Top Medical Assistant Programs in Colorado (CO) - Online and Campus
Prepare for an exciting career as a medical assistant by studying for your CMA. Explore top programs in Colorado, consider your job prospects, and get answers to common questions in this guide.
If you’re interested in a healthcare and ready for a new career, training to be a medical assistant is a great place to start. Working as a certified medical assistant (CMA) helps you develop valuable clinical and administrative skills that you can apply in a range of healthcare settings, including hospitals and private clinics. You’ll also be prepared to continue your education and pursue jobs in leadership, nursing, or related fields.
Looking to enter the healthcare workforce quickly? CMA training can be completed in just a few months with accelerated programs online. First, you’ll need to find the right program, and we’re here to help. In this guide we’ll look at some top medical assistant programs, consider your employment outlook, answer some frequently asked questions, and offer useful resources for further research. So, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about medical assistant programs in Colorado.
A Closer Look at Colorado’s Popular Medical Assistant Programs
As a future medical assistant in Colorado, you have lots of program options. There are some fully online medical assistant programs that partner with facilities in your area for clinical hours, but most are hybrid programs with online coursework and on-campus labs. In the spotlights below, we’re focusing in on three schools that qualify you to sit for your CMA exam. You’ll find information on program completion times and format to use as benchmarks when vetting other potential schools.
Colorado Mountain College
The Medical Assistant Program at Colorado Mountain College (CMC) offers multiple tracks for students looking to earn their medical assistant credential, and you can complete their medical assistant certificate program in as few as 14 months. If you want to deepen your knowledge or plan to continue your education, you may be interested in CMC’s two-year medical assistant associate degree. Both programs feature a well-rounded curriculum and expert instruction, as well as hands-on training.
CMC uses a hybrid model that includes online classes, in-person labs at their Rifle, CO, campus, and an externship for real-world training. This mix of modalities means flexibility for busy students and valuable hands-on learning opportunities. The curriculum for both tracks includes a full semester of national exam prep to ensure that you are ready to pass your CMA exam.
Pima Medical Institute
The hybrid Medical Assistant Certificate Program at Pima Medical Institute (PMI) combines the flexibility of online learning with the opportunity to develop essential skills at their Aurora, Denver or Colorado Springs campuses. Along with hands-on learning on campus, PMI gives you the option to complete an externship in a local clinic to gain real-world experience and build your resume.
PMI prepares students for advanced coursework with foundational classes in study skills, computer literacy, and math fundamentals, offered early in the curriculum. Then, you’ll move beyond the basics in this four-semester program with courses in medical administration, clinical care, lab testing, and more. You’ll participate in a progressive clinical applications course each semester, so you can put your new knowledge to work right away.
The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement
Colorado is home to The National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA), an entire school dedicated to preparing future medical assistants to earn their CMA and excel in their future careers. The program features knowledgeable faculty and administrators focused on providing up-to-date information and relevant training. When you study at NIMAA, you can complete your coursework in as few as eight months. Even with full-time study, students have the flexibility they need to balance their schoolwork with regular work or other responsibilities.
Classes at NIMAA are 100% online, so you can study from anywhere. Even though you’ll be in a virtual classroom, you will still have an opportunity to participate in hands-on learning experiences. NIMAA partners with quality clinics in your community to set up externships where you’ll work alongside CMAs and other healthcare professionals in a clinical setting.
How Much Do Medical Assistants Make in Colorado?
Before committing to earning your CMA credential, you’ll want to learn more about wages and job prospects. Below is wage information for several Colorado cities, and as you can see, your earning expectations will vary based on your location. This variation is largely due to the cost of living and prevailing wages in different areas. It can be helpful to use a cost of living calculator, like the one from Rent Café, to see if your wages as a medical assistant are sustainable long term.
We’ve included the 10th percentile, mean, and 90th percentile wages for each location. The 10th percentile represents the lowest paid workers in the profession. Typically, these are starting wages for brand new assistants who have not earned their CMA certificate. The mean annual wage reflects an overall average of wages. With a CMA certificate you can expect to reach this pay rate relatively quickly. The 90th percentile represents the highest paid medical assistants. Over the course of your career, you should approach these salaries. You can speed up that process by continuing your education and keeping an eye out for new, better paying opportunities.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Mean Annual Wage | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $33,500 | $43,350 | $56,480 |
| Colorado | $36,820 | $46,270 | $56,570 |
| Boulder, CO | $39,140 | $47,530 | $58,220 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $36,390 | $43,110 | $52,720 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $39,290 | $48,190 | $46,340 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $37,600 | $46,950 | $56,290 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $36,630 | $43,460 | $50,230 |
| Greeley, CO | $37,800 | $44,660 | $48,430 |
| Pueblo, CO | $34,490 | $41,750 | $49,510 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
Career Prospects for Medical Assistants in Colorado
As a Colorado medical assistant, you can look forward to a stable career with plenty of job opportunities. In the table below, you’ll see that demand for medical assistants is expected to grow by 36.2% between 2020 and 2030. When you consider a “good” job growth rate is between nine and 13 percent, it is clear that the outlook for medical assistants in Colorado is strong. Beyond 2030, prospects for medical assistant careers are still good. Colorado’s population is rapidly aging, which typically comes with an increase in demand for healthcare workers at every level.
| Area | New Jobs | Job Growth Rate | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 132,600 | 18.4% | 104,400 |
| Colorado | 4,380 | 36.2% | 1,860 |
Source: Projections Central, 2020 – 2030
Common Queries About Medical Assistant Programs in Colorado
The healthcare system can be confusing, so, it’s normal to have questions about moving into a career as a medical assistant. In this section, we’ll address some of the top questions from people like you about what to expect when you become a medical assistant in Colorado.
