Program Description
The Medical Assistant program prepares students to work as entry-level healthcare providers in settings such as physician's office health care clinics and hospitals. The role of the medical assistant is to assist the physician and other professionals in managing the care of clients. Medical assistants are responsible for performing duties in the areas of office management patient care and collecting and processing laboratory specimens. Medical assistants work under the direct supervision of a physician or other designated professional.
The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Successful completion of the Medical Assistant Intermediate Technical Certificate program will result in eligibility to take the national (CMA) certification exam for medical assisting. Students are encouraged to continue their education by completing the Medical Assistant AAS degree.
Program course enrollment is limited to ten students.
Application Information
Welcome to the redesigned Medical Assistant (MAST) Program! NIC accepts students into the program throughout the school year. The required prerequisite course can be completed during the fall, spring or summer terms. No special application process is required for program entry. Once BIOL 175/175 Lab (or BIOL 227/227 Lab and BIOL 228/228 Lab) is completed with ‘C’ or higher grade(s), a student is eligible to enroll in Medical Assistant Program courses.
The MAST courses have multiple start dates during the fall and spring terms and there is also specific course instruction during the summer term. Students enrolled in the program can select varying course loads each term allowing scheduling flexibility for program requirement completion. Many MAST program courses can be completed in eight-week blocks utilizing online and in-person lab instruction. Students will be required to be on campus for lab activities at least one day per week depending on the course load. Contact the Student Success Navigator for Health Professions by calling 208-625-2320 for additional program information.
“The North Idaho College Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).”
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 – 113th St. North, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org
2023 Annual Report to MAERB
The Medical Assistant Program at North Idaho College is proud to announce the results of the program’s 2023 Annual Report submitted in February of 2024. These percentages are an average from the years 2018-2022.
- Job Placement Rate: 88.89%.
- Program retention rate: 85.29%. There are a number of student success services available such as, tutoring, a dedicated health professions advisor, assistance with financial aid and scheduling, and a low instructor to student ratio.
- Graduate satisfaction rate: 97.14%.
- Employer satisfaction rate: 100%. Employers are very happy with NIC graduates! NIC Medical Assistants are in demand!!
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Exam Pass Rate: 100%!! This is the “Gold Standard” national CMA examination.
The goals of the Medical Assistant Program at North Idaho College are to:
- Prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
- Provide students the opportunity to meet education and career goals through quality education using state of the art technology and equipment.
- Provide competent, entry-level medical assistants to northern Idaho in numbers sufficient to meet the needs of the health care industry.
- Promote lifelong learning and a commitment to providing quality healthcare.
- High school diploma or GED must be completed by program start date.
- BIOL 175/175 Lab ‘Human Biology’ prerequisite course (or BIOL 227/227 Lab and BIOL 228/228 Lab ‘A & P I and II’ courses) must be completed with ‘C’ or higher grade(s) prior to enrolling in MAST course(s).
- Program Change Request Form must be completed to ensure the Medical Assistant Program is reflected as declared major/degree pathway.
- Students enrolled in MAST 102 will be expected to complete the following prior to continuing MAST course enrollment:
- An official Criminal Background Check will be ordered through a college process. Continuing MAST Program acceptance and enrollment is contingent upon receiving a clear record on this criminal background check.
- An Acknowledgement of Vaccination Requirements form must be completed.
- Demonstrate ability to key (type) 35 wpm; this requirement must be met to progress beyond the MAST 112 course into higher-level MAST courses.
- Completion of drug screening may be required before starting clinical placement.
The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Learn more about the Medical Assistant program
