Colorado is considered by many to be one of the best places to live. Whether you are interested bustling metropolitan areas or the peace and solitude offered by some of the country’s most beautiful scenery, Colorado has just what you need. This great environment extends to the field of medical assisting. The state has 10 schools, many accredited, which offer medical assistant training programs. Students in Colorado can find many excellent scholarships through schools and other groups and can easily find employment upon graduation. If you have been thinking about becoming a medical assistant in Colorado, there has never been a better time.
Colorado’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment
Colorado has an excellent employment environment for medical assistants, and Denver is ranked in the top 10 metropolitan areas to work in this career field. Medical assistants in Colorado make an average salary of $32,500 a year, plus employment benefits, and can work in one of the numerous healthcare facilities in the state. This thriving employment outlook makes Colorado a very attractive option for any aspiring medical assistant.
The Future of the Career in Colorado
The future of medical assisting in Colorado is just as bright as the current employment outlook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field will grow by 31% over the next few years, offering thousands of new positions for trained professionals. This growth will be caused by an increasing population of aging persons, the opening of a multitude of new practices and clinics, and changes in the tasks for which medical assistants are responsible.
Colorado Medical Assisting Programs
Everest College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant Program
- Description: Everest has campuses that offer medical assisting in Aurora, Thornton, and Colorado Springs. Since many of Everest’s students are adult learners, the school offers a highly flexible class schedule, multiple start dates, and assistance with every aspect of the student’s needs, including financial aid, counseling, career services, and help finding transportation, childcare, and other help. Everest makes student success and satisfaction the number one goal and provides uncompromising support every step of the way.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: Diploma
- Average Program Length: under one year
- Tuition: $16,951 to $18,728
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 40%-48%
- Fun Fact: Everest offers flexible scheduling and a variety of convenient start dates.
Front Range Community College
- Program Link: Medical Office Technology certificate; Associate of Applied Science
- Description: The Longmont campus of Front Range Community College offers students a choice of a certificate or Associate of Applied Science in Medical Office Technology with an emphasis in medical assisting. The program prepares students to complete all aspects of the medical assistant job and to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination upon graduation. To enter this program, you must pass a background check and provide the school with a current health record and proof of 2-year CPR certification. The college offers the latest in technology and information so students can enter their new careers fully prepared. Front Range’s student support staff also provide guidance and support every step of the way.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate; A.A.S.
- Average Program Length: certificate – 2-3 semesters; A.A.S. 2 years
- Tuition: $174.75/credit hour
- Clinical Experience: internship
- Job Placement Rate: information not available
- Fun Fact: Students can use the College Opportunity Fund to cut the cost of tuition.
Pima Medical Institute
- Program Link: Medical Assistant certificate
- Description: Pima Medical Institute offers medical assistant training at the Denver and Colorado Springs campuses. Since its beginnings in 1972, Pima has expanded to include 13 campuses in 7 states, making it a name well-recognized among healthcare employers. Graduates of Pima are thoroughly prepared to fulfill the clinical and administrative tasks involved in the daily operations of a healthcare facility. This school is a great choice for anyone who wants to complete training quickly and at an affordable price.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: 9 months
- Tuition: $11,995
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 73%
- Fun Fact: Graduates from Pima Medical Institute can take the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
Red Rocks Community College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting Certificate; Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
- Description: Located at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, Red Rocks Community College has been offering quality education since 1969. This school offers highly qualified instructors whose primary job is providing education to small class sizes that average 20 students or less. The college offers a wide range of assistance to students including the Learning Commons, where students can meet with peers, tutors, or study groups as well as a writing center, fully-stocked library, job placement services, and much more. Red Rocks states unequalled student success as one of its primary goals.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate; Associate of Applied Science
- Average Program Length: certificate – 2-3 semesters; A.A.S. – 2 years
- Tuition: certificate – $5,200; A.A.S. – $7,000
- Clinical Experience: Internship
- Job Placement Rate: 80%
- Fun Fact: There is no wait list at Red Rocks for the medical assisting program.