Schools to Become a Medical Assistant in Texas

Texas is the # 2 state in the nation for medical assistant employment.

And medical assisting is a great way to get into healthcare with minimal education.

Medical Assistant Schools

Certification training courses, either online or in classroom, are the best way to get started.

Local Trade Schools

Benefits

The main reason to go to school is for certification preparation.

Classes usually cover the exam fee for either of these recognized certifications:

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

More on this below.

How Long Does It Take?

Most certification programs take 9 to 12 months.  An associate’s degree will take about 2 years.

What Do You Study?

Usually classes cover these kinds of topics:

1. Clinical Medical Assistant Responsibilities: Outline the job responsibilities, necessary skills, and the range of activities undertaken by clinical medical assistants. Detail the professional values that guide their work in healthcare settings.
2. Medical Records Overview: Discuss the different types of medical records and what information they typically contain, highlighting their relevance in patient care.
3. Patient Experience Enhancement: Emphasize the significance of improving the patient experience within healthcare facilities and the impact this has on patient outcomes.
4. Understanding Body Systems: Provide a summary of the primary functions and prevalent disorders associated with each of the 12 major body systems.
5. Medical History and Chief Complaint: Describe the role of the chief complaint in medical evaluations and detail the components of a patient’s medical history as recorded in a progress note.
6. Vital Signs and Equipment: Address the critical nature of monitoring vital signs, including the tools and equipment employed in these measurements.
7. Patient Examination Techniques: Identify the various techniques, positions, and tools used in the physical examination of a patient.
8. Asepsis and Infection Control: Explain the importance of proper hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment in preventing infections and maintaining aseptic conditions.
9. Medication Administration Principles: List the fundamental guidelines for safely administering medications.
10. Emergency Recognition: Discuss how to recognize and respond to emergencies in an ambulatory medical setting, ensuring prompt and effective care.

How Much Does It Cost?

Online certificate programs are generally $2,000 to $3,000. Meanwhile, some medical assisting degrees may run upwards of 20k.

Salary Range

• Ziprecruiter.com: $38,542
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: $38,870
• Salary.com: $42,413
• Indeed.com: $41,283
• Glassdoor.com: $44K

Regional wages from BLS data:

Location	Per Hour	Per Year
Abilene	$17.05	$35,460
Amarillo	$16.90	$35,140
Austin-Round Rock	$20.80	$43,270
Beaumont-Port Arthur	$17.52	$36,440
Big Thicket Region of Texas	$17.11	$35,590
Border Region of Texas	$17.07	$35,500
Brownsville-Harlingen	$15.36	$31,940
Coastal Plains Region of Texas	$16.99	$35,350
College Station-Bryan	$17.75	$36,920
Corpus Christi	$17.22	$35,820
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	$19.50	$40,560
El Paso	$16.00	$33,280
Hill Country Region of Texas	$17.69	$36,800
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land	$19.55	$40,670
Killeen-Temple	$17.99	$37,420
Laredo	$15.36	$31,950
Longview	$16.96	$35,270
Lubbock	$16.65	$34,620
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	$14.76	$30,700
Midland	$19.66	$40,900
North Texas Region of Texas	$17.65	$36,720
Odessa	$18.62	$38,730
San Angelo	$17.51	$36,410
San Antonio-New Braunfels	$18.56	$38,600
Sherman-Denison	$18.33	$38,120
Texarkana	$16.42	$34,150
Tyler	$17.49	$36,370
Victoria	$17.30	$35,980
Waco	$17.74	$36,900
West Texas Region of Texas	$17.29	$35,960
Wichita Falls	$17.33	$36,040

source: data.bls.gov

Where Do Medical Assistants Make the Most Money in Texas?

Highest and Lowest Wages

• The highest hourly wage is $20.80 in Austin-Round Rock.
• The lowest hourly wage is $14.76 in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission.
• Similarly, Austin-Round Rock has the highest annual salary at $43,270, while McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has the lowest annual salary at $30,700.

Regional Trends

• Larger metropolitan areas like Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston tend to offer higher wages, likely due to demand and cost of living.

Are There Any Special Requirements in Texas?

While no formal training is required by a governing body, many employers require a certification or associate degree before a person can find employment as a medical assistant in the state of Texas.

Certification as a Medical Assistant

As per the Mr. Balasa of the AAMA “medical assistants are not licensed in Texas or in almost any other state.”

However, as noted although certification is not required to enter the field of medical assisting, a majority of job opportunities in Texas will require that you possess this credential.

You may obtain a medical assistant certification in Texas through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Certification process with AAMA:

As per the AAMA, the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) designation is the “gold standard” of the profession which confers increased prestige among your colleagues, along with enhanced job opportunities and job security.

Requirements

1. Must be a graduate of a medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHS or ABHES.
2. Apply to sit for the certification exam administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners by completing an application and submitting all required documentation.
   1. If you are a recent graduate the only documentation required is a verification letter from the school director attesting to your graduation from the program.
   2. Non-recent graduates (over 12 months) will need to supply an official transcript showing program completion.

Taking the Exam

The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions of which 180 will be scored, the remainder being in the pre-test phase. These pre-test questions are spread throughout the exam so you will not be able to identify them.

You can read the exam handbook which provides complete details about test construction and testing sites by visiting:

https://www.aama-ntl.org/docs/default-source/cma-exam/cma-exam-app.pdf

1. Pay the certification exam fee. This fee is $125. for members of AAMA, CAAHEP, or ABHES. All others pay $250. Personal checks are not accepted.
2. The certification department of AAMA will notify you of your application status within a 30-day period.
3. Schedule an appointment to take the exam after your application has been approved. You will receive a testing schedule permit that will allow you to make an appointment at a Prometric test center in your area. The exam is given on a rolling basis and may be taken at any point during the year.
4. Review the Content Outline for the exam and take the practice test.  You can also take a review CMA review course offered by a local chapter of the AAMA.
5. Once you pass the exam you will receive an official certificate and wallet-size card to attest to possession of the CMA credential.  Potential employers will also be able to verify your certification via the AAMA Web site.
6. You are required to recertify every 60 months. You can do so by passing another exam or by participating in continuing education. For further details regarding recertification, visit https://www.aama-ntl.org/continuing-education/recertification-policies.

