PBSC Medical Assisting Program Celebrates 25 Years of Accreditation

Palm Beach State College’s Medical Assisting Program is celebrating 25 years of accreditation this year from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), a milestone that reflects the program’s longstanding commitment to high-quality education. 

The program— the only CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Program of its kind in Palm Beach County—earned its initial accreditation on April 19, 2001. CAAHEP accreditation is granted following a recommendation from the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), CAAHEP’s committee on accreditation. The program was most recently reaccredited in 2023.

“Congratulations to the faculty and staff of the Medical Assisting Program on this remarkable milestone,” said Mike Sfiropoulos, PhD, vice president of academic affairs. “Reaching 25 years of CAAHEP accreditation is a testament to the program's sustained commitment to excellence, student success, and service to our community.”

Associate Professor and Department Chair Penny Knight, who began teaching medical assisting as an adjunct instructor at PBSC in 2016, has witnessed significant change within the program.

Previously offered as a 1,300-clock-hour Career Certificate Program, Medical Assisting now provides students with two flexible academic pathways: a 44-credit Medical Assisting Specialist College Career Certificate or a 65-credit Medical Assisting Advanced Associate in Science degree.

This month, the program expanded to the Loxahatchee Groves campus after previously being offered in person only at the Lake Worth campus. Students may also complete parts of the program online.

According to Knight, 75 percent of the core curriculum is offered online or in a hybrid format, giving students greater flexibility while preserving the hands-on learning experiences that are essential to healthcare education.

Students come to campus to learn and practice clinical skills such as drawing blood, performing electrocardiograms, administering vaccinations and completing other patient-care procedures. During their final course, students also complete 173 hours of clinical training in a healthcare setting.

“I am so proud of how much the program has grown and evolved over the years while continuing to remain focused on student success,” Knight said. “The most rewarding part has been seeing students gain confidence in the skills they are developing as they prepare for meaningful careers in healthcare.”

Looking ahead, Knight said she is optimistic about the future. 

“I hope we continue to expand access through flexible learning options, strengthen our clinical partnerships, incorporate emerging technologies in healthcare practices, and create even more opportunities for students to succeed,” she said.

One of the program’s faculty members, Heidi Morgan, is also a graduate of the program, bringing firsthand experience as a former student to her role in the classroom.

For more information about Palm Beach State College’s Medical Assisting Program, click HERE.