Utah Accredited Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
Situated in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah offers a healthy lifestyle that emphasizes outdoor recreation and family-oriented fun. Medical assistants in this Western state play key roles in primary care clinics, community health centers, specialists’ offices, and more. If you’re looking for an accredited medical assistant school in Utah, you can start your search in these thriving metropolitan areas:
- Ogden
- Provo
- Salt Lake City
- St. George
Utah has one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, and employment prospects for medical assistants are strong. Because most employers in Utah prefer to hire medical assistants who are certified by an organization like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT), it’s important to know whether you’ll qualify to sit for a national exam after you graduate. Consider a school’s accreditation status, the program’s professional orientation, the length of the program, and job placement opportunities when you’re choosing a medical assistant school.
List of Utah Medical Assisting Programs
1. AmeriTech College
Locations: Draper, Provo
The accredited Medical Assistant Diploma program at AmeriTech College provides a solid foundation for students who want to assist nurses and physicians, provide patient care, perform diagnostic tests, or manage medical offices. The diploma program lasts 45 weeks. Graduates can take a national exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), or a National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA). Evening classes and online courses are available for students who need flexibility in their class schedules.
2. Eagle Gate College
Locations: Murray, Layton
By enrolling in one of Eagle Gate College’s Utah campuses, you can earn a Diploma in Medical Assisting. Most students can earn a diploma in 9 months, and externships are offered. Graduates can take the National Certification Exam for Medical Assistants, which is administered on campus at the end of the program.
3. Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College
Location: Ogden
The accredited Medical Assisting Program at Ogden-Weber Tech College is a one-year course of study that ends with an externship at a doctor’s office or clinic. The program covers a broad spectrum of subjects, including medical terminology, office management, insurance processing, safety procedures, electrocardiogram (ECG) testing, injection administration, and phlebotomy. Students who graduate from the program can increase their chances of getting a rewarding job by taking the Certified Medical Assistant Exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants.
4. Tooele Applied Technology College
Location: Tooele
Tooele Applied Technology College offers a Certificate of Proficiency in Clinical Medical Assisting. Clinical Medical Assistants work with a medical team to examine patients, collect specimens, provide direct patient care, and manage medical offices. The curriculum includes 900 hours of hands-on training and classroom coursework. The program concludes with an externship and a preparatory course for certification. The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Exam is administered by the National Healthcare Association.
5. Utah State University
Location: Logan
Utah State University is public research institution that offers a Medical Assistant Certificate program that can be completed two to three semesters, depending on how many prerequisites the student has completed prior to entering the program. The program consists of 30 semester credit-hours and includes courses like Medical Terminology, Administrative Competencies Lab, Pharmacology, and Pathophysiology. After students have successfully completed the didactic portion of the program, a four-week clinical externship follows. When this has been finished, students can choose to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) or the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credentialing examinations.
6. Latter Day Saints Business College
Location: Salt Lake City
Latter Day Saints Business College is a private two-year post-secondary educational institution that focused mainly on training students in business and industry. The college offers students two Medical Assistant training program choices: a Medical Assistant Certificate program and an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Medical Assisting. The certified program is made up of 16-29 semester credit-hours and can be completed in just two semesters. The AAS program, which is composed of 60-64 credits, takes 5 semesters to complete. In total, the certificate program costs approximately $3,800.
7. Bridgerland Technical College
Location: Logan
Bridgerland Technical College is a public community college that offers a Medical Assistant Certificate program which aims to ready students for an entry-level career as a medical assistant. The program, which combines in-class lecture, hands-on lab practice, and a clinical externship, features courses like Anatomy and Physiology, Workplace Relations, Clinical Procedures, and more. Following the successful completion of the program, students will have mastered core clinical and administrative competencies like performing injections, EKGs, patient histories, insurance billing, coding, and more. In total, the course duration is 1200 contact hours and takes about 10 months to complete.
8. Uintah Basin Applied Technology College
Location: Roosevelt
Uintah Basic Applied Technical College is a public community college and the very first technical school to be established in the state of Utah. The program, which consists of a total of 940 contact hours, combines in-class lectures, lab practice, and a clinical externship at a local hospital. Unlike many medical assistant programs, UBATC’s focus in on the clinical, clerical, and administrative aspects of medical assisting. The program seeks to give students with a wide knowledge base which includes health sciences, communication, and specialized skills related to assisting doctors and other healthcare professionals. Students considering enrolling in the program can expect to pay around $2,900, a price that includes tuition and other fees like books and supplies.
Rachel Dennis works as both a professional writer and health care provider. She has been a licensed health care provider since 1998, with work experience as a medical assistant, certified nursing assistant and emergency medical technician. She has been writing since 1994 and has been published both on-line and in print.