Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 31% increase in medical assistant jobs in America between 2010 and 2020. If you have been debating whether or not this is a good career for you, that information alone may motivate you to get an education. Before you officially make a decision, learn more about what medical assistant schools in Utah can do for you. Here is an overview of medical assisting degree programs to help you out.
Utah Medical Assistant Schools at a Glance
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accreditation Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) are the two biggest names in accreditation boards for medical assisting schools in America. If you want to get the best education you possibly can, try to find a school that is accredited by one of them. You will spend two to four semesters in school earning your associate’s degree in medical assisting, and then you can start applying for jobs. If you want to continue your education for even better jobs, you are welcome to do so after your graduate.
You can improve your job prospects tremendously by taking a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam from the National Healthcare Association or the American Association of Medical Assistants. This exam tests the information you already learned in school, and it shows employers that you are qualified to work with them. You can get a job without being certified, but you might have to face heavy competition. It can’t hurt to set yourself apart from the crowd.
Medical Assistant Jobs in Utah
The average medical assistant in Utah makes $13.25 an hour, which turns into close to $28,000 a year after working full time. This is not as high as the income for some neighboring states, but it is still enough to live well in Utah. High income cities like Salt Lake City, Provo, and West Valley City tend to have better paying jobs, but those are much harder to come by. That is why it is so important to have a good education and certification to back your job applications. If you can do that, you should have no trouble getting the best medical assisting jobs Utah has to offer.
Top Medical Assistant Schools in Utah
AmeriTech College
- Location: Draper and Provo
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $9,257
- Accreditation: ABHES
- Location: Salt Lake City
- Programs: Diploma, Associate’s
- Tuition*: $22,875 (Diploma); $34,500 (Associate’s)
- Accreditation: ABHES
Bridgerland Applied Technology College
- Location: Woodland, Brigham City, and Logan
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $3,500
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Location: Salt Lake City
- Programs: Certificate
- Tuition*: $5,150
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Location: Provo, St. George, Salt Lake City, Logan, Lehi, Ogden, and Layton
- Programs: Associate’s
- Tuition*: $41,395
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
