This college was established in 1978 and incorporated with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, as the Nurse Assistant Training School, Inc. d/b/a Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations in West Palm Beach, Florida to provide education, career opportunities and student development due to a dire need for workers in the health care field. It was established to offer vocational, Associate Degree, and non-vocational programs to enhance the health care workforce through educational programs and activities designed to improve job skills and to secure and retain health care jobs. It intended to provide new career opportunities for students willing to apply themselves to improve their quality of life.

Under the constant direction of Lois M. Gackenheimer Richards PhD. Ed, Registered Nurse, the college expanded its staff, facilities, and curriculum to offer education not only in Nurse Assisting, but Home Health Care, Patient Care Assisting, Self Improvement Skills, and Medical Ethics. These changes reflected Dr. Gackenheimer Richards' progressive vision of the direction Health Care employment would take and the resulting broadened roles and responsibilities health care workers would be expected to fulfill. In 1992 the College became a Chapter of the Health Occupations Students of America Organization, and in 1996, the college expanded even further to include education in areas such as Rehab/Restorative Nursing, Phlebotomy, and Electrocardiography, thereby creating a well-rounded Patient Care Assistant and Patient Care Technician Program. By 1997, the college began its first class of Practical Nursing students and has continued to supply outstanding Practical Nurses to health care facilities throughout the County.

Today, ANHO proudly counts its graduates to number over 10,000 men and women with over 80% of its graduates obtaining employment in the Health Care Field. In 2009 ANHO became an official chapter of Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society, and in 2011 the college expanded its offerings to include General Education courses and offers Associate of Science Degree in Practical Nursing and Associate of Science Degree in Professional Nursing.