El Paso Community College medical assistant program: pass rate, jobs and local pay
A certificate program in El Paso, Certificate of Completion (C2), course sequence over three terms (Fall, Spring, Fall). 78.0% of its graduates passed a certification exam over 2020 to 2024.
The short version
- Its certification exam rate (78.0%) is below the Texas program median of 87.9%.
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. 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
El Paso Community College does not publish a total cost for this program. 2026-2027 degree plan lists only a $10 application fee and unpriced student costs; no program total. 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 El Paso
The median yearly wage for medical assistants in the El Paso metro area is $35,790. 2 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other medical assistant programs in the El Paso area
Compare all 2 medical assistant programs in the El Paso area
| Program | certification exam rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso Community College (this page) Certificate, El Paso | 78.0% | Not reported | Not published |
| Western Technical College Certificate, El Paso | Not reported | Not reported | $18,062 |
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
- Certificate of Completion (C2), course sequence over three terms (Fall, Spring, Fall)
- Starts
- Ranking dates June 1 and November 2; up to 12 students admitted
- Before you apply
- Health Careers Orientation and a specialized admissions application, with a 2.0 EPCC GPA and C or better in all courses.
- Entrance exam
- TSIA2 (Math 910, Reading and Writing 910, Essay 5)
- Accreditation
- MAERB, Accredited (CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation)
- Leads to
- a national medical assistant certification exam (CMA, RMA or similar)
Sources and dates
- El Paso Community College program outcomes page, Undated MAERB annual report PDF; yearly retention / exam passage: 2024 80% / 63%, 2023 94% / 89%, 2022 83% / 75%, 2021 68% / 92%, 2020 76% / 73%; no job placement 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