How do I become a medical assistant in Colorado?
In Colorado, you don’t need any special credentials to work as a medical assistant but earning your medical assistant certification is going to be worth it when it comes to finding work and advancing your career. In one survey, 62% of employers said that having a medical assistant certification was their number one criterion for potential hires.
Fortunately, online medical assistant certifications are extremely accessible in Colorado. You can take advantage of lower tuition rates at community colleges and in-state resident tuition discounts to help manage your costs. Since most online certification programs are designed with busy people in mind, you’ll be able to enjoy the flexibility to study on your own schedule. Be sure to opt for an AAMA accredited program to get the most value and ensure you’ll be eligible for a CMA certification.
Once you’ve completed your certification, you’ll be ready to sit for your Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Passing this test proves you have a firm handle on the essential skills required for working as a medical assistant. You won’t have to retest if you leave Colorado, since your CMA is a national certification.
What are medical assistants allowed to do in Colorado?
Medical assistants can take on a range of clinical and administrative duties. On the clinical side, your responsibilities include taking vital signs, preparing patients for procedures, drawing blood, administering medication, removing sutures, and assisting with exams. On the administrative side, you might greet patients, manage medical records, submit insurance claims, or help schedule appointments.
In a smaller practice like a doctor’s office, you may go back and forth between clinical and administrative work. In larger settings like hospitals, medical assistants typically focus on a smaller set of administrative or clinical tasks.
Which is better: CMA or RMA?
Both certifications are in demand when it comes to the job market. CMAs and RMAs (registered medical assistants) are generally considered equally qualified for medical assistant jobs and can perform the same duties. The main difference between the two certifications is the path you took to become a medical assistant.
If you’ve earned your medical certificate from an accredited program like those above, taking the CMA exam can be the most efficient option for demonstrating your credentials. If you attended an unaccredited program or developed your skills through on-the-job training, an RMA certification is best since it focuses on your professional experience rather than educational background.
How long does it take to become a medical assistant in Colorado?
Since you don’t need a CMA certification to work as a medical assistant in Colorado, you can start immediately. But if you prepare for the job by pursuing your CMA certificate, you can expect to spend between 12 and 18 months completing your coursework. The amount of time it takes depends on whether you opt to study full- or part-time and your program’s curriculum.
For administrative work, you may want to consider programs like the one-semester Medical Office Administrative Assistant Certificate at Front Range Community College. These shorter options give you the credentials to work in administrative roles and can help you get your foot in the door without committing to a full year of coursework. This can also be a great way to get started working in the field while you finish your CMA courses since you’ll likely be able to transfer your coursework between programs.
What color scrubs do medical assistants wear?
There’s no universal rule when it comes to scrub colors, especially for medical assistants. If you are working in a large clinic or hospital, they may have employees color coded by their role. This allows everyone to quickly distinguish between doctors, nurses, and medical assistants, particularly in emergencies. In smaller practices, there may be scrub color requirements, or you may have the freedom to wear whatever color you’d like.
How much do medical assistants make in Colorado per hour?
Average salaries can vary widely based on where you live in Colorado. Statewide, the average salary for medical assistants is $46,270 per year, which is about $22.24 per hour. Typically, your pay will be determined based on prevailing wages, your previous experience, and your credentials. So, earning your CMA certification is one way to start your career at a higher wage.
Students Resources for Colorado Medical Assistant Programs
In this guide, we’ve covered the basics of becoming a medical assistant in Colorado. But as you search for programs, you may have more questions. We’ve put together this list of student resources to help, along with link below on how to pay for school, career resources and more.
- 8 Tips for New Medical Assistants:
The fast-paced healthcare environment can be overwhelming for new medical assistants. This article from the Pima Medical Institute offers some expert tips to help you survive your externship and adjust to your new career. Pima Medical Institute also offers a great program for earning your CMA certificate in Colorado. - ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence:
Because CMA certificates are often non-degree programs, it can be more difficult to find scholarships to help pay for your coursework. CMA students are eligible for this scholarship from the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions. - Care Forward Colorado:
Colorado’s Care Forward initiative is designed to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the state. Through this program, healthcare students and future medical assistants can earn their credentials at select community colleges and technical institutes for free. - Colorado Medical Assistant Job Listings:
Many employers use recruiting sites, like Indeed, to find potential employees. You don’t have to wait until after certification to start considering postings. Reading current job listings can help you get an idea of job expectations, required experience, and potential pay. This knowledge can help you decide what skills to focus on during your studies, and what to expect from your future career. - Free CMA Exam Prep:
Your coursework should cover everything you need to ace your CMA exam but a little extra preparation never hurts. This site features free materials and practice tests to help calm your pre-exam nerves and get an idea of what to expect from the exam. - Medical Assistant Student Job Listings:
Since you don’t need a certification to work as a medical assistant, you can start building experience while you study. Many employers are looking specifically for CMA student-employees and offer flexible scheduling to help you balance your work and classes. You’ll find a list of current medical assistant student job postings in Colorado on this site. - The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA):
The AAMA is the national professional association for medical assistants, and they also administer the CMA certification exam. The site is a great resources for exam prep, scholarship opportunities, networking, and current news in the field. - The Colorado Association of Medical Assistants (COMA):
This is your state chapter of the AAMA. Being active in COMA is a great way to build professional relationships and find career mentorship. - The Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP):
The CAAHEP oversees accreditation for CMA certificate programs. Here, you can learn more about what accreditation means and access their database of approved programs. - The Maxine Williams Scholarship Program:
This scholarship is offered by the AAMA with the goal of funding the education of future medical assistants. Students who are attending an accredited program, have strong grades, and can demonstrate financial need may apply.
