Dallas College, El Centro medical assistant program: pass rate, jobs and local pay
A certificate program in Dallas, Credit certificates of 8 months to 1 year; workforce (CEU) options also listed.
We are still collecting data for this program. This page will be listed in search once it has published outcomes and a cost or program details.
How graduates do
MAERB requires every accredited program to publish the same outcome measures, so they can be compared program to program. 3
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.
What it costs
Dallas College does not publish a total cost for this program. Page gives tuition-only estimates for five medical assisting awards ($1,980 to $11,520) but does not say which award is the CAAHEP-accredited one. Ask the program for its cost sheet; contact details are on its page.
For comparison only, not this program's price: the 6 Texas medical assistant programs that publish a cost range from $1,215 to $18,062, with a median of $7,000.
What medical assistants earn around Dallas
The median yearly wage for medical assistants in the Dallas metro area is $43,100. 2 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 Certificate, Allen | 98.4% | 97.3% | $1,215 |
| Dallas College, El Centro (this page) 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.4 | $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.5 | $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
Program facts
- Credential
- Certificate
- Length
- Credit certificates of 8 months to 1 year; workforce (CEU) options also listed
- Schedule
- In person at the Downtown Health Sciences Center; includes a 160-hour internship
- Accreditation
- MAERB, Accredited (CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation)
- Leads to
- a national medical assistant certification exam (CMA, RMA or similar)
Sources and dates
- Dallas College, El Centro program outcomes page, Program page (updated Oct 29, 2026) lists retention only: five-year cumulative 85.71% for 2021 to 2025; yearly 2025 86.21%, 2024 82.14%, 2023 88.00%, 2022 86.67%, 2021 85.37%, 2020 75.56%; no job placement or exam 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