Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person who enjoys helping people, a career in the medical assisting field may be the right fit for you.
With an expected job growth of 16 percent over the next decade, medical assistants are in-demand in a variety of healthcare settings.
They play an important role in ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly in medical offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Before being ready to take on medical assisting responsibilities you have to complete a post-secondary training program at a community college or trade school and earn a degree, diploma, or certificate.
If you live in North Dakota we invite you to read our list of the best programs in your state that prepare students with medical assisting skills.
1Grand Forks Area Career & Technology Center
About the School
Grand Forks Area Career & Technology Center was established in 2012 by local school boards from eight North Dakota public school districts in response to student and workforce needs in the region.
The center offers career and technical education programs that are available through a variety of delivery methods.
The course curriculum is available through a hybrid approach of online and interactive television training and classroom activities completed in local facilities.
Courses Offered
The following medical programs are available at Grand Forks Area Career & Technology Center:
- Nurse Assistant- a program that prepares students who want to seek employment as certified nursing assistants in a skilled nursing facility, acute care, or home health care setting for the CNA board exam; the program combines classroom instruction and clinical practice
- Medical Terminology- a class available for students grades 10-12 who want to receive introductory training in the health information technology field
- Dual Credit Medical Terminology- for students in grades 11-12, this program provides a more advanced approach to Medical Terminology
- Health Careers- a course for students grades 10-12 who are interested in the medical field
Contact Information
- Address: 2400 47th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58201
- Phone: 701-787-4872
- Website: https://www.gfareactc.org
2Northland Community and Technical College
About the School
Located in Minnesota, Northland Community and Technical College offers programs for students who want to jump-start their careers and for those who want to continue their training after graduation by enrolling in a four-year degree program.
The college has a Health and Human Services division that offers programs such as:
- Health Sciences Broad Field
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Patient Access Specialist
- Medical Coding Specialist
- And more
The Northland Community and Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Courses Offered
The Medical Administrative Assistant program available at Northland Community and Technical College leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree and is available online.
This program includes classes such as:
- Intro to Health Information Management
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Billing/Insurance
- Medical Office Simulation
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Intro to Psychology
- And more
The degree requires 60 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 2022 Central Avenue NE, East Grand Forks, MN
- Phone: 218.793.2800
- Website: http://www.northlandcollege.edu
3Dakota College at Bottineau
About the School
Dakota College at Bottineau is one of eleven colleges and universities in the North Dakota University System and it is governed by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.
The college is an affiliate campus with Minot State University and is administratively attached to its parent institution.
Dakota College at Bottineau is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
Associate in Applied Science and Certificate programs in Medical Assisting are available at the college.
These programs prepare students for careers as medical assistants in less than one year.
Students are trained through a combination of clinical and administrative duties that culminates with a 180-hour cooperative education experience in a medical facility.
After earning an A.A.S. degree, students are eligible to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant exam through American Medical Technologists.
Students who earn a Certificate are eligible to sit for the Nationally Certified Medical Assistant exam through the National Center for Competency Testing.
The curriculum includes classes on:
- Medical Terminology
- Concepts of Anatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Emergency Pre-Hospital Care
- Intro to Clinical Experience
- Airway/Ventilatory Management
- Cardiac Emergencies
- Trauma Management
- EMS Operations
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 105 Simrall BLVD – Bottineau, ND 58318
- Phone: 701-228-2277
- Website: https://www.dakotacollege.edu
4DTN Staffing
About the School
DTN Staffing partners with Dakota Travel Nurse Courses to provide training for current and future employees in the healthcare industry.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available:
- Certified Nurse Aide- North Dakota
- Certified Nurse Aide- Washington
- Medication Assistant II- North Dakota
The Certified Nurse Aide program is 78 hours long and usually runs Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Students also attend two days of lab training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After completing the course, students are ready to take CNA testing.
This program costs $550.
A Medication Aide program is also available and includes 80 hours of training that takes place Monday through Friday for two and a half weeks.
In-class hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Classes can take place by Zoom or in the classroom at the school’s campus located in Mandan.
This course costs $775.
Contact Information
- Address: 1200 Collins Ave, Mandan, ND 58554
- Phone: 701-667-2884
- Website: https://dtnstaffing.com
5University of North Dakota
About the School
The University of North Dakota provides a variety of medical degrees and programs through its School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The university offers numerous scholarships across a variety of programs every year to help students cover tuition costs.
Courses Offered
The School of Medicine and Health Sciences catalog includes programs such as:
- Biomedical Sciences
- Emergency Medicine
- Family and Community Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Public Health
- And more
The Physician Assistant Studies program is the only PA program in North Dakota.
The program has held continuous accreditation since 1974.
This curriculum can be completed in 24 months and includes a combination of online coursework and alternating classroom and clinical experiences.
