Wyoming is the ultimate in the western experience. The state has everything from the Rocky Mountains and the High Plains to gorgeous national parks and bustling urban areas. Students in Wyoming may have some difficulty finding medical assistant training at a local campus, but there are many online options available that make getting training convenient and easy. Medical assistant students in Wyoming who need financial assistance to pay for education can look to programs such as the Wyoming Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees program and the Wyoming Community Fellowships.
Wyoming’s Employment Environment
Wyoming ranks in the lowest level for employment of medical assistants and in the lower-mid range for medical assistant salaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average medical assistant salary in Wyoming is just over $28,000, which is average for the region. The salaries can vary greatly, however, so it is a good idea for any new graduate to earn national credentials by taking the Certified Medical Assistant or Registered Medical Assistant examinations. Even though overall employment of medical assistants in the state is relatively low, there is a high demand for qualified medical assistants in rural areas, which often have a shortage of qualified employees.
The Future of Medical Assisting in Wyoming
The healthcare field is expected to grow rapidly over the next ten years, including medical assisting. This means that there are sure to be ample employment opportunities for new graduates as well as those who are already experienced in the field. If you have been considering entering medical assisting as a career, this is the perfect time to get the education needed to enter this growing industry.
List of Medical Assistant Schools in Wyoming
Institute of Business and Medical Careers
- Program Link: Medical Assisting diploma program; Medical Assisting degree program
- Description: The Institute of Business and Medical Careers is located in Cheyenne and offers students a choice between a diploma or degree in medical assisting. All diploma credits are applicable to the degree program for students who choose to continue their training. The medical assisting programs at IBMC offer clinical and administrative training as well as hands-on experience through an externship assignment. Students who graduate from IBMC are eligible for career services through the school as long as they stay in their career of major.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
- Programs: diploma; associate’s degree
- Average Program Length: diploma – 14 months; degree – two years
- Tuition: diploma – $9,375; degree – $31,200
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: diploma – 59%; degree – 69%
- Fun Fact: The Institute of Business and Medical Careers was founded in 1987.
Ashworth College
- Program Link: Administrative Medical Assistant certificate; Medical Office Assistant diploma
- Description: Students in Wyoming can get their medical assistant training online through Ashworth College in as little as three months. The program fees through Ashworth include all materials and costs as well as the CMAA examination fee. Ashworth’s programs prepare students to work as Administrative Medical Assistants in doctors’ offices and other healthcare facilities and require no externship experience. Best of all, since the programs are completely online, students can complete their class work at any time and from any location.
- Accreditation: Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
- Programs: certificate; diploma
- Average Program Length: certificate – 3 months; diploma – 6 months
- Tuition: certificate – $300; diploma – $604
- Clinical Experience: none
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Medical assistant training at Ashworth College can cost as little as $300.
Bryant and Stratton College
- Program Link: Medical Administrative Assistant degree program
- Description: Students who wish to become administrative medical assistants can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting entirely online. The program offers students everything they need to successfully work in the front or back office of any medical facility. Students who attend Bryant and Stratton College receive full support and job placement services and are eligible to become Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialists after graduation.
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Programs: Associate of Applied Science
- Average Program Length: two years
- Tuition: $32,100
- Clinical Experience: none
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Bryant and Stratton offers medical assistant training through a one-class-at-a-time approach.
Allied Schools
- Program Link: Medical Administrative Assistant program
- Description: Allied School offers a certificate and diploma in medical assisting that students can complete entirely online and on their own schedules. Both programs prepare students to work as administrative medical assistants. Because there is no clinical element to these programs, students do not have to complete an externship. Allied has open enrollment, meaning that students can start the program whenever they are ready.
- Accreditation: Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
- Programs: certificate; diploma
- Average Program Length: 210-510 hours
- Tuition: $1,952 – $2,464
- Clinical Experience: none
- Job Placement Rate: 29%
- Fun Fact: Fees at Allied include all books, materials, and expenses.