Trade Schools
Medical assistants play an important part in making sure that daily operations run smoothly in medical offices and clinics.
Their job description varies depending on the employer, but usually are responsible for completing administrative tasks, such as scheduling patients or filling out insurance forms, and clinical tasks such as administering medication as directed by physicians.
If you’re a compassionate person and you’re contemplating the idea of starting a career in the healthcare field, becoming a medical assistant can be the right choice for you.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in the field, you have to complete a specialized training program at a trade school or community college.
On this page, we have compiled information about the top medical assistant schools in Idaho.
1Idaho Medical Academy
About the School
The Idaho Medical Academy prepares students for careers in the healthcare field.
Programs are available for those who want to become firefighters, EMTs, Medical Assistants, Phlebotomy Technicians, and more.
Courses Offered
The following medical programs are available at Idaho Medical Academy:
- Medical Assistant Course
- Phlebotomy Technician Course
- Phlebotomy Refresher Course
- Basic Intravenous Therapy Course
- Medical Coding Course
The Medical Assistant course covers front-office and back-office skills.
Students who attend this program can graduate in only 20 weeks.
The program teaches a variety of skills, including:
- Answering phones and scheduling appointments
- Setting up referral appointments
- Updating and filing patient medical records
- Obtaining patient medical histories
- Preparing patients for examination
- Assisting the physician during examinations
- Performing waived laboratory tests
- Performing venipuncture
- And more
By the end of the program, students are ready to successfully take the national certification exams in their field.
Contact Information
- Address: 2323 South Vista Avenue Suite 203, Boise, ID 83705
- Phone: (208) 996-9248
- Website: https://www.idahomedicalacademy.com
2Medical Career Academy
About the School
Medical Career Academy provides high-quality healthcare education.
The school offers hands-on training in a facility based in Meridian, Idaho.
Classes are kept small and students learn from skilled professional instructors.
Each student receives individualized attention.
Courses Offered
A Medical Assistant program is available at the school.
The curriculum covers topics on:
- Medical Terminology/Anatomy & Physiology
- Administrative Medical Assistant
- Infection Control and Safety
- Law and Ethics
- Pharmacology
- Phlebotomy
- Clinical Skills
- National Exam Prep
This program costs $6,995 and includes a textbook, BLS CPR, background check, drug screen, uniform scrub top, and national certification exam.
Payment plans are available with a minimum deposit of $1,000.
This program can be completed in six months and students meet in class twice a week for 3-4 hours.
Students are required to provide a high school diploma or GED.
Programs are also available for those who want to start careers as Phlebotomy Technicians, Medical Coding Technicians, in the field of Basic Intravenous Therapy, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 2082 S. Eagle Rd. Meridian, ID 83642
- Phone: 208-506-2142
- Website: https://www.mcaidaho.com
3Carrington College
About the School
Carrington College offers a variety of medical and dental programs.
The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Students learn the skills needed for a career.
The hands-on classes are held by qualified instructors that help them gain real-world experience.
Programs are available online and at 18 school locations.
Courses Offered
A Medical Assisting program is available at the college.
This program prepares students for careers in medical clinics.
The program is available at 15 locations around the country, including in Boise, Idaho.
Students can graduate with a Certificate in as few as nine months.
The Medical Assistant curriculum covers classes on:
- Medical Office Administration
- Diagnostic Tests
- Assist with Patient Procedures
- Equipment and Supplies
Students learn how to perform clerical functions, such as bookkeeping functions and insurance claims processing as well as clinical tasks such as conducting diagnostic tests, explaining routine patient procedures, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1122 North Liberty Street, Boise, ID 83704
- Phone: (208) 779-3100
- Website: https://carrington.edu
4Eagle Gate College
About the School
Eagle Gate College provides training programs that prepare students for careers in nursing or healthcare.
The training program includes classroom instruction, simulation labs, and hands-on clinical experience.
The program is available at five campuses.
Eagle Gate College is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Medical Assistant program that can be completed in as few as nine months.
There is no entrance exam.
The training combines instruction, hands-on lab exercises, and a supervised externship.
The course prepares students for a range of certifications in the field.
Graduates are eligible for the Certified Medical Assistant certification exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
The medical assistant program is available in Boise and Idaho Falls.
The Medical Assistant curriculum includes classes on topics such as:
- Microbiology, hematology, venipuncture, and urinalysis
- Transcription and charting
- Patient vital signs
- Minor surgical assisting
- Injections and pharmacology
Contact Information
- Address: 9300 West Overland Road, Suite #200, Boise, Idaho 83709
- Phone: (208) 400-5809
- Website: https://www.eaglegatecollege.edu
5Idaho State University
About the School
Idaho State University offers educational programs that prepare students for employment in a variety of industries.
Courses Offered
The university’s catalog includes the following Health and Wellness classes:
- Assistance with Medications
- Community Health Programs
- Dental Assisting
- Emergency Medicine
- Mental Health
- Nursing Assistant
- Phlebotomy Technician
- And more
The following online health programs are also available: AHA Heartcode BLS Provider CPR, Basic EKG Interpretation, Certified Nurse Assistant, Effective Delegation for Healthcare, Medication Math, OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens, and more.
The program duration varies depending on the course.
The Assistance with Medication course includes eight hours of training taught in a one-day Saturday course or split between four evenings.
The Phlebotomy Technician program includes 160 hours of training, 60 hours of these being completed online.
Students meet twice per week for the skills portion of the course and afterward, the training continues with 40 hours of clinical experience.
