Billings metro carries 390 medical assistant jobs at a median wage of $44,750, and Billings Clinic alone posts new MA openings most months, a sign of steady, not saturated, demand. The catch: no in-person medical assistant program currently operates inside city limits, so anyone training locally has to look at accredited online medical assistant programs built for Montana residents, or drive to Bozeman, Missoula, or Great Falls for hands-on labs.
That gap has pushed most Billings students toward online didactic coursework paired with a local externship, a model that works well if the program's accreditation and clinical placement support hold up under scrutiny. Cost, timeline, and Montana Medical Assistant Certification rules all shift depending on which path you pick.
Jump straight to the program list.
Medical Assisting in Billings: Employers, Demand, and Work Settings
Billings anchors the region's healthcare workforce, and medical assistants are not an afterthought here: they are part of the daily staffing model across the city's clinics, hospitals, and community health settings.
A Regional Medical Hub
Billings Clinic, Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital, and RiverStone Health form the core of the Billings medical ecosystem. Billings Clinic operates a large multispecialty group and hospital; St. Vincent is the area's other major hospital; RiverStone Health adds community health, public health, and training programs. Together they draw patients from across Montana and northern Wyoming, which means the answer to Are Medical Assistants In Demand? is steady demand for support staff who can keep visits moving.
Where Medical Assistants Work in Billings
Most medical assistant jobs in Billings are in primary care and specialty clinics rather than hospitals, although hospital-owned outpatient departments also hire. Common settings include family medicine and internal medicine offices, specialty practices such as cardiology, orthopedics, and dermatology, urgent care centers, outpatient surgery centers, and community health centers like RiverStone Health. In these roles, clinical medical assistants room patients, take vital signs, give injections, assist with procedures, and handle point-of-care testing. Administrative medical assistants focus more on scheduling, insurance verification, prior authorizations, and chart preparation. Smaller clinics may blend these duties, while larger systems usually keep the tracks more distinct.
Entry-Level Roles and Credentials
Because Billings does not have an on-ground medical assistant training program inside the city, local employers often recruit candidates who completed an accredited online medical assistant program, such as the 5 Fast Online Medical Assistant Certificate Programs in 2025, and hold a national certification. The three largest employers regularly post entry-level MA I and MA II positions. MA I tends to be an onboarding-level role with closer supervision and a mix of clinical and clerical tasks. MA II usually expects more independent clinical work, often in a specialty clinic or procedural setting. For candidates new to the field, targeting MA I openings at any of these systems is a practical first move.
Online Medical Assistant Programs for Montana Students: What to Expect
Fully online medical assistant training has moved from a convenience to the default route for many Billings students, largely because there is no in-state campus program nearby. That matters because the didactic side of medical assisting can now be completed from Billings without relocating, while the clinical side still requires in-person hours.
For Montana residents, a fully online medical assistant program typically pairs asynchronous lectures, recorded demonstrations, and digital simulations with quizzes and discussion boards. You can complete most coursework around a job or family schedule, but the program is not entirely remote. Accredited programs still require a supervised, in-person medical assistant externship at a local clinic, medical office, or hospital. Virtual simulation alone cannot satisfy that requirement.3
What You'll Study Online
Most accredited online programs cover the same foundational topics as campus programs: medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, clinical procedures, pharmacology basics, electronic health record (EHR) software, and administrative billing and coding. Some programs also include medical law and ethics or patient communication. The online format works well for knowledge-based and documentation tasks, while the externship handles the hands-on clinical skills.
Accreditation and Montana Employer Acceptance
Look for programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. These programs follow the same exam eligibility rules as campus programs, so completing an accredited online program does not put you at a disadvantage for the CMA exam in Montana. Many Montana employers, including larger Billings facilities, accept these credentials when the clinical hours are documented and the program is accredited.
Clinical Externship: Hours and Placement
Externship requirements vary, but a common range is 80 to 200 hours. For example, Herzing University requires about 180 hours in an eight-week term.1 Skilltrade lists 80 to 120 hours.2 Some schools coordinate placement at pre-approved sites in Montana or nearby; others expect you to secure the site and sometimes a proctor. Before enrolling, ask these questions:
- Placement assistance: Does the school coordinate sites near Billings, or is that your responsibility?
- Hours and schedule: How many clinical hours are required, and do they fit daytime business hours?
