Maryland has some of the most extensive coastlines of any state and is a national leader in the production of seafood. In addition, the state has many urban areas that provide excellent employment opportunities for medical assistants. Currently, Maryland provides almost 8,000 medical assistant jobs and offers some of the highest pay in the area. Finally, medical assistants in the state can receive excellent support from the local medical assistant society. There are several great medical assistant schools in the state, most accredited. Students can get their medical assistant training at every level from certificate to associate’s degree. Serious students can also become members of the Maryland Society of Medical Assistants and enjoy the organization’s vast resources.
Maryland’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment
Medical assistants in Maryland earn an average wage of over $15 an hour, making it the second highest in the northeast. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland is in the middle range for employment opportunities and in the upper middle range nationwide for medical assistant pay. Overall, this is an excellent state in which to enter this field.
The Future of Medical Assisting in Maryland
The future of medical assisting in Maryland is bright. With industry growth expected to be over 30% in coming years, there will be many more open positions each year. In addition, changing regulations regarding what medical assistants are allowed to do will create a higher demand for skilled and qualified medical assistants across the state. If you are considering entering the medical assistant field in Maryland, this is a prime time to start working on your career training.
List of Medical Assistant Schools in Maryland
Fortis Institute
- Program Link: Medical Assisting program
- Description: Fortis has campuses in several states and prides itself on offering a high-quality technical education. Students at Fortis receive administrative and clinical training as well as valuable hands-on experience through an externship in a working healthcare facility. Students who graduate from this medical assisting program are qualified to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: diploma
- Average Program Length: less than one year
- Tuition: $15,436
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 66%
- Fun Fact: Fortis allows students to complete the application process online.
Allegheny College of Maryland
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: Located in the Allegheny Mountains, Allegheny College of Maryland has satellite campuses in Pennsylvania. Students who choose Allegheny may be able to take day, evening, and online classes to add flexibility to the scheduling. The school offers a comprehensive medical assisting associate’s degree program that culminates in a 210-hour externship in a variety of ambulatory care facilities. The CAAHEP accreditation means that graduates are eligible to sit for credentialing exams.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
- Average Program Length: two years
- Tuition: $196/credit hour
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Students in this program can join the Medical Assistant Club, which performs community service and raises funds for medical assisting scholarships.
Sanford Brown Institute
- Program Link: Medical Assistant certificate program
- Description: Sanford Brown Institute is located in Landover and offers a certificate program in medical assisting that prepares students to meet all of the clinical and administrative duties of the career. Sanford Brown offers flexible class scheduling that allows students to complete coursework on a schedule that fits around a current job and other obligations.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: 14 months
- Tuition: $13,500
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 34%
- Fun Fact: Sanford-Brown has partnerships with many area healthcare providers, allowing for increased networking and job opportunities.
Hartford Community College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting degree program
- Description: Students at Hartford Community College not only enjoy an excellent medical assisting program, they also enjoy a wide range of student support services, clubs, groups, organizations, wellness facilities, and much more. HCC prides itself on offering students everything they need to have a great college experience and a successful future. Students in the medical assistant program prepare for every aspect of front and back office operations and gain real-world experience through externship experience.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: Associate of Arts in Medical Assisting
- Average Program Length: two years
- Tuition: $4,865
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Students who graduate from this program can sit for the Certified Medical Assistant and Registered Medical Assistant examinations.
Cecil College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: Cecil College offers a medical assistant certificate program that can be completed in about a year at a very affordable price. In addition, students who already hold a national certification in a healthcare field can advance their skills through an associate’s degree program in medical assisting. This program provides all the training needed to become a generalist in the medical assisting field and qualifies students to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: one year
- Tuition: $7,696
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 90%
- Fun Fact: Cecil College has a low student-instructor ratio of 18:1, allowing for personalized instruction.