Medical Assistant Schools in Idaho

Becoming a medical assistant in Idaho requires hard skills like billing and coding, clinical assessment, and first aid. It also requires soft skills, like interpersonal skills, empathy, and attention to detail.

Candidates have the best chance to acquire all of those skills when they attend a high-quality training program. The state, employers, and prospective training programs also have a few established guidelines for professionals in this field.

Furthermore, candidates must look for factors that they may focus on for career opportunities. We analyze all of these considerations below so that readers of the page can be as well-prepared as possible before they begin their journey.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Idaho

Medical assistants in Idaho tend to begin their careers by following the path below.

High School Classes

Having a high school diploma is pivotal to becoming a medical assistant in Idaho. Training programs and potential employers often insist on applicants being at least 18 years old.

For the high school diploma requirement, those who don’t have one may utilize a GED equivalent.

Academic Education

Academic education is regarded as the first step to becoming a medical assistant. The second stop is real-world education.

Individuals often choose certificate programs when choosing a medical assistant program. However, they may also choose associate degree programs.

The most important thing is to choose a program with the right accreditation. The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) are the responsible authorities for accrediting medical assistant programs.

Hands-On Education

After academic training, candidates’ next stop is to work in a medical establishment. Here, they will learn how to carry out their jobs in a functional environment.

Some candidates may choose to receive on-the-job training directly and skip academic education.

Specialization & Continuing Education

While administrative medical assistants thrive in any environment, clinical medical assistants may want to narrow their focus. Possible options include ophthalmology, geriatrics, and family practice.

For continuing education, candidates may consider nursing programs or programs in EKG, surgical technician, and phlebotomy, among others.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

Once candidates complete training, they can secure full-time positions as medical assistants in Idaho. However, pursuing professional credentials can be crucial for appealing to the best medical establishments in the area.

Thanks to the continuing education requirements associated with these credentials, certified people can also improve themselves. The best credentials to pursue may depend on specific focus areas.

The most prominent are the Certified Medical Assistant and Registered Medical Assistant credentials offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants and the American Medical Technologists, respectively.

Obtaining these credentials comes with application fees and professional examinations.

Top Medical Assistant Schools in Idaho

The institutions below are notable for top-quality medical assistant programs in Idaho.

Explore medical assistant schools in Idaho by city:

• Medical assistant schools in Boise

Salary & Career Outlook

A survey of thousands of medical assistants in Idaho revealed some relevant data regarding the annual average salaries of these professionals — on a general level and based on location. The general figures can be divided into three broad categories.

These include those who are still among the bottom 10% of earners, who manage an annual average salary of $35,890, those who are still among the median earners, who manage an annual average salary of $45,148, and those who are among the top 10%, who manage an annual average salary of $56,793.

The categorizations by location reveal the most favorable places to work as a medical assistant in Idaho based on annual average income alone. These include cities like Nampa, with an annual average salary of $51,938; Coeur d’Alene, with an annual average salary of $49,252; Lewiston, with an annual average salary of $47,649; and Meridian, with an annual average salary of $46,813.

Candidates may use their experience, location, credentials, and work environment to earn higher average salaries. As for the profession’s future, the BLS expects a 15% increase in growth rate every year for the next 10 years.