Contact Information
- Address: 921 South 8th Avenue | Pocatello, Idaho, 83209
- Phone: (208) 282-4636
- Website: https://www.isu.edu
6North Idaho College
About the School
North Idaho College offers classes and programs that prepare students for careers in the fields of Industry/Trades, Health Careers, Computers/Technology, Business/Professional Development, Special interests, and more.
The college provides workforce training and dual credit programs.
Dual credit programs allow students to earn college credit while still in high school.
North Idaho College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1947.
Courses Offered
The following Health Careers programs are available at the college:
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Assistance with Medication
- Advanced CNA Programs
- Mental Health Certifications
- Health Careers
- Medical Office
A Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program is also available.
This program prepares students with the clinical and administrative skills needed for a career in this high-demand field.
The Apprenticeship can be completed in 8.5 months and includes 760 hours of training.
Students need 11 months for a Technical Certificate and 20 months for an Associate of Applied Science Degree.
Tuition for the Apprenticeship program is $3,995 and includes textbooks, national exam prep materials, and the CCMA exam fee.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 W. Garden Ave. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
- Phone: (208) 769-3300
- Website: https://www.nic.edu
7College of Western Idaho
About the School
College of Western Idaho provides career and technical education programs in a variety of areas of interest.
The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Tuition is $139 per credit for in-district Idaho residents and $139 plus $50 per credit (maximum of $500 per semester) for Idaho residents who live outside of Ada, Canyon, Twin Falls, Jerome, Kootenai, and Bonneville counties.
Courses Offered
College of Western Idaho provides a Medical Assistant credit program.
This program prepares students with the skills needed for performing administrative and clinical duties under the direction of a physician.
The administrative duties medical assistant students learn include:
- Scheduling appointments
- Maintaining medical records
- Billing and coding information for insurance purposes
The clinical duties included in a medical assistant’s job description usually include:
- Taking and recording vital signs and medical histories
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Drawing blood
- Administering medications as directed by a physician
Contact Information
- Address: 5500 E. Opportunity Dr. Nampa, ID 83687
- Phone: 208.562.3000
- Website: https://cwi.edu
8Milan Institute
About the School
Milan Institute offers career training programs in a variety of fields, including cosmetology, barbering, dental assisting, and medical assisting.
The programs are short-term and prepare students for entry-level employment in their field of choice.
Milan Institute is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assisting program available at the school prepares students for entry-level employment in a variety of medical settings.
The curriculum covers current medical information, demonstrations, and administrative, clinical, and laboratory skills.
The program is available at the school’s campuses in Texas, California, and Nevada.
Graduates are ready to perform duties such as:
- Taking vital signs and information
- Taking EKGs
- Removing sutures
- Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
- Instructing patients on special diets and medications
- Sterilizing medical instruments
- And more
An Administrative Medical Assistant program is also available at the college and covers the general administrative office duties, such as scheduling appointments, managing records, basic accounting, writing business letters, working with patient insurance, and standard medical billing practices.
Contact Information
- Address: 950 Industrial Way, Sparks, NV 89431
- Phone: 775-348-7200
- Website: https://milaninstitute.edu
9College of Eastern Idaho
About the School
College of Eastern Idaho offers high-quality education that prepares students for success in the workplace.
Different types of programs are available at the college: from one class that helps them upgrade skills to two-year associate degrees.
Tuition and general fees sum up to $1,680 for one semester for resident students.
Courses Offered
A Medical Assistant program is available at the college.
The program equips students with clinical skills, such as using sterile techniques and infection control, recording patient information, collecting and processing specimens, preparing and maintaining records, writing correspondence, and more.
The college has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1.
The Associate of Applied Science program in Medical Assisting lasts 24 months in total and includes:
- Two full-time semesters in prerequisites
- Two full-time semesters in the professional program
- One summer for clinical training
The Medical Assisting program available at the College of Eastern Idaho is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting for Allied Health Education Programs.
Graduates may find employment in medical settings such as special care centers, family medical offices, government departments, rehabilitation centers, physicians’ offices, and urgent care centers.
Contact Information
- Address: 1600 S 25th E, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
- Phone: (208) 524-3000
- Website: https://cei.edu
10College of Southern Idaho
About the School
College of Southern Idaho provides programs that help students earn a degree or college credit.
Through dual credit programs, students also have the option of earning college credits while still in high school.
The College of Southern Idaho is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Lower-division tuition is $140 per credit for in-district Idaho residents.
Out-of-district tuition is $140 per credit plus $50 per credit (up to $500 per semester) for other Idaho residents.
Courses Offered
A Medical Assistant program is available at the College of Southern Idaho.
This program prepares students with the skills needed when assisting healthcare providers in outpatient settings where they can perform administrative and clinical tasks.
The program leads to a Medical Assistant, Intermediate Technical Certificate.
The following program requirements are included in the curriculum:
- Writing and Rhetoric
- Introduction to Psychology
- Medical Terminology
- Clinical Procedures
- Integrated Medical Procedures
- Medical Assisting Practicum
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 315 Falls Ave, PO Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303
- Phone: (208) 733-9554
- Website: https://www.csi.edu
Regional Salary in Idaho
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 1,940 | $41,140 | $19.78 | $46,990 | $34,660 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 470 | $41,550 | $19.98 | $49,510 | $32,750 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 470 | $38,110 | $18.32 | $47,260 | $31,030 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 190 | $40,550 | $19.49 | $47,690 | $34,310 |
| Pocatello, ID | 200 | $37,130 | $17.85 | $44,870 | $29,000 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 140 | $38,220 | $18.37 | $46,060 | $30,630 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Idaho is home to many post-secondary programs that can prepare you for employment as an entry-level medical assistant.
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
