Medical assistants play a central role in keeping clinics, physician offices, and healthcare facilities running smoothly. They handle both clinical tasks — like taking vital signs, drawing blood, and preparing patients for exams — and administrative work like scheduling appointments, managing medical records, and processing insurance claims.
In Florida, the demand for medical assistants is strong and growing. The state ranks among the top three employers of medical assistants in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metro area is also among the largest metro areas in the country for medical assistant employment.
If you’re considering this career path, here’s what you need to know — from the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, to the steps involved in getting started, to what you can expect to earn.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants work under the direction of physicians and other healthcare providers. Depending on the size of the practice, they may focus on one area or handle a mix of both clinical and administrative duties.
Clinical responsibilities can include:
- Taking and recording vital signs (weight, height, temperature, blood pressure)
- Preparing patients for examinations and minor procedures
- Administering injections and medications as directed by a physician
- Drawing blood (phlebotomy) and collecting laboratory specimens
- Performing EKG tests
- Applying and changing wound dressings
- Providing patients with information about treatments and outpatient care
Administrative responsibilities can include:
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Managing health records and medical documentation
- Processing insurance claims, billing, and coding
- Greeting and registering patients
- Answering phone calls and coordinating office communications
In larger healthcare settings like hospitals or group practices, medical assistants may specialize in either clinical or administrative work. In smaller offices, they typically handle both.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida: Step by Step
Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements
The starting point is a high school diploma or equivalent. No prior healthcare experience is required to enroll in a medical assistant program.
Step 2: Enroll in an Accredited Medical Assistant Program
Look for an accredited program that combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training. Accreditation ensures the curriculum meets established educational standards. FVI School of Nursing and Technology is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE).
Step 3: Complete Your Coursework and Externship
A medical assistant program covers both clinical skills and administrative competencies. FVI’s program is 36 instructional weeks (approximately 9 months), which includes classroom and lab coursework as well as a 180-hour externship in a working medical office where students gain supervised, real-world experience.
Step 4: Earn Your Certification
After completing the program, graduates are eligible to sit for nationally recognized certification exams. At FVI, graduates may challenge the Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) exam, as well as the Nationally Registered Certified EKG Technician (NRCEKG) and Nationally Registered Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NRCPT) exams. Holding a certification can strengthen your qualifications when applying for positions.
Step 5: Start Your Career
With a diploma and certification, medical assistants can apply for entry-level positions in physician offices, outpatient care centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, and other healthcare settings.
FVI’s Medical Assistant Program: A Quick Overview
FVI School of Nursing and Technology offers a medical assistant training program in Florida designed to prepare students for entry-level medical assistant positions. Here are the key details:
- Credential: Diploma
- Program length: 36 instructional weeks (approximately 9 months, including externship)
- Locations: Medical assistant program in Miami (bilingual English/Spanish) and medical assistant program in Miramar (English)
- Class schedule: Monday through Thursday, 20 hours per week — Day session: 8:30 AM–1:30 PM | Evening session: 5:30 PM–10:30 PM
- Delivery formats: Synchronous online, blended, and residential
- Externship: 180 hours in a working medical office (Monday–Friday, during business hours)
- Certification eligibility: NRCMA, NRCEKG, NRCPT
- Included: CPR/BLS certification and in-service training (OSHA, HIPAA, infection control, and more)
- Accreditation: FVI School of Nursing and Technology is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE).
Who Is This Program For?
FVI’s Medical Assistant program serves a wide range of students. The program may be a good fit if you are:
- A recent high school graduate exploring careers in healthcare
- A working adult looking to transition into the medical field
- Someone seeking a healthcare credential within a shorter timeframe than a nursing or degree program requires
- A bilingual (English/Spanish) individual — the Miami campus offers bilingual instruction, and bilingual medical assistants are in demand across South Florida
- A person with family or work commitments who needs flexible scheduling — FVI offers both day and evening class options, with many courses available online or in a hybrid format
FVI’s student body is diverse, with students from many cultural backgrounds and at many different stages of life. The program is designed with adult learners in mind, including dedicated technical support for students who may be newer to online and hybrid learning tools.
Medical assistants play a central role in keeping clinics, physician offices, and healthcare facilities running smoothly. They handle both clinical tasks — like taking vital signs, drawing blood, and preparing patients for exams — and administrative work like scheduling appointments, managing medical records, and processing insurance claims.
In Florida, the demand for medical assistants is strong and growing. The state ranks among the top three employers of medical assistants in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metro area is also among the largest metro areas in the country for medical assistant employment.
If you’re considering this career path, here’s what you need to know — from the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, to the steps involved in getting started, to what you can expect to earn.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants work under the direction of physicians and other healthcare providers. Depending on the size of the practice, they may focus on one area or handle a mix of both clinical and administrative duties.
Clinical responsibilities can include:
- Taking and recording vital signs (weight, height, temperature, blood pressure)
- Preparing patients for examinations and minor procedures
- Administering injections and medications as directed by a physician
- Drawing blood (phlebotomy) and collecting laboratory specimens
- Performing EKG tests
- Applying and changing wound dressings
- Providing patients with information about treatments and outpatient care
Administrative responsibilities can include:
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Managing health records and medical documentation
- Processing insurance claims, billing, and coding
- Greeting and registering patients
- Answering phone calls and coordinating office communications
In larger healthcare settings like hospitals or group practices, medical assistants may specialize in either clinical or administrative work. In smaller offices, they typically handle both.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida: Step by Step
Step 1: Meet the Basic Requirements
The starting point is a high school diploma or equivalent. No prior healthcare experience is required to enroll in a medical assistant program.
