
Medical Assisting in Connecticut
The state law in Connecticut doesn’t have any educational requirements for medical assistants other than a high school diploma or GED. There are, however, some restrictions on the duties that medical assistants can legally carry out and the Connecticut Department of Health has guidelines regarding what activities medical assistants can and cannot perform.
In practice, the majority of healthcare providers require general, administrative and clinical medical assistants to have completed an accredited training program to certificate, diploma or degree level. Having a certification credential such as Certified or Registered Medical Assistant is not essential in this state, but can be advantageous when applying for jobs.
Connecticut is one of the top paying states for medical assistants to work in, and also has one of the best employment rates. The average yearly pay is $35,780. The average hourly wage is $17.20. Certified or Registered Medical Assistants are more likely to be hired for the best jobs and receive higher salaries.
Students and all types of medical assistants can join the Connecticut Society of Medical Assistants (CSMA), which offers a professional support network to its members. This is the active state society of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and there are no local chapters.
Connecticut Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
Capital Community College
At its Hartford campus, Capital Community College offers students medical assistant training on a CAAHEP accredited Associate in Science degree program. Students will be trained in the complex skills needed in the clinical and administrative medical assisting field, and will complete an externship as part of their training. On completion of this program, graduates will have the chance to earn the CMA or RMA credentials by sitting for the AAMA or AMT National Certification Examination.
Degree
- Length: 60 credits
- Cost: $217.75 per credit hour
- Job Placement Rate: Not available
Norwalk Community College
Norwalk Community College offers a medical assistant certificate program, which is CAAHEP accredited. Students will be taught the multiple skills necessary to work in the medical assisting field and will be required to undertake a 180 hour unpaid externship prior to graduation. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the AAMA CMA exam to become Certified.
Certificate
- Length: 1 year
- Cost: $3,786
- Job Placement Rate: Not available
Branford Hall Career Institute
Students at Branford Hall Career Institute can study on a diploma program at its campuses in Branford, Southington and Windsor. This program includes instruction in patient care, office procedures and administration, as well as an externship program where students can benefit from hands on learning.
Diploma
- Length: 1080 hours
- Cost: $16,027
- Job Placement Rate: 61%
Goodwin College
Located in East Hartford, Goodwin College offers both a certificate and an Associate’s degree program in medical assisting. Both programs are ABHES and CAAHEP accredited and graduates can apply to sit for both the AAMA and AMT exams to earn the credentials of CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) or RMA (Registered Medical Assistant).
Certificate
- Length: 12 months
- Cost: $28,100
- Job Placement Rate: 67%
Degree
- Length: 16-20 months
- Cost: Not available
- Job Placement Rate: Not available