) should look at the CAAHEP-accredited Daytona Beach program. Students elsewhere, or online, should expect the RMA (AMT) route instead.
Cost. At an estimated $43,900 to $49,500, Keiser costs far more than Indian River State College’s CAAHEP certificate (about $3,549) or Ultimate Medical Academy’s online diploma ($16,388). The price includes a full associate degree with general education that may transfer, but the medical assisting coursework itself is similar.
Schedule. One 4-week class at a time suits working adults who struggle to juggle several courses at once.
Drawbacks. Program-level outcomes are not published, externship hours are not stated, and accreditation applies to one campus only.
Accreditation
Keiser University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate through doctoral degrees. Keiser lists programmatic accreditation for medical assisting at the Daytona Beach campus only, by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) on the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Keiser’s website names the AS in Medical Assisting as the accredited program, while its catalog names the AS in Medical Assisting Science. CMA (AAMA) eligibility requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program, so it applies to the Daytona Beach program. Graduates of other campuses can pursue the RMA (AMT), whose education route accepts programs at regionally accredited schools, or the CCMA (NHA). Keiser’s licensure disclosure states that its medical assisting degrees meet educational requirements in all states, but students should confirm non-educational requirements with their state.