Medical assistant certification in Utah

The Utah Medical Practice Act defines a medical assistant as someone without a license who can do certain tasks the law permits.

That doesn't mean anything goes. Your supervising physician decides your duties, and state law draws firm boundaries around the tasks they may hand over to you.

Utah Code 58-67-305(6) lets you do tasks a physician delegates, meaning work they choose to pass to you. Those duties still have to follow accepted medical standards and ethics.

For most duties, the physician has to supervise you indirectly. Indirect supervision means they have given written or spoken instructions, they are on site or elsewhere on the premises, and they can speak with you in person right away when needed.

Some duties stay out of reach even if someone asks. The statute says medical assistants may not:

• Perform surgical procedures
• Prescribe prescription medications
• Give anesthesia, except local numbing for minor procedures

A division rule goes further. You cannot diagnose, create a treatment plan, or give cosmetic injections of medications or substances. This covers neurotoxins and fillers, so cosmetic injection work is not open to medical assistants.

They are. A vaccine may be given under the general supervision of a physician, a looser level than for your other duties. General supervision means the physician has signed off on the work and can be contacted in person or by phone, without needing to be on site.

With flu shots, state guidance on influenza vaccines adds conditions:

• You need training for the task.
• You must prove to a qualified trainer that you can perform each required skill perfectly.
• Your personnel file must keep the signed training records.
• The physician must create a written protocol for you to follow when screening who may receive the vaccine and when responding to bad reactions.

X-rays sit in a separate category. In Utah, taking x-rays is radiologic technology, and it requires a license unless an exception applies.

Utah has a limited license known as the radiology practical technician. It covers people who handle limited diagnostic x-ray work while supervised by a radiologist or radiology practitioner. To qualify, you must pass a basic exam plus at least one specialty exam covering your abilities.

When a clinic lacks a licensed technician, an employee without a license may fill the role for up to 90 days in total. During that period, a radiology practitioner must provide direct on-site supervision.

No state rule requires training. Nationwide, our list includes 1,094 medical assistant programs; 484 hold accreditation from CAAHEP or ABHES.

Career school programs usually run 7 to 9 months, while the shortest run 2 months (IPEDS). Among the 1,094 programs, 1,049 belong to schools taking part in federal student aid.

Some programs offer classes online, though hands-on clinical practice must happen in person. Thirty programs offer classes by distance education, and 14 are accredited.

Median pay for medical assistants was $45,690 yearly, or $21.97 hourly, in May 2025 (BLS).

Ready to take the next step? Pick one accredited program on our Utah programs page, then use the Request information form after the program table. Leave your name, email, phone, ZIP code and start time, and your request goes to that one school.