Medical Assistant is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Texas Health School in Houston, TX. The program takes 800 clock hours (32 semester credits) — 32 weeks day or evening to complete, with a total tuition of $16,100.
Program Overview
The Medical Assistant Program is designed to provide the students with clinical and administrative skills, which will enable them to perform both front and back-office procedures in medical offices. The administrative skills students will learn include medical ethical issues, medical codes, how to deal with a variety of patients, schedule appointments, complete insurance forms, patient billing, and electronic medical records.
Students will learn how to perform the following clinical skills: setup an examination room and assist with general examinations, take vital signs, injections, capillary punctures, venipunctures, perform and evaluate routine laboratory tests. Students will learn how to use these skills and procedures via classroom and clinical hands-on training.
By enrolling you will: learn how to implement basic patient-care concepts; apply the principles of pharmacology; gain hands-on training to assist with basic surgical procedures and the sterilization of surgical equipment; record vital signs and perform electrocardiograms; provide first aid and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation; perform blood draws and clinical lab procedures; and demonstrate basic administrative skills such as scheduling, EHR data entry, and insurance billing and coding.
32 weeks. The program is 800 clock hours (315 lecture, 305 lab, 180 externship) and 32 semester credits, completed in 32 weeks of day or evening classes. Upon graduation, students receive a school diploma.
What sets this Program apart
Blended delivery. The curriculum is offered in a blended format, which allows for a healthy school and work balance; students are only required to attend two or three days of class a week on campus. The flexibility afforded by hybrid programs, along with the available online resources, helps students understand the concepts within a shorter period of time.
Certification exam before externship. Through the American Medical Technologists (AMT), medical assistant students have the opportunity to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) examination at the end of the Certification Prep course, prior to the start of their externship. Students are also eligible to sit for the NAHP-USA examinations: NRCMA, NRCPT (phlebotomy), NRCEKG and NRCAHA.
Student support services. Availability of tutoring and open lab practice sessions, certification prep, externship placement, career counseling, and employment support.
Community involvement. Medical Assistant faculty and students are actively involved in activities benefitting local community health and wellbeing, such as health checks and blood drives with local agencies i.e. YMCA and Houston Blood Bank.
Student outcomes. Medical Assistant Graduation Rate 2024-2025: 75%. Medical Assistant Placement Rate 2024-2025: 92%.
Admission Requirements and Process
Texas Health School requires all applicants go through a multi-step admission process as outlined below.
- An admissions representative will interview and determine the abilities and needs of the applicant.
- Applicants must be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance and must possess a high school diploma, a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or a Home School certificate that is equivalent to a high school level diploma and is recognized by the student’s home state. All applicants must be at least 17 years of age, must be 18 years of age prior to starting their scheduled externship/clinical, and must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. Applicants with foreign transcripts must have them evaluated for equivalency to a U.S. high school diploma by a recognized evaluation service.
- All applicants eligible for enrollment must take a validated admissions test, the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). An applicant who does not pass on the first opportunity may take a substantially different test the same day, must wait five calendar days before retaking the same test, and after a third failed attempt must wait six months; passing scores are valid for three years.
- The applicant must complete an enrollment agreement and submit it with the registration fee deposit. If an applicant is not accepted, the full amount of the deposit will be refunded.
- The applicant will supply unofficial transcripts from former schools attended; an official transcript is required if the student requests a review of their educational courses for the purpose of credit transfer.
- Applicants complete an initial criminal background check conducted by the school through its approved vendor.
- Accepted students attend a mandatory orientation session before beginning classes, and must agree to abide by all general policies, rules, and regulations of the school.
The minimum Wonderlic SLE score for the Medical Assistant program is 13.
Acceptance. Upon completion of these items, the school reviews the application and informs the applicant of its decision in a timely manner. If the applicant is denied admission, all fees paid to the school will be refunded.
General Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalentHave a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent qualifications; foreign transcripts must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency.
- Wonderlic SLE score of 13Achieve a Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam score of 13.
- EnglishBe able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
- AgeBe at least 17 years of age, and 18 years of age prior to starting your scheduled externship.
- Background checkComplete the criminal background check conducted by the school through its approved vendor.
Application Process
- 1Meet admissionsAn admissions representative will interview you to determine your abilities and needs.
- 2Complete the applicationComplete the Texas Health School Application for Admission.
- 3Take the Wonderlic SLETake the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam online or on site; the Medical Assistant minimum is 13.
- 4Meet with Financial AidComplete the Texas Health School Financial Aid Application and the FAFSA (school code 039873).FAFSA Code for Houston: 039873FAFSA at studentaid.gov
- 5Enroll and attend orientationSign the enrollment agreement with the registration fee deposit, complete the background check and attend the mandatory orientation.
Program Schedule
Medical Assistant classes run in 5-week modules, and enrollment begins every 5 weeks for both day and evening classes. Day program: Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00am – 2:00pm. Evening program: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 6:00pm – 10:00pm.
Externship. Externships are scheduled at the end of the Program at 36 hours per week for five weeks, and hours may vary depending upon the externship site’s schedule. Texas Health School does not offer evening externship sites.
