Medical Assisting is a Certificate program offered by Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness, FL. The program takes 900 clock hours to complete, with a total tuition of $2,628.
Program Overview
The program is designed to prepare students for employment as medical assistants, phlebotomists, and EKG technicians.
The program content includes but is not limited to communication, transcultural communication in healthcare, interpersonal skills, legal and ethical responsibilities, health-illness concepts, administrative and clinical duties, emergency procedures including CPR and first aid, emergency preparedness, safety and security procedures, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and employability skills.
Program. Medical Assisting is a 900-hour Career and Technical Education certificate program (Florida program number H170515) at Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness. A certificate of completion and/or licensure eligibility is issued to each student who successfully completes the competencies and meets the basic skills requirement for the program.
The 2025-2026 catalog says the typical student would complete this program in 1300 hours; the program page, the 2026-2027 cost sheet and the 2026-2027 program information sheet all give 900 hours, which is the figure used here.
What sets this Program apart
Mission. The mission of the Medical Assisting program is to provide instruction which will enable an individual to pursue a career as a medical assistant. An integral part of this mission is to prepare students to successfully pass three certifications: Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician, and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.
Accredited college. Withlacoochee Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, celebrating 41 years of accreditation, and is an approved training site of the Florida State Board of Cosmetology, Florida State Board of Nursing, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, Florida Board of Massage Therapy, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and HVAC Excellence. All programs offered at WTC are approved and regulated by the Florida Department of Education.
Articulation. Many of WTC’s programs have articulation agreements with the state’s college system: depending on the program of study, a student who completes a particular program can earn up to 15 credits toward an associate degree in a related field.
Admission Requirements and Process
Post-secondary admission. Students 16 years or older are eligible to apply for admission to many of WTC’s programs. The admissions process must be completed before enrollment and, with a few exceptions, programs are open for enrollment in August and January of each school year. Most programs admit students on a first-come, first-served basis; if the program is full, a waiting list is maintained.
Enrollment process. The enrollment process includes completing the online application, testing and counseling (if required), meeting with an advisor, and paying the nonrefundable enrollment fee. Student Services will arrange tours of the campus and/or appointments with instructors to view the classroom/shop areas.
Residency. Two forms of documentation providing at least 12 consecutive months of residency prior to enrolling, and a completed Residency Affidavit, are needed to qualify for in-state tuition. Honorably discharged veterans and other students using educational assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may qualify for an out-of-state fee waiver.
Transfer of credit. Students who attended other accredited technical centers may submit copies of their records at the time of application; records are reviewed by counselors in conjunction with individual instructors to determine if credit can be transferred.
Program admission requirements. In addition to WTC admission requirements, the following program requirements apply:
- Lifting patients is required; therefore, students must be able to lift, bend, and do moderate to heavy activities.
- Applicants are warned that it can be difficult to become employed in this field with a criminal background. Therefore, an applicant with a criminal background should discuss the situation with the program instructor before enrolling.
- Provide documentation of having had a physical examination by a qualified healthcare provider, a negative tuberculosis test, and current with required vaccinations by the program’s clinical facilities (upon acceptance)
General Requirements
- At least 16 years oldStudents 16 years or older are eligible to apply for admission to many of WTC’s programs.
- Proof of Florida residencyProvide two forms of documentation showing at least 12 consecutive months of residency prior to enrolling, and complete the Residency Affidavit.
- Transcript or CASAS resultsProvide an official transcript from high school, a college diploma, or CASAS results.
- Basic skillsMeet the basic skills levels for the program to exit as a full program completer.
- Meet with an advisorComplete testing and counseling (if required) and meet with an advisor before enrolling.
Application Process
- 1Gather your documentsTwo forms of documentation providing at least 12 consecutive months of residency, a completed Residency Affidavit, and an official transcript from high school, a college diploma, or CASAS results.
- 2Complete the online applicationComplete the WTC online application, choosing the Career Technical Application as the form type.
- 3Apply for financial aidApply for the Federal Pell Grant with the FAFSA (WTC school code is 016258).
- 4Check your emailCheck your email for further instructions, then complete testing and counseling (if required), meet with an advisor and pay the nonrefundable enrollment fee.