- Site requirements: Are background checks, drug screening, or immunizations required before you can start?
Some online providers do not guarantee externship placement at all, so confirm the placement policy in writing before paying.
In-Person Medical Assistant Training Options Near Billings
In-person medical assistant training means physically attending classes and hands-on labs at medical assistant schools near me, rather than logging in from home. For Billings students, the reality is that in-person options are limited, and none of the programs currently operating in the area publicly claim CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, the two national accrediting bodies most employers recognize.
What's actually available in Billings
A handful of local programs hold classes inside the city:
- Billings Medical Assistant School: an 18-week hybrid program with weekly hands-on Saturday sessions and an 80-hour externship. Tuition is not published, and no formal admission requirements are listed.1
- Charter College (Billings campus): a 10-month in-person program that includes a 180-hour externship. Cost and admission criteria are not posted publicly, and no CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation is stated.2
- Billings Public Schools Adult Education: offers two combined healthcare pathways, a 10-month in-person track (covering ECG, phlebotomy, patient care tech, and medical assisting) and a 9-month online track that requires you to already be working in a medical setting. Neither lists tuition or national accreditation.3
- Skilltrade: a 20-week hybrid program with an 80 to 120-hour externship, delivered in Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, and Helena. Cost and admission requirements are not stated.4
One note on older listings you may see online: the MSU Billings City College Medical Administrative Assistant degree was phased out in 2019 and is no longer running.5
Looking beyond Billings
If you're willing to drive or relocate, it's worth checking Bozeman, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena, where Skilltrade also operates, as well as Miles City and across the state line in Sheridan, Wyoming. Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, WY runs an in-person Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program with an 80-hour externship, though calendar length and cost aren't published.6 None of these adjacent programs publicly claim CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation either.
Weighing the trade-offs
Montana does not require licensure to work as a medical assistant, so program format is flexible, but employer preferences still matter.7 In-person training gives you supervised lab time and face-to-face instructor feedback, which many students value. The downsides for Billings residents are real: a limited local menu, unpublished costs that make budgeting hard, and long commutes if you look out of town. For many readers, pursuing Online Medical Assistant Certificate and Diploma Programs paired with a local externship ends up being the more practical accredited route, which the next sections walk through in detail.
Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook in Billings
Billings metro BLS data lists 390 medical assistant jobs with a median annual wage of $44,750. Among Montana metros, Billings sits below Missoula ($45,850) and Bozeman ($47,040) but above Great Falls ($44,460) and Helena ($43,720). Current 2026 job postings show entry level pay around $17 to $21 per hour, experienced and certified medical assistants reaching $25 to $28 per hour, and Billings Clinic, RiverStone Health, and Intermountain Health all hiring.
| Metro area | Employment | Mean annual wage | Median annual wage | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 390 | $44,060 | $44,750 | $37,910 | $48,450 |
| Missoula, MT | 340 | $46,540 | $45,850 | $42,340 | $49,220 |
| Bozeman, MT | 300 | $47,510 | $47,040 | $44,920 | $49,890 |
| Great Falls, MT | 220 | $43,840 | $44,460 | $39,000 | $46,340 |
| Helena, MT | 160 | $42,540 | $43,720 | $38,480 | $45,570 |
Related Articles
Medical Assistant Certification and Requirements in Montana
The balance between formal requirements and practical expectations creates an important distinction for Montana medical assistants. While the state keeps barriers low on paper, the job market tells a different story that shapes how you should plan your training.
Montana's Legal Framework
Montana does not require medical assistants to hold a state license, registration, or national certification, according to the Montana Board of Medical Examiners. Under Mont. Admin. r. 24.156.401, MAs work through delegation from a supervising physician, physician assistant, or podiatrist. The delegating provider must confirm you have sufficient education, training, and skill for each assigned task, but the state itself issues no MA credential.
This means you can legally work as a medical assistant in Montana without passing a national exam. However, what is technically legal and what employers actually expect are not always the same.
Employer Expectations in Billings
Most healthcare employers in the Billings area strongly prefer or require national certification, even though Montana law does not mandate it.1 Major systems like Billings Clinic, Intermountain Health facilities, and RiverStone Health commonly list these credentials in job postings:
- CMA (Certified Medical Assistant): Offered by AAMA, requires completion of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program with clinical training.
