| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Private for-profit career school; campus programs plus fully online programs |
| Campuses | 2, both in Pennsylvania: Erie (main campus) and Pittsburgh (branch) |
| Credentials | Associate degrees (A.S.B. and A.S.T.), diplomas and a certificate |
| Typical length | 6 weeks (truck driving) to 75 weeks (associate degrees) |
| Accreditation | ABHES (institutional); Vet Tech accredited by AVMA-CVTEA; Practical Nursing has initial approval from the PA State Board of Nursing |
| Federal aid | Yes: Pell, FSEOG, Direct Loans and PLUS |
| Founded / owner | 1995 in Pittsburgh; Institute of Medical and Business Careers, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
IMBC: a Pennsylvania career school with two campuses and online programs
The Institute of Medical and Business Careers (IMBC) is a private for-profit career school run by Institute of Medical and Business Careers, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation. It was founded in Pittsburgh in 1995, took its current name when it added a campus in Erie in 2015, and started fully online programs in 2017. The catalog names Erie the main campus and Pittsburgh a branch campus.
On campus, IMBC trains medical and dental assistants, practical nurses, veterinary technicians, welders and truck drivers. Online, it teaches business, paralegal, medical records, billing and office programs. Courses run in six-week modules, and each program has one flat price that includes books, kits and the certification exams the school names. Niche, using federal data, counts 845 undergraduates, all full-time.
Programs at IMBC, and where they are taught
Welding, truck driving, Practical Nursing, Veterinary Technician and HVAC/R are taught only at Erie, and Dental Assisting only at Pittsburgh. Medical assisting is taught at both campuses. The online programs are run from Erie.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for | Tuition (Jan 2026 catalogs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing | A.S.T. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Erie | NCLEX-PN (LPN) | $33,700 |
| Medical Assisting Technician | A.S.T. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Erie, Pittsburgh | NRCMA, NRCPT | $39,580 |
| Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy | Diploma | 57 weeks, 1,140 hours | Erie, Pittsburgh | NRCMA, NRCPT | $28,450 |
| Dental Assisting | Diploma | 51 weeks, 1,020 hours | Pittsburgh | NRDA/NRCDA, DANB RHS | $25,000 |
| Veterinary Technician | A.S.T. | 75 weeks, 1,560 hours | Erie | VTNE | $39,580 |
| Medical Records Technician | A.S.T. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Erie; online | NRCCS, CEHRS | $39,580 campus; $36,100 online |
| Medical Billing and Coding | Diploma | 57 weeks, 1,140 hours | Erie | NRCCS | $26,200 |
| Welding Technology | Diploma | 48 weeks, 960 hours | Erie | SMAW and FCAW (AWS D1.1) | $26,100 |
| Commercial Truck Driving | Diploma | 6 weeks, 225 hours | Erie | Class A CDL tests | $5,400 |
| HVAC/R | Diploma | About 9 months | Erie | EPA 608 | Not in the catalog |
| Emergency Medical Technician | Certificate | 15 weeks, 150 hours (hybrid) | Erie, Pittsburgh (catalog) | NREMT, PA EMT | $1,999 |
| Business Administration – Marketing and Management | A.S.B. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Online | MOS Word and Excel | $36,100 |
| Business Administration – Sales & Customer Service | A.S.B. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Online | MOS Word and Excel | $36,100 |
| Paralegal | A.S.B. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Online | – | $36,100 |
| Health Sciences – Healthcare Support | A.S.T. | 75 weeks, 1,500 hours | Online | AMCA Medical Office Administrator | $36,100 |
| Medical Insurance Billing and Coding | Diploma | 48 weeks, 780 hours | Online | NRCCS | $23,100 |
| Medical Office Administrator | Diploma | 48 weeks, 780 hours | Online | – | $23,100 |
| Veterinary Assistant | Diploma | 18 weeks, 360 hours | Online | – | $2,995 |
Prices are total program tuition from the January 2026 residential catalog and online catalog, which cover 2026 to 2028. The HVAC/R diploma is not in the January 2026 catalog. It is listed on the Erie campus page, and its program page gives about nine months (its headline says one year) and EPA 608 preparation, so ask the school for its hours and price. The catalog lists a hybrid EMT certificate at both campuses, but neither campus page shows it, so check that it is running before you plan on it.
What the main programs cover
Practical Nursing
IMBC’s Practical Nursing program is an Associate in Specialized Technology degree rather than a diploma: 75 weeks, 95 quarter credits and 1,500 clock hours, about 18 months, at Erie only. Clinical training is six rotations of 145 hours each, 870 hours in all. NCLEX-PN review is part of the program, but the catalog does not say the exam fee is covered. Graduates sit the NCLEX-PN for a license as an LPN, not an RN. The Board of Nursing lists the program with initial approval, and no graduates were reported for it in the 2024-25 ABHES reporting year.
