Medical Assisting in Massachusetts – Careers and Schools

Massachusetts has a reputation for being a frontrunner in healthcare reform. The new state mandate that every resident have health insurance means there will be a noticeable growth in the demand for healthcare services. This is good news for medical assistants, since they are a vital part of most healthcare facilities. When you consider this growth along with the high pay and excellent job opportunities, Massachusetts is one of the most promising states in which to enter this career. If you want to become a medical assistant in Massachusetts, you have over 20 schools from which to choose. Many of these programs are accredited and you can find training at every level from certificate to associate’s degree. The Massachusetts Society of Medical Assistants allows student members and is a great source of assistance and scholarships.

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Massachusetts’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment

The current hourly wage for medical assistants in Massachusetts is almost $17, a much higher rate than other states in the area. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts is listed in the highest tier for employment of medical assistants and is in the upper range nationwide for medical assistant pay. If you are interested in this career, there has never been a better time to get the necessary training to get to work.

The Future of Medical Assisting in Massachusetts

Medical assisting is one of the fields that is expected to have an amazing rate of growth over coming years. Although there are plenty of employment opportunities for medical assistants now, there will be even more as the career field expands. Medical assistants in Massachusetts have a brighter career outlook than those in nearly any other state, so now is the ideal time to enroll in a medical assisting program.

List of Medical Assisting Schools in Massachusetts

Bristol Community College

  • Program Link: Medical Assisting certificate program
  • Description: Bristol Community College has been in operation since 1968. The school offers a certificate in medical assisting that can be completed in less than a year and at a very reasonable price. Students who complete this program are eligible to take the national credentialing examination and will be fully prepared to meet the clinical and administrative demands of today’s medical assistant positions.
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Programs: certificate
  • Average Program Length: nine months
  • Tuition:  $4,996
  • Clinical Experience: Externship
  • Job Placement Rate: not available
  • Fun Fact: The school has campuses in Fall River, New Bedford, and Attleboro.

North Shore Community College

  • Program Link: Medical Assisting certificate program
  • Description: At North Shore Community College in Danvers, students can complete the medical assistant certificate program in around one year and for less than $5,000. This program provides the full range of courses and experience needed to work in both the front office of a medical facility as well as with direct patient care. Students complete the program with hands-on clinical experience during an externship and are eligible to become Certified Medical Assistants by taking the AAMA examination upon graduation.
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Programs:  certificate
  • Average Program Length: one year
  • Tuition:  $4,901
  • Clinical Experience: Externship
  • Job Placement Rate: 100%
  • Fun Fact: NSCC is one of the oldest and largest community colleges in Massachusetts.

Southeastern Technical Institute

  • Program Link: Medical Assisting certificate program
  • Description: Southeastern Technical Institute in South Easton offers a medical assisting program that culminates in a medical assisting certificate. Students in the program attend class five days a week, from 8:00 am to 2:10 pm from September to June. Students will also have to complete 160 hours of externship experience from approximately 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays. Upon completion of this program, students can take the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Programs:  certificate
  • Average Program Length: one year
  • Tuition:  $5,000
  • Clinical Experience:  Externship
  • Job Placement Rate: not available
  • Fun Fact: Southeastern Technical Institute has been in business for over 43 years.

Bay State College

  • Program Link: Medical Assisting degree program
  • Description:  Bay State College offers the medical assisting associate’s degree program at the main campus in Boston or at the Middleborough satellite campus. Students can choose to take day or evening classes, allowing flexibility in scheduling that makes it easy to get an education while working a current job and taking care of a family. Students in this program learn all aspects of the medical assisting profession, including confidentiality, safety and health regulations, and more. Upon completion of the program students can take the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
  • Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
  • Programs:  Associate of Science
  • Average Program Length: two years
  • Tuition:  $46,790
  • Clinical Experience:  Externship
  • Job Placement Rate: 60%
  • Fun Fact: Instructors in this program are practicing physicians and nurses.