- RMA (Registered Medical Assistant): Offered by AMT, with multiple eligibility pathways including graduation from an accredited program, military training, or five years of qualifying work experience.
- CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant): Offered by NHA, requires a high school diploma or GED plus completion of an approved training program.2
Beyond certification, Billings employers typically expect current BLS/CPR certification, demonstrated phlebotomy skills, and proficiency with electronic health record systems.
Why Accreditation Matters
Choosing a program with CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation directly affects your certification options. CMA eligibility specifically requires graduation from a program holding one of these two accreditations. RMA, CCMA, and NCMA credentials offer additional pathways, but completing an accredited program remains the most straightforward route to any exam. Employers also view accreditation as a quality signal, which can make hiring decisions easier when your transcript carries that recognition.
Requirement Checklist for Montana
- High school diploma or GED
- Completion of an accredited medical assistant program
- Clinical externship hours (typically 160 to 240 hours)
- Passing score on a national certification exam
- Current BLS/CPR certification
- Background check and drug screening (required by most employers)
Online and hybrid programs that hold proper accreditation are accepted by Montana employers, provided they include hands-on clinical training components.1 Planning your path with these expectations in mind positions you for the strongest job prospects in the Billings healthcare market.
Top Fully Online Medical Assistant Programs for Billings Students
Billings sits at the center of a wide, thinly populated healthcare region, and the roster of medical assistant training inside a 50-mile radius of zip 59101 is short. That makes distance-delivered coursework, paired with a local externship or clinical placement, the practical route for most Yellowstone County students. The programs below are ranked by the strength of the verified online offering, the credential it prepares you for, and the federal cost and outcomes data reported by each institution. Where a program's format is not confirmed as fully online, we say so rather than guess.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES-IPEDS) (nces.ed.gov)
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Independent program research
Texas State University
#1San Marcos, TX · $11,450 – $22,930/yr (est.)
Best for: Self-paced online learners seeking NHA certification
Texas State's Continuing Education division runs the most clearly documented online medical assistant pathway on this list, including a self-paced Certified Clinical Medical Assistant course with open enrollment and no prerequisites. Distance students anywhere, Billings included, can complete the coursework remotely and sit for the National Healthcareer Association CCMA exam. IPEDS reports a 55% graduation rate, 79% first-year retention, and median 10-year earnings of $56,906 for the institution's graduates overall.
- 100% online, self-paced course with open enrollment, start any time
- No prerequisites required, making it accessible to career changers
- Covers vital signs, EKGs, phlebotomy, and administering injections
- Administrative training in electronic health records and HIPAA compliance
- Prepares students to sit for the NHA CCMA certification exam
- Taught by experienced allied health instructors
- Targets roles in hospitals, physicians' offices, and outpatient clinics
- Bundled online track pairing clinical medical assisting with EHR training
- Builds two marketable credentials from a single enrollment
- Electronic health records skills are in demand across clinic settings
- Delivered fully online through Texas State Distance Learning
- Strong fit for administrative-leaning medical assistant roles
- No campus residency required for the online format
- Continuing education pricing; contact the program for current rates
- $4,500 total program tuition for the in-person cohort
- 16-week format with Saturday classes from 8am to 2pm
- Includes an 80-hour externship at a local healthcare facility
- Cohorts capped at 20 students for personalized instruction
- Hands-on venipuncture, injections, and point-of-care testing
- Graduates may also qualify for CPT and EKG Technician credentials
- Financial assistance through loans, payment plans, and Workforce Solutions
- Institution-level medical assisting offering listed in program records
- Clinical and administrative competencies for entry-level practice
- Contact continuing education advising to confirm current format
- IPEDS-reported institutional graduation rate of 55%
- 89% acceptance rate keeps admission accessible
- Median federal loan debt of $21,000 across graduates
- Median 10-year earnings of $56,906 institution-wide
Minot State University
#2Minot, ND · $12,703/yr (est. net price)
Best for: Northern Plains students wanting flat-rate public tuition
Minot State is the closest regional public university on this list with documented medical assisting offerings, and its flat $8,702 tuition applies to in-state and out-of-state students alike, a meaningful advantage for Montana residents. IPEDS data shows a 45% graduation rate, 65% acceptance rate, and median 10-year earnings of $51,759. Confirm delivery format with an advisor, since clinical components in allied health typically require in-person hours.