Upcoming starts. The academic calendar lists module starts on November 2, 2026, December 7, 2026, January 11, 2027 and February 15, 2027, continuing every five weeks through 2027.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Texas Health School is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. It is approved and regulated by the Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Cost of the program. The catalog addendum prints the following charges, which reconcile to the total cost paid to Texas Health School:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (all books are included) | $16,100 |
| Registration Fee | $100 |
| Lab Fee (uniforms, equipment and medical lab supplies) | $450 |
| Certification Test Fee (national certification) | $135 |
| Technology Fee | $500 |
| Total cost paid to Texas Health School | $17,285 |
The tuition cost to take an individual subject is $503 per semester credit hour. Test fees for additional certification examinations (phlebotomy, EKG, etc.) are the responsibility of the student.
Federal aid. Texas Health School participates in the Federal Pell Grant Program and the Federal Direct Student Loan Program (Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized and Direct PLUS loans). Students complete a Texas Health School Financial Aid Application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov, using federal school code 039873; the Financial Aid Representative reviews them and discusses tuition payment plans. The financial aid award year runs from July 1st through June 30th.
Other funding and payment plans. Students may be eligible for funds from Americorp, the Veterans Administration (VA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Texas Workforce Solutions – Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and Texas Workforce Solutions (WIOA); students receiving alternate funding must present the agency’s authorization before starting school. Students who do not qualify for financial aid or who do not wish to apply for educational loans may make monthly tuition payments to the school. Texas Health School does not prohibit attendance or impose penalties while waiting on VA payments.
Cancellation. A full refund will be made to any student who cancels the enrollment contract within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after the enrollment contract is signed, or within the student’s first three scheduled class days, except that the school may retain not more than $100 in any administrative fees charged.
Curriculum
The Medical Assistant curriculum totals 800 clock hours (315 lecture, 305 lab, 180 externship) and 32 semester credits, listed course by course in the table below, finishing with Certification Prep and a 180-hour Medical Assistant Externship.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | External | Total | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
The medical assistant graduates will be qualified for entry-level employment in medical offices, various hospital departments, and health-care clinics. They can seek post graduate employment positions as a medical assistant, patient care assistant, patient care technician, medical office receptionist and administrative health assistant.
Job outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 12% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with an estimated 112,300 job openings each year. The latest BLS data reports a national median annual wage of about $44,200 ($21.25/hour), and medical assistants in the Houston area typically earn higher wages due to the city’s large healthcare presence.
Growth. Many graduates begin working in entry-level MA positions and later move into specialized roles, management positions, or bridge programs that lead to nursing and other allied health careers.
Career services. Texas Health School assists students in finding employment in entry-level positions in their chosen career fields and offers placement assistance to all eligible completers and graduates. Upon successful completion of the program the school will refer graduates and present their resumes to prospective employers; placement assistance includes resume writing, cover letter writing, finding job openings, mock interviews and career networking events. Texas Health School does not guarantee placement, nor does it guarantee that a graduate will earn a specific wage in their area of study.
What to expect as a Texas Health School student
Since 2002. Texas Health School was established in Houston in 2002 to provide specialized training programs needed to address the increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. In 2019 it relocated to 11511 Katy Freeway to a larger more modernized facility. The school occupies approximately 12,000 sq. ft. on the second floor; the facilities include a computer lab, two nursing skills labs, a medical lab, two lecture rooms, and a massage clinic classroom, and the classrooms and labs are supplied with equipment and instruments related to the specific academic program of study.
Orientation. Accepted students attend a mandatory orientation session covering the school’s policies and procedures, the program’s curriculum overview, class schedules, the grading scale, available resources, the learning management system, and meetings with the faculty, registrar, career services, and financial aid department directors.
Attendance. Medical Assistant students are required to have attended 80% of their scheduled hours in order to graduate.
Externship. Before externship students must have passed all prerequisite courses, hold at least a 2.0 CGPA and be current on tuition payments. The school provides externship sites in the greater Houston and surrounding areas; the student may not choose or refuse a site.
Dress code. Students are required to wear the school’s uniform in class and on externship. Shoes must be closed toe - closed heel and should be either white, navy, or black, and a school issued student ID badge is required to be worn at all times. Visible tattoos must be covered, fingernails must be short and clean with no polish, and use of cell phone, food and drink is prohibited in class or during clinical/externship activity.
Health insurance. Students are expected to maintain their own health insurance while attending Texas Health School and are responsible for any medical expenses incurred during the course of the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Programs at Houston
Texas Health School in Houston, TX also offers these 5 programs at 11511 Katy Freeway, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77079.
- LVN to ADNAssociate Degree · 1,348 clock hours (60 semester credits) — 64 weeks, eight 8-week sessions
- Massage TherapyDiploma · 500 clock hours (23 semester credits) — 35 weeks day or evening
- MRI TechnologyAssociate Degree · 1,754 clock hours (71 semester credits) — 80 weeks, five 16-week semesters
- Nurse AideCertificate · 100 clock hours — 4 weeks day, 6.25 weeks evening or 12 weeks Saturday
- Vocational NursingDiploma · 1,440 clock hours (55 semester credits) — 48 weeks day or 74 weeks evening