Medical assisting
There are two routes, both at Erie and Pittsburgh: the Medical Assisting Technician A.S.T. (75 weeks, 94 credits, 1,500 hours, about a year and a half) and the Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy diploma (57 weeks, 70 credits, 1,140 hours). Each includes a 180-hour internship and prepares students for the NAHP’s NRCMA medical assistant and NRCPT phlebotomy exams, which are included; the degree also makes students eligible for CPR certification. Before the internship, students arrange their own background check, drug test, immunizations and physical.
Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting diploma is taught only at the Pittsburgh campus and runs 51 weeks, 62 credits and 1,020 hours, about a year. It includes a 180-hour internship arranged through the school. The program prepares students for the NAHP’s NRDA/NRCDA dental assisting exam and for the DANB Radiation Health and Safety exam, which leads to Pennsylvania’s dental radiography qualification. The school includes the exam costs. As with the other health programs, students pay for their own background check, drug test, immunizations and physical before the internship.
Veterinary Technician
The Veterinary Technician A.S.T. is taught only at Erie and runs 75 weeks, 96 credits and 1,560 hours, about a year and a half. It includes a 240-hour externship. The program is accredited by the AVMA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities and prepares students for the VTNE, the credentialing exam for veterinary technicians. Students must carry their own health insurance while enrolled, on top of tuition.
Welding Technology
The Welding Technology diploma is taught only at Erie: 48 weeks, 64 credits and 960 hours, which IMBC describes as less than a year. It trains for shielded metal arc (SMAW) and flux-cored (FCAW) welding certifications, and the catalog says the certification tests follow the AWS D1.1 structural code and are given through Element Testing Labs. IMBC pays for the first test attempt only; students pay for any retakes. The program page names the American Welding Society and Lincoln Electric as partners. The catalog lists no externship.
Commercial Truck Driving
The truck-driving diploma at Erie is six weeks long, split into two-week and four-week courses (12 credits, 225 hours), and runs Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Students train on a driving range and on public roads and are prepared for the Class A CDL written and skills tests; the program does not issue the license itself. Students pay for their DOT physical, drug screen, background check and motor vehicle record. Drivers must be 18 to drive within Pennsylvania and 21 to drive across state lines.
Cost and paying for it
IMBC has no in-state or out-of-state rates. Each program has a single total price, with separate residential and online price lists in the January 2026 catalogs, billed by 12-week quarter. Residential programs run from $1,999 for EMT and $5,400 for truck driving to $39,580 for the A.S.T. degrees; Practical Nursing is $33,700. Online degrees are $36,100, the two online office and billing diplomas $23,100, and Veterinary Assistant $2,995.
Tuition includes books and e-books, kits, lab fees, consumables, tutoring, library access and the named certification exams. It does not cover the CDL physical, drug screen, background check and driving record, the NREMT fee, welding test retakes, or the background checks, drug tests, immunizations and physicals needed for internships; vet tech students also need health insurance. Online students may need a laptop (about $500) and Microsoft Office ($54 to $108), and there is a $250 re-admit fee. Niche, using federal data, puts the average net price at $21,479 a year.
IMBC takes federal student aid: Pell Grants, FSEOG, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and PLUS loans, and private loans are an option. The school says Veterinary Technician, Paralegal, Medical Records Technician and both business degrees are approved for the Grow PA Scholarship Grant, but it does not give the amount. Interest-free monthly payment plans may be available. Veterans can use the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 and Forever GI Bill, DEA (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance) and VEAP. The school’s net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
Admission needs a diploma and a Wonderlic score
Applicants need a high school diploma, a state-authorized home-school diploma or a GED, an online application, a telephone interview and a score of at least 200 on the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (300 for Paralegal). Online students also complete a 30- to 45-minute orientation. The first five weeks of every program are a conditional period.
Day classes run in six-week terms, with morning sessions Monday to Thursday from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm plus afternoon and split sessions. Evening terms run about 12 weeks, on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 to 10:30 pm. Truck driving runs Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. Online courses are asynchronous, on the Moodle platform.
Accreditation and results
IMBC is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and CHEA lists IMBC (Erie) as ABHES-accredited as of October 2024. The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s State Board of Private Licensed Schools licenses IMBC and authorizes it to award the Associate in Specialized Business (A.S.B.) and Associate in Specialized Technology (A.S.T.) degrees. IMBC says it is approved to take part in NC-SARA, so its online programs are open to students in other states. The Veterinary Technician program is accredited by the AVMA’s CVTEA.
