Medical Assistant

The Medical Assistant program at North Idaho College equips students to work as entry-level health care providers in diverse settings like physician's offices, health care clinics, and hospitals. Graduates are prepared to assist physicians and professionals in managing client care, office tasks, patient care, and specimen collection. They are eligible to take the national Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification exam. In 2020, the program achieved a 100% job placement rate, program retention rate, and employer satisfaction rate, with employers expressing a high demand for NIC graduates. Students can complete requirements with various course loads and flexible scheduling options, including online and in-person lab instruction.

Key Skills Taught:
- Competency in cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains
- Preparation of competent, entry-level medical assistants for the health care industry
- Promotion of lifelong learning and commitment to quality health care
- Office management, patient care, specimen collection, and assisting health care professionals
- Minimum typing speed requirement of 35 words per minute
- Completion of prerequisites like Human Biology and Anatomy & Physiology courses
- Compliance with program requirements including background checks, vaccinations, and potential drug screenings for clinical placements.