Job Description

What Do They Do?

In smaller offices, medical assistants may be responsible for both administrative and clinical tasks and typically report to the physician, office manager, or head nurse.

Those employed by larger practices usually specialize in a specific area, under the supervision of department managers.

Vs Physician Assistants

It is important not to confuse medical assistants with physician assistants who are eligible to perform patient examinations, diagnose illness, and treat patients under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Administrative Medical Assistants

Administrative Medical Assistants primarily perform office support functions including updating patient records, completing insurance forms, coordinating hospital admissions, scheduling patient visits, as well as billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical Medical Assistants

Clinical Medical Assistants have varied responsibilities.

Common tasks include recording patient histories, taking vital signs, explaining treatment procedures, preparing patients for physical examinations, and assisting the clinician during the exam.

Other duties include:

• Collect and prepare laboratory specimens
• Laboratory testing under the supervision of a physician or physician assistant
• Dispose of contaminated equipment
• Instruct patients on the proper use of medications and special dietary plans.
• Prepare and administer medication and telephone drug orders and refills to the pharmacy
• Draw blood and prepare patients for X-rays
• Record electrocardiograms
• Remove sutures and change dressings
• Arrange medical instruments for patient examination

Ophthalmic Medical Assistants

Ophthalmic medical assistants, optometric assistants, and podiatric medical assistants perform additional duties to those noted above.

Ophthalmic assistants help ophthalmologists provide eye care by:

• Performing diagnostic eye tests, measuring, and recording visual acuity, and testing eye muscle strength
• Applying eye dressing and administering eye drops and salve
• Maintaining optical equipment and instruments, and assisting the ophthalmologist during surgery

Optometric assistants:

• Provide chair-side assistance to optometrists during eye exams
• Instruct patients in the use of contact lenses and care
• Perform preliminary eye chart exams

Podiatric medical assistants create castings of feet, expose, and develop X-rays, and may assist podiatrists in surgery.

Career Advancement

Medical assistants may advance their careers through additional training or experience.

Some medical assistants go on to teach medical assisting in vocational schools or community colleges.

Others choose to return to school to work in some other healthcare capacity such as nurses, physical therapists, and even physician assistants.

Administrative medical assistants can advance into the position of office manager and have responsibility for office operations, as well as supervision of other support staff.

Employer Expectations for Medical Assistants in Texas

Medical assistants in Texas play a critical role in healthcare settings, providing both clinical and administrative support to physicians, nurses, and healthcare teams.

Employers across the state, including AdventHealth Family Medicine Rural Health Clinics, Huguley Medical Associates, Christus Health, and UT Health Henderson, seek candidates with strong patient care skills, attention to detail, and adaptability in fast-paced environments.

Medical assistants are expected to handle direct patient interactions, manage medical records, and assist with diagnostic procedures while ensuring patient comfort and confidentiality.

Key Qualifications and Skills

Employers require certification as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), with training from an accredited medical assisting program.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is also commonly required, and some positions prefer prior experience in a medical office or clinic.

Candidates should have strong communication skills, as they often educate patients on treatment procedures, medications, and follow-up care. Additionally, proficiency in electronic health records (EHR) systems is highly valued, as medical assistants are responsible for scheduling appointments, processing insurance verification, and updating patient files.

Clinical and Administrative Responsibilities

Medical assistants in Texas are expected to perform a wide range of duties, including:

• Taking and recording vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration).
• Preparing treatment rooms and assisting physicians during examinations.
• Administering injections and immunizations as directed.
• Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens for testing.
• Handling clerical duties, such as answering calls, scheduling patients, and verifying insurance.
• Explaining treatment plans and procedures to patients.

Employers such as Christus Health in Corpus Christi emphasize accurate data entry, insurance verification, and patient scheduling as essential tasks.

Similarly, MedicalWorx Staffing seeks candidates with OB/GYN experience, highlighting the need for specialized knowledge in women’s health.

Crossover into Other Medical Fields

Medical assistants often work across multiple disciplines, including:

• Cardiovascular imaging, as seen in roles at UT Health Henderson, where medical assistants support diagnostic procedures.
• Podiatry, where medical assistants assist in minor surgical procedures and orthopedic treatments at Foot and Ankle Solutions in Bedford and Flower Mound.
• Telehealth and remote support, with some positions, like at Huguley Medical Associates, allowing medical assistants to work remotely while performing scheduling and administrative tasks.
• Senior healthcare, with organizations such as One Medical in Houston hiring medical assistants to work in primary care settings focused on patients aged 65 and older.

Work Environments and Schedules

Texas employers offer full-time, part-time, and flexible work schedules, with most positions operating Monday through Friday during daytime hours.

Some employers, such as AdventHealth Family Medicine Rural Health Clinics, require travel between multiple locations, including Lampasas, Killeen, and Harker Heights.

In contrast, Laredo College hires medical assistants as adjunct instructors to train future healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Employers in Texas seek skilled, certified medical assistants who can manage both patient care and administrative responsibilities. The demand extends across multiple medical fields, with opportunities in primary care, cardiology, podiatry, OB/GYN, and senior health services. Those interested in a medical assisting career should prioritize certification, hands-on experience, and adaptability, as these qualities will make them highly competitive in the job market.