The Physician Assistant Program at the University of North Dakota is accredited by the Accrediting Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
Contact Information
- Address: 1301 N Columbia Rd Stop 9037, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
- Phone: 701.777.2514
- Website: https://med.und.edu
6Williston State College
About the School
Williston State College provides 13 career and technical programs that can lead to associate degrees or certificates, depending on the curriculum and the number of credits.
Online and part-time schedules are available.
Williston State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Courses Offered
Among many other programs, the college’s catalog includes the following nursing programs:
Program Certificate: a program that prepares students for work as licensed practical nurses under the supervision of a registered nurse, physician, or dentist.
Associate in Applied Science: a 1+1 nursing program that allows students to qualify for a practical nursing certificate after completing the first year and an A.A.S. degree in nursing after the second year.
Students take classes such as:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- College Composition
- Foundations of Nursing
- Clinical Practice
- Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Introduction to Maternal-Child Nursing
- Introduction to Psychology
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND 58801, USA
- Phone: 701.774.4200
- Website: https://willistonstate.edu
7Western Dakota Technical College
About the School
Western Dakota Technical College is a technical college that serves the western South Dakota region.
Students who pursue a new profession receive a personal, career-oriented education.
Western Dakota Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
Western Dakota Technical College provides a Medical Assisting program accredited by the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.
This program prepares students for careers in the medical profession.
The program is three semesters long.
Students learn administrative skills such as: using computer applications, answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patient medical records, coding and filling out insurance forms, scheduling appointments, billing, bookkeeping, and more.
The program also covers clinical duties such as: taking medical histories, taking vital signs, assisting physicians during exams, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, preparing and administering medications, taking electrocardiograms, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 Mickelson Dr. Rapid City, SD 57703
- Phone: 605-718-2400
- Website: https://www.wdt.edu
8Alexandria Technical & Community College
About the School
Alexandria Technical & Community College offers a unique blend of academics, athletics, student life, and the outdoors.
Courses Offered
Among many other pathways, the college provides a Medical Administrative Specialist program.
The program combines computer, technical, and general education courses and is designed to prepare students for careers in a variety of health information and administrative support roles in the healthcare field.
The curriculum includes skills required by today’s medical facilities, including office and computer skills, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology.
Students take classes such as:
- Keyboarding/Word Processing Skills
- Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology
- Intro to Computer
- Medical Terminology
- Basic Pathology
- Introduction to ICD Coding
- Applied Medical Terminology
- Interpersonal Communication
- Electronic Health Records
- Technical Writing
- Pharmacology & Lab
- Medical Reception
- And more
The program includes 60 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 1601 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, MN 56308
- Phone: 320.762.0221
- Website: https://www.alextech.edu
9Minnesota State Community and Technical College
About the School
Located in the neighboring state of Minnesota, Minnesota State Community and Technical College offers academic programs in a variety of areas of study.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The Medical Administrative Assistant program available at Minnesota State Community and Technical College prepares students for administrative roles in a healthcare team.
This program leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree and trains students who can work in a variety of medical settings.
Students learn how to handle all types of administrative duties required in private practices, hospitals, and clinics.
The Medical Administrative Assistant curriculum covers topics such as:
- Medical office management strategies
- Appointment schedule management
- Patient registration procedures
- Electronic health care record preparation and management
- CPT and HCPCS level II procedure and ICD-CM diagnosis coding
- Health insurance and medical billing procedures
- Law, ethics, and confidentiality in health care settings
- Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking and organizational skills
- And more
The program includes 60 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 900 Hwy 34 E, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
- Phone: 877.450.3322
- Website: https://www.minnesota.edu
10Rasmussen University
About the School
Rasmussen University offers more than 50 career-focused programs in nursing, business, technology, and many other fields.
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Courses Offered
The following health sciences programs are available:
- Health and Wellness
- Health Information Management
- Health Information Technician
- Healthcare
- Human Services
- Master of Healthcare Administration
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Medical Billing and Coding
The Medical Administrative Assistant program leads to a Certificate and is provided online.
The program offers up to three $149 self-directed assessments, allowing students to prove that they already know the content of a particular course and don’t need to take it.
Students become proficient with technologies to assist patients and confidentially maintain health records, and other procedures in healthcare as medical office assistants.
The curriculum covers healthcare, customer service, and office management skills.
The program can be completed in as few as nine months and prepares students for careers as medical secretaries or medical administrative assistants.
Contact Information
- Address: 4012 19th Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota 58103
- Phone: 800-817-0009
- Website: https://www.rasmussen.edu
Regional Salary in North Dakota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 110 | $41,580 | $19.99 | $53,280 | $31,260 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 190 | $41,120 | $19.77 | $50,070 | $28,410 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 70 | $41,570 | $19.98 | $49,810 | $31,060 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
North Dakota offers a variety of training opportunities available at several reputable trade schools, community colleges, and universities.
Now that you have read our selection of top medical assisting training programs in your state, it’s time to continue the research and choose the format that best fits your learning style, schedule, and budget.
