Overview

Launch a successful and rewarding healthcare career as a Medical Assistant!

Are you intrigued by the intersection of clinical expertise and administrative efficiency in healthcare? Our Medical Assistant program is designed to equip aspiring professionals with the skills and knowledge essential for success in this dynamic field.

Why CEI's Medical Assisting Program?

  • Affordable
  • 8 weeks in a clinical setting
  • 16:1 Student-to-teacher ratio
  • CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam from an Accredited Program
  • High job placement rate

Key Skills Developed

  1. Clinical Proficiency:
    · Learn to measure vital signs, administer injections, and assist with medical procedures.
    · Acquire hands-on experience in patient care, focusing on compassion and empathy.
  2. Administrative Excellence:
    · Master medical office management software and electronic health records (EHR) systems.
    · Gain organizational skills for scheduling appointments, handling inquiries, and maintaining patient records.
  3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
    · Develop effective communication techniques for patient interactions and collaboration with healthcare providers.
    · Enhance written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation and professional correspondence.

What do our students learn?

  • Vital signs
  • Specimen Collection
  • Diagnostic testing as ordered
  • Prepare and administer medications as directed
  • Arrange clinical/hospital admissions and lab services
  • Record/update medical history
  • Explain treatment procedures
  • Instruct patients about medication, general/ specialty care, and any in-office procedures
  • Handle correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping
  • Assign procedure and diagnosis codes to all clinical services
  • Scheduling, phones, and all administrative needs

Program Length

Intermediate technical certificate (ITC) 8-10 months:
Two full-time semesters in the professional program with extern/internship during the second semester or optional summer semester to complete extern/internship.

Desired Personal Qualities

  • Professional
  • Resilient
  • Confident
  • Adaptable
  • Empathetic and compassionate
  • Detail-oriented
  • Ethical
  • A team player
  • Strong communication skills
Apply

Application Process

We are excited to assist you with your application and journey to becoming a Medical Assistant! All applicants must complete the following steps to be considered for the Medical Assisting program:

  1. Complete the general CEI Registration process
  1. Submit a Medical Assisting program application

Note: Medical Assisting application will automatically attach to the CEI registration application when you select this program of study.

Medical Assisting applications are open year-round. Submit by July 1st to start the following fall semester.

Important Program Dates

Application Deadline: July 1st
Post-acceptance paperwork: August 1st
New Student Orientation (mandatory): Third Monday of July | 9:00-10:00AM Bldg. 6 Room #213

Additional Program Requirements

After admittance into the Medical Assisting program, additional documentation will be due August 1st. A list of this documentation can be found in the application guide linked below. We encourage all applicants to work on the documentation and immunizations as soon as possible or prior to applying.

Course Curriculum

Semester 1

Course PrefixCourse TitleCredits
HCT 109Medical Introduction to Ethics2
MAS 121Beginning Administrative Skills for Medical Assistants4
MAS 122Beginning Clinical Skills for Medical Assistants4
MAS 105Beginning Phlebotomy3
HCT 101Medical Terminology2
ZOOL 127Introduction to Human Biology3
ZOOL 127LIntroduction to Human Biology Lab1

Semester 2

Course PrefixCourse TitleCredits
MAS 221Advanced Administrative Skills for Medical Assistants4
MAS 222Advanced Clinical Skills for Medical Assistants4
MAS 220Pharmacology and Medication Administration Skills4
MAS 210Internship/Externship (May be taken either spring or summer semester)6
Careers

Careers

Where Are Our Graduates Working?

  • Special Care Centers
  • Family Medical Offices
  • Government Departments
  • Rehabilitation Centers
  • Physicians' Offices
  • Urgent Care Centers
  • Specialty Practice Offices

How Much Do Our Graduates Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
2022 Median Pay was $38,270 per year Or $18.40 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Postsecondary nondegree award
Number of Jobs, 2022: 764,400
Job Outlook, 2022-32: 14% (Much faster than average)

According to the American Association of Medical Assisting (AAMA) the median pay for CMA in the mountain region with 0-2 years of experience is $19.70 per hour with 96% of medical assistant’s receiving some sort of benefits package.

Student Success

  • Job Placement Rate – 100% (5 year average)
  • Student Retention – 97.44% (5 year average)
  • Exam Pass Rate – 95.24% (5 year average)
Accreditation

Accreditation

CEI's Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).


CAAHEP
9355 113th Street N., #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
P:727-210-2350 • F:727-210-2354 / email@caahep.org


The Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)


MAERB
2339 N. California Ave. #47138
Chicago, IL 60647
https://www.maerb.org/


The Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)
The Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) is a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) for the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). As a CoA of CAAHEP, MAERB performs the everyday work of accreditation for medical assisting education programs: setting up and conducting site visits, organizing and reviewing annual reports for compliance with established outcome thresholds, providing workshops, resources, and training for programs and site surveyors; and submitting recommendations for CAAHEP Board Action.


MAERB works collaboratively with CAAHEP to develop the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Medical Assisting.

YearRetentionJob PlacementExam Passage
2022100.00% 100.00% 85.71%
2021 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
2020 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
2019 100.00% 100.00% 87.50%
201888.89% 100.00% 100.00%
Cumulative97.44% 100.00% 95.24%
  • The medical assisting program at College of Eastern Idaho has a cumulative five-year average of 100% for job placement for those who graduated between 2018-2022. 
  • The medical assisting program at College of Eastern Idaho institution has a cumulative five-year retention rate of 97.44% for those who were admitted between 2018-2022. 
  • The five-year cumulative average for the exam passage rate for those who graduated between 2018-2022 is 95.24%

Rebecca Killion, CPP

Sr. Coordinator, Health Sciences Division

(208) 535-5437

Jessica Hunter, CMA (AAMA)

Medical Assisting Program Manager

(208) 535-5446