- Flat $8,702 tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students
- Institutional net price of $12,703 per year after aid
- Median federal loan debt of $19,609 among graduates
- 65% acceptance rate with 69% first-year retention
- Public regional university serving the Northern Plains
- Ask admissions which course components can be completed remotely
- Clinical hours typically arranged at approved healthcare sites
- Second medical assisting option recorded in program data
- Allows students to compare credential length and depth
- Curriculum spans clinical procedures and front-office duties
- Median 10-year earnings of $51,759 reported institution-wide
- 45% institutional graduation rate per IPEDS
- Financial aid packaging available through the university
- Verify certification exam eligibility with the department
Montana State University Billings, City College
#3Billings, MT
Best for: Billings residents who want a local campus
City College is the in-town option for Billings students who want a healthcare credential without leaving Yellowstone County. Its medical coding program covers the administrative and records side of clinic work and can complement or precede clinical medical assistant certification. Adult-learner advising and stackable certificate pathways are a documented part of the college's structure.
- Located in Billings, no relocation or long-distance travel required
- Focuses on coding, billing, and clinical documentation workflows
- Complements clinical medical assistant certification earned elsewhere
- Adult-learner pathways are built into the City College catalog
- Credits may stack toward further allied health credentials
- Local employer connections across the Billings medical corridor
- Confirm course delivery format with a City College advisor
Herzing University
#4Menomonee Falls, WI
Herzing is a long-standing private nonprofit focused on nursing and allied health, with medical assisting among its core offerings. Students outside Wisconsin typically combine coursework with supervised clinical hours arranged near home. Prospective Billings applicants should ask directly about externship placement in Montana before enrolling.
- Private nonprofit with a concentrated allied health portfolio
- Medical assisting curriculum blends clinical and administrative training
- Ask about externship placement support in the Billings area
- Certification exam preparation is a standard program outcome
- Multiple start dates typical of career-focused institutions
- Dedicated career services for allied health graduates
- Verify program format and total cost with an admissions advisor
Rasmussen University
#5Bloomington, MN
Rasmussen has built its reputation on competency-based healthcare credentials, including medical assisting certificates and diplomas. Its Midwest footprint makes it a familiar name to Northern Plains employers. Clinical components require in-person hours, so confirm how those would be arranged for a student based in Billings.
- Competency-based model lets motivated students move efficiently
- Medical assisting credential covers exam-room and front-desk skills
- Regional Midwest presence recognized by area clinics
- Clinical practicum hours must be completed in person
- Multiple annual start dates reduce waiting time
- Academic coaching and tutoring support included
- Request a personalized cost estimate before committing
Ultimate Medical Academy
#6Tampa, FL
UMA is a nonprofit institution built exclusively around allied health training, with medical assisting and healthcare administration among its signature programs. Its student support model is designed for working adults balancing jobs and family. Confirm which components are distance-delivered and how clinical hours are handled in Montana.
- Nonprofit institution focused solely on healthcare career training
- Program structure designed around working adult schedules
- Curriculum covers clinical procedures and patient interaction
- Certification exam preparation embedded in coursework
- Learner support and career advising available throughout
- Confirm externship arrangements for out-of-state students
- Request full cost and financing details from admissions
Penn Foster College
#7Scottsdale, AZ
Penn Foster is one of the oldest distance-education providers in the country and offers low-cost, self-paced allied health coursework. It is a reasonable option for Billings students testing the waters before committing to a full clinical program. Verify certification eligibility and any required hands-on component before enrolling.
- Long-established distance education provider for allied health
- Self-paced structure suits students working full time
- Monthly payment plans are a hallmark of the institution
- Coursework spans medical terminology and clinical fundamentals
- Confirm which certification exams graduates qualify for
- Ask whether a hands-on externship is required in your state
- Low-commitment entry point for career explorers
Keiser University
#8Fort Lauderdale, FL
Keiser is a private nonprofit with extensive allied health offerings and a one-class-at-a-time academic model that many adult learners find manageable. Medical assisting sits within a broader health sciences catalog that supports later advancement into nursing or health administration. Out-of-state students should confirm clinical placement options before applying.