Practical Nursing is new. The program has initial approval, according to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing’s list of approved programs (updated 2 July 2026), and IMBC does not appear in the Board’s 2024-25 NCLEX-PN results, so there is no published pass rate yet.
The school reports program retention and job placement to ABHES. The figures below are for the reporting year from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, from IMBC’s ABHES disclosure, which does not define how the rates are calculated.
| Campus | Program | Retention | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | Welding Technology | 90% | 86% |
| Erie | Commercial Truck Driving | 100% | 82% |
| Erie | Veterinary Technician | 89% | 92% |
| Erie | Medical Assisting Technician | 100% | 100% |
| Erie | Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy | 79% | 100% |
| Erie | Medical Records Technician | 100% | 100% |
| Erie | Practical Nursing | 100% | No graduates reported yet |
| Pittsburgh | Dental Assisting | 88% | 92% |
| Pittsburgh | Medical Assisting Technician | 100% | 80% |
| Pittsburgh | Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy | 93% | 88% |
| Online | Seven programs | 84% to 95% | 80% to 100% |
Niche, using federal data, gives IMBC a 76% graduation rate and median earnings of $30,495 five years after graduation. We found no published VTNE pass rate for the vet tech program.
Before you enroll
- Practical Nursing leads to an LPN license, not an RN license, and it is a new program: it has initial Board approval and no NCLEX-PN results yet.
- All trade and nursing programs are at Erie only, and Dental Assisting is at Pittsburgh only. Check the campus before you apply.
- In the January 2026 catalog, residential A.S.T. degrees cost $39,580 and the shorter health diplomas $25,000 to $28,450, before the extras students pay themselves. Niche puts the average net price after aid at $21,479 a year.
- The A.S.B. and A.S.T. are specialized career degrees. If you may want a bachelor’s degree later, ask the college you would transfer to whether it accepts IMBC credits before you enroll.
- The online Paralegal degree does not claim American Bar Association approval.
Two campuses: what each teaches
| Campus | Address | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Erie (main campus) | 5739 W 26th Street, Building F, Erie, PA 16506 | Practical Nursing, Veterinary Technician, Welding Technology, Commercial Truck Driving, HVAC/R (Erie only); Medical Assisting Technician, Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Records Technician |
| Pittsburgh (branch, Penn Hills area) | 133 Jefferson Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 | Dental Assisting (Pittsburgh only); Medical Assisting Technician, Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy |
Online programs have no separate campus; they are run from Erie, which also handles their applications.
Internships and career help
Most campus health programs include a 180-hour internship, the vet tech degree a 240-hour externship and the online Veterinary Assistant diploma a 100-hour externship at a veterinary clinic; IMBC arranges the placements. The catalog also lists career services and graduate refresher courses. There are no dorms.
What students say
On Niche, IMBC is rated 3.89 out of 5 from 28 reviews, with an overall grade of C (checked October 2026). Reviewers praise how fast the programs are, with an associate degree in about 15 to 18 months, instructors who support students and keep them on track, and flexible schedules and online options that suit working parents. The complaints, in Niche’s summary, are internship placements that ignore students’ fit or preferences and thin career services, staff turnover and equipment that falls short in some programs, and tuition that feels high for what is delivered. Twenty-eight reviews is a small base, the reviews shown on the page date from 2023 to January 2025 and are all positive, and we could not tell whether the school invited them.
Facts checked October 2026.
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health (on campus)
- Practical Nursing (A.S.T., Erie)
- Medical Assisting Technician (A.S.T.)
- Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy (Diploma)
- Medical Records Technician (A.S.T., Erie)
- Medical Billing and Coding (Diploma, Erie)
- Dental Assisting (Diploma, Pittsburgh)
- Emergency Medical Technician (Certificate)
Veterinary
- Veterinary Technician (A.S.T., Erie)
- Veterinary Assistant (Diploma, online)
Skilled Trades (Erie)
- Welding Technology (Diploma)
- Commercial Truck Driving (Diploma)
- HVAC/R (Diploma)
Business and Law (online)
- Business Administration – Marketing and Management (A.S.B.)
- Business Administration – Sales & Customer Service (A.S.B.)
- Paralegal (A.S.B.)
Healthcare Office (online)
- Health Sciences – Healthcare Support (A.S.T.)
- Medical Records Technician (A.S.T.)
- Medical Office Administrator (Diploma)
- Medical Insurance Billing and Coding (Diploma)
Campus Locations
Erie, PA 5739 W 26th Street, Building F, Erie, PA 16506
Pittsburgh (Penn Hills), PA 133 Jefferson Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235