Medical Assistant Programs in Idaho
You can become a certified medical assistant (CMA) in less than a year. Get started on a rewarding career in the booming healthcare sector as a medical assistant. The key is training to become a medical assistant and then passing the certified medical assistant exam. Certification is not legally required in Idaho to work in medical assisting, but it is increasingly becoming preferred by hospitals, clinics and offices alike.
The first step is to undertake a medical assistant program in Idaho offered by an accredited school. These are available both online and in community and junior colleges and vocational and training schools throughout Idaho. You will want to consider a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredited medical assisting school or program if you plan to take the certified medical assistant exam. An online medical assisting program may be your only choice depending on where you live in Idaho. You can find the accredited online medical assistant schools in Idaho listed below. to meet the demand, colleges in the state of Idaho are adding medical assistant programs to meet the needs of the hospitals and workforce. Certification training courses usually take nine months to a year. Alternatively, you can pursue an associate degree over two years.
Once you have completed your accredited medical assistant training, you are able to take the certified medical assistant exam, given by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). This training or some work experience is a prerequisite in order to take the exam. When you pass this exam, you may have a competitive edge in the job market as a CMA, and a head start on your career, ready to work in public or private hospitals, outpatient clinics, physicians’ offices, or specialists’ offices, such as podiatrists or chiropractors.
Medical assistant training will cover many areas, as the duties in medical assisting are very broad. Medical assistants might have more varied responsibilities in smaller offices, or more specialized duties in larger practices or in hospitals. Either way, a good medical assistant will need to be able to cross over from taking care of administrative and clerical duties to assisting with technical procedures. All medical assistants need to understand billing, record keeping, medical coding, and have good communication skills for dealing with patients, insurance companies, and other medical professionals. Clinical medical assistant training will also cover many areas, such as anatomy, physiology, phlebotomy, pharmacology, first aid, and medical terminology.
The mean salary for a medical assistant in Idaho is $30,750, with the salary closer to $25,000 in the east Idaho non-metropolitan areas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were over 1,500 medical assistants working Idaho in 2008, and the outlook for the job in this state is excellent. The healthcare sector is growing rapidly and Idaho is working hard to obtain and retain workers to meet the healthcare needs of the growing aging population. Additionally, medical support positions are some of the fastest growing professions and are projected to continue growing at a rate of 35% through 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advancement opportunities include becoming an office administrator or specializing in a certain area of medicine. This is a great opportunity to obtain a job with good benefits, security, and a future. Find the right training program to get you there, today.
Medical Assistant Programs in Idaho
Carrington College
Each of the Carrington College campuses is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
Programs Offered: Medical Assistant
Select a Campus to Learn More: Boise
Brown Mackie College - Boise
The Brown Mackie College programs are accredited by the ACICS.
Programs Offered: Medical Assisting - Associate's, Medical Assistant - Diploma
Select a Campus to Learn More: Boise
Milan Institute
Upon graduation from the medical assisting program at Milan Institute you will be prepared to operate in administrative and clinical capacities in a health care environment. Start training now for a rewarding career as a medical assistant.
Programs Offered: Medical Assisting
Stevens-Henager College
The Stevens-Henager Campuse in Boise is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).
Programs Offered: Medical Specialties - Associate's
Select a Campus to Learn More: Boise
Medical Assistant Programs Offered Online in Idaho
Kaplan University - Online
The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting is accredited by the American Association of Medial Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant exam, given by the American Association of Medical Assistants; or the Registered Medical Assistant exam, offered by the American Medical Technologists.* Recognized in all states.
Programs Offered: Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, and Pharmacy Technician
Herzing University Online
The Diploma and Associate's in Medical Assisting programs offered by Herzing University Online are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), which means graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Graduates are also eligible to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam administered by the American Medical Technologist Association (AMT).
Programs Offered: Diploma, Associate's, Bachelor's | Medical Assisting, Health Care, Health Information Management, Medical Billing & Insurance Coding, Medical Office Administration
Keiser University - E-Campus Online
The Medical Assisting program at Keiser University is accredited by the ABHES, which means graduates are eligible to sit for the CMA exam administered by the AAMA. Graduates are also eligible to sit for the RMA Exam administered by the American Medical Technologist Association (AMT).
Programs Offered: AA in Medical Assisting
San Joaquin Valley College
Graduates of the certificate or Associate's Medical Assisting programs are eligible to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant Exam.
Programs Offered: Clinical Medical Assisting Certificate (Online) or Clinical Medical Assisting Associate's Degree (Online)

