Orange Technical College (OTC), a public technical college run by Orange County Public Schools, offers one medical assisting program at two Orlando campuses:
- Medical Assisting Certificate (900 clock hours)
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Est. Duration | Clock Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assisting Certificate | $4,826 (Florida resident) | ~30 weeks | 900 |
The cost is OTC’s published estimated total for 2026-27. It covers tuition, the annual fee, supplies, books, online curriculum access, and one industry certification exam. Duration comes from OTC’s cost-of-attendance page, which lists 900-hour programs at just over 30 weeks of full-time study.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School type | Public technical college (Orange County Public Schools) |
| Campuses | Main Campus (downtown Orlando) and Avalon Campus (east Orlando) |
| Format | On campus |
| Programmatic accreditation | CAAHEP, per third-party listings (accredited since 1979); not stated on OTC’s program page |
| Institutional accreditation | Council on Occupational Education (COE) and Cognia |
| Exams named | CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) |
| Practicum | 190 hours |
| Credit transfer | Up to 12 credits toward Valencia College’s Medical Administration AS |
Medical Assisting Certificate
The certificate costs about $4,826 for Florida residents and takes about 30 weeks full time. Start dates depend on program availability. See the official program page.
Certificate Curriculum
Structure. The program follows Florida’s state curriculum framework for medical assisting (program H700300). It is organized into Occupational Completion Points (OCPs), so each course marks a defined skill level.
- MEA0003 Introduction to Medical Assisting and Pharmacology: 250 hours
- MEA0502 Introduction to Medical Office Procedures: 100 hours
- MEA0521 Phlebotomist: 75 hours
- MEA0574 Laboratory Procedures: 80 hours
- MEA0543 EKG Aide: 75 hours
- MEA0584 Clinical Assisting: 130 hours
- MEA0943 Practicum Experience: 190 hours
Distinctive elements. Students with high school Health Science I and II credit, or who pass a written and performance test, can skip the first OCP and start with phlebotomy. Dual enrollment is open to high school students.
You Should Know
- Some third-party directories still describe a 1,300-hour program with a 200-hour practicum. OTC’s 2026-27 brochure and fee schedule list 900 hours and a 190-hour practicum.
- OTC does not publish the class schedule for this program. Its catalog says most programs meet Monday through Thursday, so ask which days and times each campus uses.
Certificate Practicum
- 190 hours in MEA0943 Practicum Experience, 30 hours above the 160-hour CAAHEP minimum
- Whether OTC places students or students find their own sites is not stated
- Pay is not stated
Certificate Admissions
Applicants apply online and must finish these steps before the start date:
- CASAS basic skills assessment at registration, unless exempt
- Grade 10 reading, math, and language skills
- Florida residency documentation for in-state tuition (12 months of legal residence)
- Online orientation for new career and technical students
- Tuition and fees paid before the first class
You Should Know
- A Florida standard high school diploma, an associate degree or higher, or qualifying test scores exempt students from the basic skills assessment.
- Complete the FAFSA at least a month before enrolling. OTC’s federal school code for the Main and Avalon campuses is 014719.
Tuition
OTC charges $2,628 in tuition for the 900-hour program, or $2.92 per clock hour, for Florida residents in 2026-27.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (900 hours at $2.92) | $2,628.00 |
| Supply fee | $878.83 |
| Books | $541.23 |
| Online curriculum access | $304.00 |
| Required materials | $210.00 |
| Industry certification and licensure | $150.00 |
| Annual processing, parking, and insurance fee | $114.00 |
| Estimated total (published) | $4,826.06 |
- Financial aid options include Pell Grants, the Florida Student Assistance Grant, Bright Futures, and the Florida Work Experience Program.
Be aware that:
- Non-resident cost is an estimated $12,700. OTC does not publish a non-resident rate, so this applies the four-times multiplier Florida technical colleges use for out-of-state students ($11.68 per hour) and keeps the same fees.
- The $150 certification line covers one exam fee. The CMA (AAMA) costs $125 for members and $250 for non-members.
- OTC’s full cost of attendance, including living expenses, runs $33,778 to $47,805 depending on dependency status and housing.
Outcomes
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Job placement (program) | Over 83%, five-year average | Third-party program listing |
| CMA exam pass rate | Not published | OTC program page |
OTC does not publish program-level placement, completion, or exam pass rates on its own pages. Ask for the program’s MAERB outcomes report, which CAAHEP-accredited programs must file each year.
Why Choose This Medical Assistant Program?
OTC fits an Orlando-area resident who wants a low-cost, long-accredited route to CMA eligibility.
Cost. At about $4,826 all in, OTC costs less than Manatee Technical College ($6,791) and a fraction of Ultimate Medical Academy ($16,388) or Keiser University (about $43,900). Indian River State College’s certificate is cheaper, at about $3,549.
Two campuses. Downtown Orlando and Avalon in east Orlando give students a choice of commute.
Degree path. Up to 12 credits transfer to Valencia College’s Medical Administration AS.
Track record. Third-party listings date the program’s CAAHEP accreditation to 1979.
Drawbacks. OTC does not publish class schedules, start dates, or program outcomes, and its own pages do not state the CAAHEP accreditation.
Accreditation
Orange Technical College is institutionally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and by Cognia. Third-party program directories list the medical assisting program as CAAHEP-accredited since 1979, and OTC’s program brochure uses the goal statement CAAHEP requires of accredited medical assisting programs. OTC’s own program page and catalog do not name CAAHEP. CMA (AAMA) eligibility depends on CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, so students who want the CMA should confirm the status and ask for the program’s AAMA accreditation code. The RMA (AMT) is also named as a target exam.