Medical Assistant – Credit
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CWI Medical Assistant Credit Program
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- Get real world skills
- Flexible learning options
- Fully accredited program
- Credits can transfer to other universities and colleges
- Affordable tuition at $139 per credit
- Financial aid and scholarships for those who qualify
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Overview
Prepare for your future career in healthcare in College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Medical Assistant – Credit program. Learn the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to be a competent, entry-level medical assistant. Through practical learning opportunities, you can master the administrative and clerical skills needed to provide quality healthcare to patients in our community and be prepared to complete the Certified Medical Assistant exam.
Entry-Level Skills to Begin Your Healthcare Career
A Medical Assistant performs administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by a physician.1
1O*NET OnLine. (2023). Medical Assistants.
The Medical Assistant – Credit program will prepare you with:
- understanding of medical office practices and soft skills necessary for scheduling and patient interactions
- working understanding of Electronic Medical Records
- knowledge of medical records coding systems such as ICD10 and CPT codes
- understanding and practice of HIPPA regulations
- knowledge of Medical Law and Ethics
- clinical skills including taking vital signs, removing sutures, giving injections and immunizations, performing EKG, urinalysis, CLIA waive tests, and other labs
- proficiency with phlebotomy, assisting physicians with minor surgical procedures, and prepping and wrapping instruments used in minor surgical procedures
Industry Partnership:
CWI is excited to partner with Saint Alphonsus to provide opportunities for individuals to expand their education and grow in their careers. Learn more about this partnership.
Fall 2023 Program Updates
Exciting changes are coming to the CWI's Medical Assistant – Credit program starting Fall of 2023.
- Complete your Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) in only two semesters.
- A supplemental application process, prerequisite, and corequisite classes are no longer required.
- Only come to campus for labs, and complete classroom instruction online.
- Choose to begin fall or spring semester.
Healthcare Information Sessions
Want to learn more about this program and other healthcare programs at CWI? Join a Healthcare Information Session to learn about the programs, what you can do to prepare for the programs, meet advisors and instructors, and ask questions.
Statement of Accreditation
The mission of CWI's Medical Assistant – Credit program is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and effective (behavior) learning domains.
The Medical Assistant Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) at CWI is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). This program meets the standards set in the education of quality patient care by competent well-trained professionals.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N., #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
caahep.org
The following are outcomes for the Medical Assistant program at College of Western Idaho, as reported in the 2022 Annual Report Form (ARF) from the MAERB for the CWI 2020 program cohort:
- Retention rate – 94.87%
- Employer Satisfaction rate – 100%
- Graduate Satisfaction rate – 100%
Requirements and Costs
Degrees and Certificates
Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- A desire to serve others
- Exactness and precise attention to detail
- Computer Literacy Skills
- Health-oriented professional image
- Completion of pre-requisite Biology and Medical Terminology, as well as core Math, Psychology, English and Communications
Advising
Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.
Connecting With Ideas
Connecting With Ideas (CWI 101) is designed to prepare students with the skills to succeed in college, a career, and life. Completion of CWI 101 is a general education requirement of students seeking to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from CWI. Students are encouraged to take CWI 101 during their first semester.
Explore CWI 101 PathwaysTransfer
Individuals admitted to CWI as a degree-seeking student who have earned college credit from another institution may transfer their credits to CWI. Visit Transferring to CWI to learn more.
Plan ahead for your transition to a four-year college or university. Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisor and representatives from the intended transfer school to ensure a smooth transition beyond CWI. Visit Transferring From CWI to explore our transfer partnerships.
Cost & Aid
As a student in this program, you may be eligible for financial aid and scholarships. Visit Cost & Aid to view tuition and fees, explore types of aid, apply for federal financial aid, and more.
Are you a 2024 Idaho high school graduate? Learn how to get up to $8,000 of your tuition and fees covered at CWI through Idaho LAUNCH.
Career Info
The demand for Certified Medical Assistants in outpatient settings continues to rise. Local hospitals are currently seeking qualified individuals with medical assisting skills and training to meet this demand.
Medical Assistants are the most versatile allied health professionals cross-trained to perform clinical and administrative responsibilities. Medical Assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. Most full-time Medical Assistants work a regular 40-hour week with some working part-time, evenings, or weekends.
- Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29% from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to spur demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians.
- As medical practices expand, physicians hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.
Locations
Instructors
Program Department Chair
Instructor(s)
Respectful Community
College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX
News and Blogs

Enter the exciting, life-changing world of Medical Assisting through the College’s Credit program.

College of Western Idaho invites anyone interested in or thinking about pursuing a career in healthcare to attend the 2022 Health Professions Open House Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Professional Nursing and Surgical Technology students enjoy food and networking during a barbecue hosted by Saint Alphonsus.

College of Western Idaho students performed blood draws during National Medical Assistants Week, Oct. 16-20.

The CWI Foundation received a $2,000 grant from the John William Jackson Fund.
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