Program Schedule
Schedule. Start Date: August. Time: Monday to Thursday (& select Fridays), 8am to 2:30pm.
Enrollment. Post-secondary and dual enrollment students enroll in this program on a full-time basis. The practicum schedule includes an 8 to 10-hour workday, so students must be available for that timeframe in order to complete this portion of the program. Students must also have reliable transportation.
Calendar. WTC uses a two-session calendar. The fall session, for most programs, starts in the beginning of August and ends in December; the spring session starts in January and ends in May. Short programs and licensure programs may start earlier or later than this schedule, and some programs, such as the Florida Law Enforcement Academy, are offered in the evenings and on weekends. Unless otherwise specified for the program, full-time post-secondary students attend class Monday through Friday with a scheduled 30-minute lunch break.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Withlacoochee Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition and fees. The 2026-2027 Post-Secondary Cost Sheet for Medical Assisting (900 hours) lists:
- Enrollment Fee (non-refundable): $40.00
- Registration Fee (non-refundable): $30.00 + $30.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
- Activity Fee (non-refundable): $30.00
- Tuition: $1,314.00 + $1,314.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
- Lab Fee: $440.00 + $440.00 (Session 1 + Session 2)
- Liability Insurance: $25.00
- CPR Card - BLS (includes tax): $15.00
- Certified EKG Technician (CET) Industry Certification: $147.00
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Industry Certification: $184.00
- Certified Clinical Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Industry Certification: $147.00
- Fingerprinting Fee (pre-clinical): $25.00
Total for tuition and fees: $2,041.00 (Session 1) and $2,140.00 (Session 2).
Rates. Post-secondary students are assessed college fees and program tuition and fees which vary based on the number of clock hours in the program and instructional requirements; the in-state rate is $2.92 per clock hour, and students must meet residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition rates. Some students may require additional hours to complete a program; additional blocks of time are available and tuition will be charged accordingly. All prices are subject to change pending vendor changes, legislative actions and/or district approval.
Paying. All payments are made in Student Services / Cashier’s Office; cash, check, Visa or Mastercard are accepted. Dual enrolled or shared high school students pay no tuition or fees.
Financial aid. Financial assistance is meant to supplement the efforts of the student and/or the student’s family and is available to eligible students. The following sources may be available to WTC students: Federal Pell Grant (WTC school code is 016258), Veterans’ Educational Benefits, State-based Scholarships and Grants, and Community-Based Scholarships. WTC does not provide student loans. The finalized FAFSA application and supporting documentation must be received by the WTC Financial Aid Office prior to the May 15th deadline to be eligible for approval and award.
Net Price Calculator. WTC publishes the federal Net Price Calculator, which uses student-entered and institution-provided data to estimate a net price at WTC.
Cost of attendance. Student budgets (cost of attendance) are a calculation component for determining financial aid assistance and are not the actual program cost; WTC’s COA is based on estimated costs over a 10-month period and includes average tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses.
Curriculum
Program content for the 900-hour program, as published on the program page and program information sheet:
- Anatomy & physiology
- Administrative duties
- EKG
- Performing diagnostic tests
- Medical terminology
- Phlebotomy
- Patient scheduling & records management
- Administering medications
WTC publishes the program content and its total length but no course-by-course hours, so no course table is shown.
Career Outcomes
Employment. Employees in this field would be required to undergo background checks and drug screenings prior to hiring them at potential employment facilities. Employees may be required to do physical lifting up to 50 lbs. and must be capable of standing for extended periods of time. Proof of current immunizations and a physical exam may be required.
Industry certification. The industry certifications for this program are Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified EKG Technician (CET), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) through the National Health career Association (NHA). NHA requires a high school diploma or equivalent to receive any certification. Students who do not meet this requirement prior to testing will be issued a provisional certificate until the requirement is met. The student is responsible for providing NHA, within the allowed timeframe, the high school diploma or equivalency, if earned after testing.
Occupations. The program’s cost sheet lists Standard Occupational Classification code(s) 31-9092, 31-9099, 43-4171, 31-9097.
Learn more. The program information sheets point students to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics to learn more about the career field.
What to expect as a Withlacoochee Technical College student
Helpful information.