- One-course-at-a-time scheduling reduces coursework overload
- Medical assisting sits inside a broad health sciences catalog
- Clear ladder toward nursing or health administration degrees
- Private nonprofit with established allied health infrastructure
- Career services support job placement after completion
- Clinical hours require an approved in-person site
- Contact admissions for Montana-specific placement guidance
Financial Aid and Scholarships for Medical Assistant Students in Montana
Financial aid for medical assistant training includes federal grants, state workforce programs, employer assistance, and private scholarships. Understanding which funding sources apply to your chosen program can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs and make training more accessible.
Federal Financial Aid and the Workforce Pell Grant
Many online and in-person medical assistant programs qualify for federal financial aid if the institution holds proper accreditation and participates in Title IV funding. Gallatin College's Medical Assistant Program, for example, is confirmed as financial aid eligible for Montana students.1
Starting July 1, 2026, the new Workforce Pell Grant expands federal aid to shorter certificate programs. Programs lasting 8 to 15 weeks with 150 to 599 clock hours may qualify if they meet specific benchmarks: 70 percent completion rates, 70 percent job placement within 180 days, and credentials that carry academic credit or stack toward further education. The 2026-27 Pell Grant awards range from $740 to $7,395 based on financial need. Complete the FAFSA to apply for any federal aid, regardless of your income level.
Montana Workforce Programs
The Montana Department of Labor and Industry administers workforce development funding totaling approximately $6 million per program year through 2028.2 While these funds support training providers rather than individual student grants, approved programs may offer reduced tuition as a result.
The HELP-Link Workforce Development Grant program assists employers who train lower-income employees. Covered expenses include training and certification testing, with caps of $1,000 for part-time workers and $2,500 for full-time employees, up to $5,000 total per person.3 If you are already employed in healthcare, ask your employer about applying at least 14 days before training begins.3
Employer Tuition Assistance and Private Scholarships
Some regional healthcare employers offer educational support. The Billings Clinic Foundation provides scholarships for high school seniors pursuing healthcare careers at accredited schools, though broader employee tuition assistance programs are not widely advertised. Check directly with human resources at Billings Clinic, Intermountain Health, or RiverStone Health about current benefits.
Private scholarship opportunities specifically for medical assisting students are limited, so cast a wide net by searching general healthcare and vocational scholarships.
Compare Net Price, Not Sticker Price
When evaluating programs, focus on net price after all aid is applied rather than the listed tuition. Use Medical Assistant Resources to see realistic cost estimates and always complete the FAFSA to unlock every available funding option.
Career Paths and Advancement for Medical Assistants in Billings
The central tradeoff for many Billings medical assistants is whether to stay in a generalist role for schedule predictability or pursue specialization and bridge training for faster pay growth and more focused work.
From MA I to MA II
Most Billings employers start new medical assistants in an MA I role focused on rooming patients, taking vitals, documenting histories, and handling routine administrative tasks. With experience, certification, and demonstrated competency, MAs commonly move into an MA II position. That step usually adds precepting new hires, coordinating care for complex patients, performing more advanced point-of-care testing, and helping with quality improvement. It also generally comes with a meaningful medical assistant hourly pay increase, even when the title change is not immediate.
Specialty Roles in Billings
Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Healthcare both expose MAs to specialty workflows. Cardiology teams often train assistants to perform EKGs and manage device check-in. Orthopedics uses MAs for casting, splinting, and post-procedure instructions. Dermatology practices lean on MAs for biopsy setup, wound care, and patient education. Surgical assisting support roles, such as room setup and sterile field awareness, can open up for experienced MAs in hospital-based clinics. These paths tend to pay more because they require extra, employer-specific training.
Bridge Pathways and Add-On Certifications
- Phlebotomy: A short certification expands lab draw duties and can raise clinic value.
- EKG: Electrocardiogram competency is especially useful in cardiology and primary care.
- LPN or RN bridge: Some MAs use employer tuition benefits to complete practical nursing or nursing prerequisites while working, a path detailed in From Medical Assistant to RN.
- Healthcare administration: MAs with strong scheduling and EHR skills can move into front-office management, clinical coordination, or revenue cycle roles.
Your Next Step
If you are weighing online flexibility against Billings clinical placement, start with the how to become a medical assistant steps and then choose an accredited online medical assistant program from the ranked list. Contact admissions directly, confirm that it includes a local externship or accepts Billings-area sites, and ask whether certification exam preparation is built in.