Step 2: Enroll in an Accredited Medical Assistant Program
Look for an accredited program that combines classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training. Accreditation ensures the curriculum meets established educational standards. FVI School of Nursing and Technology is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE).
Step 3: Complete Your Coursework and Externship
A medical assistant program covers both clinical skills and administrative competencies. FVI’s program is 36 instructional weeks (approximately 9 months), which includes classroom and lab coursework as well as a 180-hour externship in a working medical office where students gain supervised, real-world experience.
Step 4: Earn Your Certification
After completing the program, graduates are eligible to sit for nationally recognized certification exams. At FVI, graduates may challenge the Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) exam, as well as the Nationally Registered Certified EKG Technician (NRCEKG) and Nationally Registered Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NRCPT) exams. Holding a certification can strengthen your qualifications when applying for positions.
Step 5: Start Your Career
With a diploma and certification, medical assistants can apply for entry-level positions in physician offices, outpatient care centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, and other healthcare settings.
FVI’s Medical Assistant Program: A Quick Overview
FVI School of Nursing and Technology offers a medical assistant training program in Florida designed to prepare students for entry-level medical assistant positions. Here are the key details:
- Credential: Diploma
- Program length: 36 instructional weeks (approximately 9 months, including externship)
- Locations: Medical assistant program in Miami (bilingual English/Spanish) and medical assistant program in Miramar (English)
- Class schedule: Monday through Thursday, 20 hours per week — Day session: 8:30 AM–1:30 PM | Evening session: 5:30 PM–10:30 PM
- Delivery formats: Synchronous online, blended, and residential
- Externship: 180 hours in a working medical office (Monday–Friday, during business hours)
- Certification eligibility: NRCMA, NRCEKG, NRCPT
- Included: CPR/BLS certification and in-service training (OSHA, HIPAA, infection control, and more)
- Accreditation: FVI is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE).
Who Is This Program For?
FVI’s Medical Assistant program serves a wide range of students. The program may be a good fit if you are:
- A recent high school graduate exploring careers in healthcare
- A working adult looking to transition into the medical field
- Someone seeking a healthcare credential within a shorter timeframe than a nursing or degree program requires
- A bilingual (English/Spanish) individual — the Miami campus offers bilingual instruction, and bilingual medical assistants are in demand across South Florida
- A person with family or work commitments who needs flexible scheduling — FVI offers both day and evening class options, with many courses available online or in a hybrid format
FVI’s student body is diverse, with students from many cultural backgrounds and at many different stages of life. The program is designed with adult learners in mind, including dedicated technical support for students who may be newer to online and hybrid learning tools.
What You’ll Learn In FVI’s Medical Assistant School in Florida
The Medical Assistant program covers a broad range of clinical and administrative competencies.
Clinical training:
- Basic anatomy and physiology
- Pharmacology for medical assistants
- Phlebotomy (blood draws and specimen collection)
- EKG/ECG techniques and interpretation
- Patient preparation and clinical procedures (vital signs, assisting with exams and minor procedures, administering injections)
- Introduction to X-ray and diagnostic imaging
Administrative training:
- Medical office administration (reception, scheduling, patient registration, electronic health records)
- Medical insurance, billing, and coding (CPT, ICD-10-CM, claims processing)
- Professional career development (workplace readiness, communication, and professionalism)
The program’s 180-hour externship gives students supervised, hands-on experience in a real medical office, applying both clinical and administrative skills in a professional setting.
Salary and Job Outlook for Medical Assistants in Florida
Medical assisting is a growing field, both nationally and in Florida.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for medical assistants nationally was $44,200 as of May 2024. In Florida, BLS data shows a mean annual wage of approximately $43,290. Florida medical assistants also benefit from the state’s lack of a state income tax, which can increase take-home pay compared to many other states.
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow by 12% nationally from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for medical assistants and other allied healthcare professionals is driven by an aging population, increased need for outpatient services, and ongoing turnover as workers retire or change careers.
Florida is well-positioned within this growth. The BLS ranks the state as among the top three employers of medical assistants in the country, with over 66,000 people working in the role statewide.
Salary figures reflect national and state-level data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are not guaranteed outcomes for FVI graduates. Actual earnings vary based on experience, certification, employer, and location.
Why Students Choose FVI
FVI School of Nursing and Technology has been training healthcare professionals since 2007. FVI is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) and licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE).
Personalized Attention
Faculty and staff work closely with each student, from enrollment through graduation, providing individualized academic guidance. Small class sizes allow instructors to build one-on-one relationships with students and address questions as they come up.
Flexible Scheduling
The program offers both day and evening sessions, with many courses available online or in a hybrid format. This flexibility is designed for students who are balancing school with work, family, or other commitments.
Hands-On Experience and Employer Partnerships
The program’s 180-hour externship places students in a professional healthcare setting, where they apply their training in real clinical and administrative environments. FVI maintains clinical partnerships with healthcare organizations across South Florida, including Holy Cross, Pediatrics Associates, and Memorial Health.
Career Services and Financial Aid
Career Services support is available to students and graduates, including resume-building guidance and interview preparation. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, and FVI’s financial aid team can walk students through the process of completing the FAFSA and exploring grants, scholarships, loans, and other options.
Program Completion Rate
The Medical Assistant program has a 79% completion rate, reflecting FVI’s ongoing commitment to supporting students throughout the program.
Take the Next Step
If you’re interested in a career in medical assisting, FVI’s Medical Assistant program offers a clear path to entering the field in approximately 9 months. Learn more about the program, visit a campus, or speak with an admissions representative to find out whether it’s the right fit for you.
Contact us for more information, or apply now to get started.
Graduation does not guarantee employment or licensure. Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). See FVI’s Consumer Information page for the most current tuition and fee details.