- Must be able to pass a Level II background screening and drug test
- Must provide physical for entrance to program
- Must be able to lift 50+ pounds
- Must be able to provide immunization history (TB PPD or titer required; recommended immunizations for ease of clinical placement: Flu, Covid, Hepatitis B, Tdap, MMR, Varicella)
- Health Insurance Recommended (Required for some clinical sites)
- Tattoos must be able to be covered as per clinical site policy/requirements
- No un-natural hair color as per clinical site policy/requirements
- Must have own transportation to school and clinical sites
- Must be willing and able to work with blood and body fluids
- Ability to multi-task
- Must be able to stand for 8- to-10-hour shifts
- Must possess good communication skills
- Artificial nails are not allowed due to CDC infection control standards
- A good support system is helpful
- Prepared for many hours of study time
Work-based learning. Opportunities to participate in work-based learning include clinical/practicum. Successfully complete a Level 2 background check prior to placement in clinical/practicum. Note: Some clinical sites require students to be at least 18 years old and/or only accept post-secondary students. Contact the instructor for further information.
Basic skills. Students are required to meet basic skills levels to exit the program as a full program completer. The required scores to exit this program are Computation (Mathematics) 10 and Communications (Reading or Language Arts) 10.
Completion requirements. In addition to WTC completion requirements, students must meet ALL the following conditions to earn a certificate of program completion from WTC: Must pass all required courses in the program with a 70% or better average per course. Attendance is critical for success. Students cannot be absent for more than 16 hours of the clinical/practicum portion of the program to be a program completer.
Certificate. To earn a Certificate of Program Completion from WTC a student must pass all courses and OCPs in the program, settle all school debt, and meet Florida Basic Skills requirements for the program; licensing programs have more rigorous attendance and grade requirements.
Safety and insurance. Participating in any lab or clinical setting can be dangerous in nature and involves many risks of injury, so it is important to follow teacher instructions and safety rules and wear proper safety attire. WTC strongly encourages students to purchase some type of accident insurance; the Citrus County School District has arranged for low-cost accident insurance to be available to students.
Activities. Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations such as SkillsUSA, which promotes career development and leadership skills; WTC has an active chapter of the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and a Trailblazers group for students in programs nontraditional to their gender.
Campus. Withlacoochee Technical College is located on State Road 44 in Inverness, approximately 75 miles north of Tampa; the campus consists of several buildings located on forty acres near the center of town. WTC is a public institution authorized by the State of Florida and operated by the Citrus County School District, and has an authorized assessment center on campus for ability tests, certification or licensure exams, and GED® exams.
Other Programs at Inverness
Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness, FL also offers these 21 programs at 1201 W. Main Street, Inverness, FL 34450.
- Applied CybersecurityCertificate · 750 clock hours
- Computer Systems & Information TechnologyCertificate · 900 clock hours
- Correctional OfficerCertificate · 445 clock hours (approximately four months)
- CosmetologyCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Crossover from Correctional Officer to Law Enforcement OfficerCertificate · 518 clock hours
- Crossover from Law Enforcement Officer to Correctional OfficerCertificate · 223 clock hours
- ElectricityCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Equivalency of Training (EOT) - Correctional OfficerOther · About one week
- Equivalency of Training (EOT) - Law Enforcement OfficerOther · About one week
- Firefighter and EMT Combined AcademyCertificate · 792 clock hours (approximately 6 months)
- Florida Law Enforcement AcademyCertificate · 770 clock hours
- Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/RefrigerationCertificate · 1,350 clock hours
- Industrial Machinery and Controls TechnicianCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Massage TherapyCertificate · 750 clock hours
- Master Automotive Service Technology 1Certificate · 1,050 clock hours (10 months)
- Master Automotive Service Technology 2Certificate · 750 clock hours (7 months)
- Practical NursingCertificate · 1,350 clock hours
- Professional Culinary Arts & HospitalityCertificate · 1,200 clock hours
- Professional Nursing (LPN-RN)Certificate · 900 clock hours (approximately 12 months)
- Welding TechnologyCertificate · 1,050 clock hours
- Welding Technology - AdvancedCertificate · 750 clock hours