Schools to Become a CMA in Florida

Florida is the #3 state in the country for medical assistant jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor.

Regardless of your experience, you will want to get certified for better career opportunities.

Trade Schools & Online Programs

The best way to get started is with an online certification program from a local school.

Benefits of a Training Course

Certification preparation is the main benefit of any training class.

A course should prepare you for any of the following exams:

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CMAA)
• National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
• Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA)

How Long is Medical Assistant School in FL?

About 9 to 18 months.

However, those who want to work in specialized fields like cardiology, neurology, or pediatrics might consider completing a 2 year associate’s degree program.

How Much Does it Cost?

12 month Certification programs are generally $1,800 to $3,000.

Tuition for a 2 year associate’s degree can range from $5,000 to almost $50,000.

What Do You Learn?

A good curriculum would cover topics such as the following:

Introduction to the Medical Administrative Assistant Role

• Understanding the requirements for success as a Medical Administrative Assistant
• Identifying the professional traits essential for medical assistants
• Discussing the various administrative job duties
• Recognizing the importance of professional certification

Core Skills Development

• Mastering multitasking: scheduling appointments, processing insurance requests, maintaining records, and corresponding with patients
• Mastering the fundamentals of medical terminology and ethical best practices
• Understanding the basics of working with medical documents, including medical billing and coding processes
• Learning best financial practices for a medical center

Communication and Office Management

• The Art of Communicating: mastering verbal and written communications
• Telecommunications: focusing on telephone professionalism and techniques
• Managing the medical office environment: patient scheduling and record management
• Introduction to Health Insurance and overview of medical coding

Financial Management in Medical Settings

• Managing patient accounts and daily financial practices
• Handling insurance claims, patient billing, and collections

Certification and Career Preparation

• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant training
• Preparing for your career: steps toward professional certification

Medical Foundations and Ethics

• Medical Assisting Foundations: an introduction to the field
• Legal and Ethical Issues in medical practice
• Pharmacology basics

Medical Assistant Externships in Florida

Most programs for medical assistants in FL require students to earn clinical hours in addition to their school credits. Some institutions partner with local clinics and doctor’s offices, while others may have an on-campus medical lab where students can practice their skills in simulated settings.

Depending on which Florida school you attend, you may need to earn anywhere from 100 to 250 hours during your externship. A licensed physician or nurse must supervise you throughout the program and sign an official document to certify that you have completed the necessary hours.

Average Salary Survey

• ZipRecruiter: $33,535
• Salary.com: $38,609
• Bureau of Labor: $40,530
• Indeed.com: $43,034 (certified)
• Glassdoor.com: $44K

Below are some numbers for cities within the state (from the BLS.gov).

Locations
Cape Coral-Fort Myers	$19.89	$41,370
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin	$18.78	$39,060
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach	$18.08	$37,600
Gainesville	$18.84	$39,190
Homosassa Springs	$17.95	$37,340
Jacksonville	$19.75	$41,080
Lakeland-Winter Haven	$18.11	$37,670
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	$20.11	$41,830
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island	$20.61	$42,880
North Florida	$17.84	$37,110
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton	$20.48	$42,600
Ocala	$17.96	$37,350
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford	$19.33	$40,210
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville	$18.97	$39,460
Panama City	$18.19	$37,840
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent	$18.08	$37,610
Port St. Lucie	$19.59	$40,740
Punta Gorda	$19.98	$41,550
Sebastian-Vero Beach	$19.53	$40,630
Sebring	$17.81	$37,050
South Florida	$19.31	$40,170
Tallahassee	$17.73	$36,870
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	$19.33	$40,200
The Villages	$18.54	$38,570

_{Occupation:Medical Assistants (SOC Code319092)
source: data.bls.gov}

The highest salaries are in Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island ($20.61/hr, $42,880/year) and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton ($20.48/hr, $42,600/year).

Regional Differences

South Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Naples, North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton) offers the highest wages, likely due to higher living costs, larger healthcare facilities, and greater demand for medical professionals.

Larger metro areas like Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville offer higher wages ($19-$20/hr) due to higher demand for healthcare services and larger hospital systems.

Coastal cities (Naples, Sarasota, Miami, Punta Gorda) tend to pay higher wages, likely driven by affluent patient populations, medical tourism, and higher living expenses.

Florida Requirements

Currently, there are no official education or training requirements for medical assistants in Florida.

However, while some employers may be willing to provide on-the-job training for inexperienced applicants, most prefer to hire candidates who have attended medical assistant school.

Certifications

Since Florida’s State Board of Nursing doesn’t license medical assistants, you can qualify for medical assistant jobs in Florida even if you lack certification. However, having an official credential can help you stand out among other applicants and make employers more likely to hire you.

