Western Technical College medical assistant program costs $18,062. Here is how its graduates do.
A certificate program in El Paso, Medical/Clinical Assistant certificate, 900 hours: 30 weeks (day) or 45 weeks (evening).
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.
The short version
- Its published cost is above 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 5.0 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
Three of every four dollars goes to tuition. Same total for day and evening certificates. The registration fee may be waived. Student and malpractice insurance are required but not priced.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $15,336 |
| Registration fee | $100 |
| Books and tools | $1,263 |
| Technology fees | $1,363 |
| Total 1 | $18,062 |
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Tuition addendum dated June 2026.
What medical assistants earn around El Paso
The median yearly wage for medical assistants in the El Paso metro area is $35,790. 3 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 Certificate, El Paso | 78.0% | Not reported | Not published |
| Western Technical College (this page) 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.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 Western Technical College's published cost, the total to finish school and get credentialed is about $18,187, before prerequisites and living costs.
Program facts
- Credential
- Certificate
- Length
- Medical/Clinical Assistant certificate, 900 hours: 30 weeks (day) or 45 weeks (evening)
- Schedule
- Hybrid, about 80% classroom and 20% online
- Accreditation
- MAERB, Accredited (CAAHEP, on MAERB recommendation) since Oct 10, 2019
- Leads to
- a national medical assistant certification exam (CMA, RMA or similar)
Sources and dates
- Western Technical College Tuition Costs Addendum (Rev. 6.2026), Tuition addendum dated June 2026.
- Western Technical College program outcomes page, 2025 MAERB Annual Report PDF gives only a cumulative 5-year weighted average retention rate for 2020 to 2024; 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