Medical Assisting in Massachusetts
The employment level for medical assistants in Massachusetts ranks in the highest tier in the US and medical assistant pay in this state is also in the top range. Employment opportunities are good now and the medical assisting field in Massachusetts is set to grow even more.
There is no state requirement for medical assistants to be certified or licensed and the minimum educational level required to work in the field is a high school diploma or GED.
Massachusetts has recently introduced a mandate that every resident has health insurance, which means there will be an increased need for healthcare services and therefore a greater demand for medical assistants.
Medical assistants in Massachusetts are among the best paid in the country, receiving on average $18.31 an hour. The average annual medical assistant salary in Massachusetts is $38,090. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton area ranks among the top paying metropolitan areas in the US for medical assistants, with an average hourly wage of $19.09 and a yearly salary of $39,700. This area also has one of the highest levels of employment for medical assistants.
The Massachusetts State Society of Medical Assistants is the professional organization for the state, affiliated with AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants). AAMA has local chapters in the following areas:
- Greater Boston
- Greater Fall River
- Hampden District
- Worcester District
Massachusetts Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
Medical Professional Institute
Medical Professional Institute offers a medical assisting certificate program at its campus in Malden. In addition to training in a classroom setting, students must complete 240 hours of externship experience before completing this program. Successful graduates will be eligible to sit for the nationally recognised AAMA or AMT Certification exams to earn the credential of CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) or RMA (Registered Medical Assistant). Coursework includes physician’s office lab testing, pharmacology, medical office administration and clinical medical assisting.
Certificate
- Length: 9 months
- Cost: $9,610
- Job Placement Rate: Not available
Bay State College
Students can complete their medical assistant training on an ABHES accredited Associate of Science degree program at either of Bay State College’s campuses in Boston and Middleborough. Courses covered include medical terminology, psychology, medical office procedures, and anatomy and physiology. Students will get the chance to gain practical experience by completing 160 hours of administrative and clinical internships. After successfully completing their training, graduates can apply to take the Certification exams to earn the title of RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) or CMA (Certified Medical Assistant).
Degree
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $46,940
- Job Placement Rate: 53%
Bristol Community College
On completion of their medical assistant training at Bristol Community College, students will receive a Certificate of Achievement in Medical Assisting. This program is CAAHEP accredited and upon graduation, students can apply to take the AAMA Certification exam to earn the title of CMA (Certified Medical Assistant). Through their training, students will learn the competencies required to seek employment in an entry level medical assisting position. Courses include medical language, administrative, clinical and laboratory procedures. After completing the coursework, students will complete a practicum to get hands on experience of working in a healthcare setting.
Certificate
- Length: 9 months
- Cost: $4,969
- Job Placement Rate: Not available