Medical assistants in FL can either choose to become Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or earn a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential from the American Medical Technologists (AMT) agency.

CMA vs. RMA Credentials

Both CMA and RMA credentials can qualify you for several medical assistant jobs in Florida since professionals with these titles perform the same duties. The only difference between these two licenses is the education required to obtain them.

• Certified Medical Assistants: To qualify for the AAMA’s CMA credential, you must graduate from a program with CAAHEP or ABHES
• Registered Medical Assistant: In addition to accepting applicants who have completed post-secondary education programs, AMT registers those with military medical service training or at least three years of on-the-job medical assistant experience.

Additional Certifications

Florida’s State Board of Nursing places duties like dressing, feeding, bathing, and transferring patients outside the scope of practice for medical assistants in FL. Those who plan to work in nursing or assisted living facilities might consider earning a certified nursing assistant (CNA) credential so they can perform these tasks.

If you want the qualifications to take on more advanced patient care duties, think about becoming a licensed physician’s assistant. With this credential, you’ll be able to perform examinations, order tests and treatments, and diagnose patients.

Career Overview

What Employers in Florida Are Looking for in a Dental Assistant

Dental assistants in Florida play a critical role in supporting dentists, assisting in procedures, managing sterilization protocols, and handling administrative duties.

Employers look for candidates with a combination of technical proficiency, patient care skills, and administrative abilities to ensure smooth clinic operations. Many positions require state certification, hands-on experience, and familiarity with industry technologies.

Collaboration with Medical Professionals

Dental assistants frequently work alongside dentists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists to provide direct patient care. However, there is also significant crossover with other healthcare roles, particularly medical assisting.

Like medical assistants, dental assistants in Florida are expected to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for patients in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and ambulatory care facilities.

Core Duties Expected of Dental Assistants in Florida

• Chairside Assistance & Patient Care
  • Assist dentists in procedures such as fillings, crowns, extractions, and root canals.
  • Prepare patients for procedures and provide post-treatment care instructions.
  • Take and record vital signs, a skill also common in medical assisting roles.
  • Support patient comfort and provide a friendly, calming environment.
• Radiography & Imaging
  • Take and process digital X-rays using modern radiographic technology.
  • Maintain accurate imaging records to assist with treatment planning.
  • Collaborate with dentists and oral surgeons in diagnosing and preparing surgical cases.
• Sterilization & Infection Control
  • Disinfect dental instruments and ensure compliance with OSHA and HIPAA regulations.
  • Manage sterilization and prepare examination rooms for patient visits.
  • Maintain inventory and keep supplies stocked.
• Administrative & Clerical Duties
  • Welcome and check in patients, a key responsibility shared with medical assistants.
  • Update and file patient records using computer software, ensuring accuracy in EMR systems.
  • Answer phones, schedule appointments, and handle insurance verification.
  • Assist in managerial and supervisory functions, depending on experience and training.
• Laboratory & Medication Handling
  • Collect lab specimens for diagnostic testing and assist in preparing lab samples.
  • In some practices, assist in preparing and administering medications under supervision.
  • Coordinate with pharmacies and healthcare providers for prescription management.

Florida Employers and Their Specific Requirements

• Greenberg Dental & Orthodontics (Orlando) – Seeks dental assistants skilled in general and orthodontic procedures, highlighting crossover into multiple specialties.
• Coast Dental Services (Tampa) – Prioritizes experience with digital X-rays, intraoral scanning, and EMR systems.
• Great Expressions Dental Centers (Fort Lauderdale) – Requires Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) certification and radiology credentials.
• Aspen Dental (Miami) – Prefers assistants with experience in oral surgery and patient education.

Certification & Training Requirements

Florida employers typically require:
✔ Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) certification
✔ Florida Radiography Certification for taking X-rays
✔ Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Many roles also prefer candidates with medical assisting or phlebotomy experience, especially in oral surgery or periodontics.

Salary Expectations & Regional Differences

• Dental assistants in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando earn an average hourly wage of $19-$25.
• High-demand positions in oral surgery and orthodontics offer higher wages and benefits.
• Employers in private practices, corporate dental groups, and academic institutions provide healthcare, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Crossover into Other Healthcare Roles

Like medical assistants, dental assistants perform administrative and patient care tasks, creating opportunities for crossover into medical assisting, surgical assisting, and healthcare administration.

University of Miami Health System (Fort Lauderdale) and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa) employ medical assistants in outpatient and surgical settings, where many skills align with dental assisting roles.

Conclusion

Florida employers seek certified, skilled, and patient-focused dental assistants who can balance clinical, administrative, and infection control duties.

Candidates with radiology experience, EFDA certification, and strong organizational skills have the best job prospects. With opportunities to specialize in oral surgery, orthodontics, and pediatric dentistry, dental assisting in Florida remains a promising field with diverse career growth opportunities.