Collin College, Technical medical assistant program costs $1,215. Here is how its graduates do.
A certificate program in Allen, Level 1 certificate, 10 months; optional AAS (2 years, mostly online) after the certificate. 98.4% of its graduates passed a certification exam over 2021 to 2024.
The short version
- Its certification exam rate (98.4%) is above the Texas program median of 87.9%.
- 97.3% of graduates looking for work in the field found a job, by MAERB's measure.
- Its published cost is at or below the median for Texas medical assistant programs that publish one ($7,000).
- At 10% of the local median wage for medical assistants, the program cost is paid back in about 0.3 years.
These lines are generated from the numbers on this page and change when the data does.
How graduates do
MAERB requires every accredited program to publish the same outcome measures, so they can be compared program to program. 4
Graduates who passed a medical assistant certification exam, divided by graduates who took it, as the program reports it to MAERB. Most programs report a five-year average; some name the exam (CMA from the AAMA, or RMA from AMT) and some do not. Texas does not license medical assistants, but many employers require certification. Job placement: graduates employed as medical assistants or in a related field, as the program reports it to MAERB.
Where the money goes
About half of every dollar goes to certification exams. Tuition is not listed; the page points to the college tuition and fees page.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Textbooks | $315 |
| Scrubs | $50 |
| Immunization tracker | $40 |
| Drug testing | $40 |
| Background check | $40 |
| Lab fees (three courses) | $54 |
| Supply kit | $100 |
| Liability insurance | $11 |
| Certification exams | $565 |
| Total 1 | $1,215 |
* How we calculated this: The school's itemized non-tuition costs, added up; tuition not included.
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Estimated program costs, subject to change (undated, live page).
What medical assistants earn around Dallas
The median yearly wage for medical assistants in the Dallas metro area is $43,100. 3 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other medical assistant programs in the Dallas area
Compare all 2 medical assistant programs in the Dallas area
| Program | certification exam rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collin College, Technical (this page) Certificate, Allen | 98.4% | 97.3% | $1,215 |
| Dallas College, El Centro Certificate, Dallas | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
After you graduate: getting to work in Texas
Texas does not license medical assistants. Many employers prefer a national certification such as the CMA (AAMA) or the RMA (AMT).
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Graduate from (or finish coursework in) a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program, or qualify through the AAMA Alternative Pathway, and pass the CMA (AAMA) exam.5 | $125 |
| Alternative: take the AMT RMA exam via education (accredited program, 720 hours with 160 externship, graduated within 4 years), work experience, military, or instructor routes.6 | $150not counted |
Typical fees to start working: $125. Counts the CMA (AAMA) exam at the recent-graduate rate ($125). The RMA ($150) is an alternative. Certification is optional under Texas law. The CMA (AAMA) must be recertified every 60 months; the AMT RMA requires an annual fee ($75, rising to $85 from Feb 1, 2027) and 30 CCP points every three years. Full guide: how to become a medical assistant in Texas
With Collin College's published cost, the total to finish school and get credentialed is about $1,340, before prerequisites and living costs.
Program facts
- Credential
- Certificate
- Length
- Level 1 certificate, 10 months; optional AAS (2 years, mostly online) after the certificate
- Schedule
- Day classes at Technical and Wylie campuses; evening and weekend classes at Plano Campus
- Starts
- August (day classes)
- Before you apply
- No academic prerequisites listed; admission needs a program application with four essays, an information session and an interview.
- Entrance exam
- None listed; interview required
- Accreditation
- MAERB, Accredited (CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation)
- Leads to
- a national medical assistant certification exam (CMA, RMA or similar)
Sources and dates
- Collin College Medical Assisting program page, Estimated program costs, subject to change (undated, live page).
- Collin College, Technical program outcomes page, Program page states four-year averages for 2021 to 2024; no retention rate or CMA (AAMA) results posted.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Medical Assistants (31-9092), May 2025 estimates.
- Medical Assisting Education Review Board (programs accredited by CAAHEP) (MAERB), checked Nov. 2026.
- AAMA CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Application and Policies, Form Rev 1-26 (January 2026).
- AMT Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), checked Nov 2026.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or MAERB. Our independence policy