Medical Assistant Jobs and Programs in Massachusetts – Schools, Salary, and License Info

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Medical Assistant Jobs and Programs in Massachusetts

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Massachusetts

Medical Assistants’ demand in Massachusetts is increasing each day more.

From the United States Department of Labor Statistics, by the years 2008 and 2018, there will be a 20% increase.

This makes a 400 average of job openings for medical assistants in the state yearly.

Apart from the job opportunities in the state, there are also satisfying salaries as well.

Medical assistants in Massachusetts earn the third-highest salary at a national level.

The average salary per year for them is $35,600, as noted in May 2013.

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This is more than the national average in the state, which is $30,780.

Considering the two advantages of the profession, it is not a surprise why many would like to follow a career path in it in Massachusetts.

To do so, one needs to take a few steps, which are as follows:

  • Complete a Massachusetts Medical Assistant Education Program
  • Pass a National Certification Examination
  • Find a Medical Assistant Job in Massachusetts
  • Maintain Your Medical Assistant Certification

Step 1. Complete a Massachusetts Medical Assistant Education Program

In Massachusetts, there are no specific requirements in terms of education for medical assistants.

However, employers who are in search of them mostly favor those who have specialized training and education in the field.

The state does not either ask for medical assistants’ certification, but it recognizes the certification through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

This is the Certified Medical Assistant credential (CMA).

Having this credential, a candidate needs to graduate from an accredited medical assisting program first.

In Massachusetts, these programs are accredited by any of the below mentioned accrediting bodies:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

In Massachusetts, CAAHEP-accredited programs are found in the following cities:

  • West Barnstable
  • Fall River
  • North Adams
  • Canton
  • Gardner
  • Lowell
  • Danvers
  • Lawrence
  • West Boylston
  • Worcester
  • Springfield
  • South Easton

In Massachusetts, CAAHEP-accredited programs culminate in the following certificates, diplomas or degrees:

  • Certificate – Medical Assisting
  • Associate of Science- Medical Assisting

Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

In Massachusetts, ABHES-accredited programs are found in the following cities:

  • Boston
  • Taunton
  • Springfield
  • Malden
  • Chicopee
  • Westborough
  • Canton
  • New Bedford
  • Fall River

In Massachusetts, ABHES-accredited programs culminate in the following certificates, diplomas or degrees:

  • Certificate – Professional Medical Assistant
  • Diploma – Medical Assisting
  • Diploma- Professional Medical Assisting
  • Associate of Science – Health Studies (Medical Assisting)

The curriculum for a Massachusetts medical assistant education program is similar regardless of the outcome (certificate, diploma or degree).

Classes that you will take include:

  • Medical terminology
  • Mathematics
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Medical assisting lab procedures
  • Medical assisting clinical procedures
  • Psychology
  • Pharmacology
  • Ethnopharmacology
  • Medical-legal concepts, practices, and ethics
  • Externship

The medical assisting education has an externship in its packet.

The externship means that the student will be sent to a school-approved clinical site.

There, he or she will be able to practice his or her knowledge and skills in the field.

From the duties and procedures, he or she will be asked to perform are usually clinical and administrative procedures.

As well as interaction with care professionals and clients in a medical office or other clinical environments.

The externship length depends on the rules of the school.

Anyway, 160 hours is the optimal time for it.

It is also an unpaid experience.

Step 2. Pass a National Certification Examination

Earning a national certification in Massachusetts is not a must to work in medical assisting.

Anyways, The Certified Medical Assistants Credential (CMA) is state-recognized and taken through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Before taking this credential, the medical assistant needs to have previously attended an accredited program for either ABHES or CAAHEP.

They are considered as preparatory programs for the credentials.

Being a CMA however, requires a few things.

One of them is taking the exam of the CMA Certification-Recertification Exam.

For this examination usually, the AAMA offers study sources in order for the candidate to prepare for it through them.

To take the exam, he or she can apply online.

The exams are taken monthly at Prometric testing centers.

In Massachusetts, the candidate will be able to take it in any of the centers:

  • Boston
  • Burlington
  • Lowell
  • Worcester
  • North Andover
  • Brockton

When you pass the CMA exam, the AAMA will mail your certificate and wallet card identifying you as a nationally Certified Medical Assistant.

Step 3. Find a Medical Assistant Job in Massachusetts

After gaining certification, the next important step for a medical assistant is to find a job.

If you cannot do that individually, or consult the college you’ve studied the program in, if possible.

Whereas places you can find a job in Massachusetts are medical centers, offices, clinics and similar.

The highest job concentration is of course in larger cities.

One of these cities is Boston.

But candidates may find jobs in medical assisting in Massachusetts in these medical facilities as well:

  • South Shore Hospital-South Weymouth
  • Manet Community Health Center – Quincy
  • Tufts Medical Center – Boston
  • Signature Healthcare – Brockton
  • Boston Medical Center – Boston
  • GK Dermatology, PC – Weymouth
  • Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates – Quincy
  • Westwood-Mansfield Pediatrics – Westwood
  • About Women By Women – Wellesley
  • Brigham & Women’s Faulkner Hospital- Boston
  • Harbor Health Services – Hyannis
  • UMass Memorial Medical Center – Worcester
  • Hallmark Health System – Medford
  • Lowell Community Health Center – Lowell

Step 4. Maintain Your Medical Assistant Certification

Certification is a good thing, but maintain it is a matter of care.

The CMA credential expires every five years, which means you need to recertify after that period.

A fee will be required from you to the AAMA- recertification as well as pass the exam or meet additional education conditions.

The exam is conducted in the same way as when you received the first certification back then.

Continuing education, on the other hand, will ask from you to complete 60 points in five years period in order to make sure the CMA is valid.

Half of the points will belong to the AAMA-approved continuing education units (CEUs).

Professional Organizations for Medical Assistants in Massachusetts

In every work, a connection is a key to be in touch with the newest innovations and happenings in the field.

Especially, being part of any professional organization in Massachusetts is important for medical assistants.

The leading organization in this state is the one in Commonwealth.

This is the AAMA-s state chapter, named the Massachusetts Society of Medical Assistants.

The purpose of the organization is to help medical assistants in Massachusetts to improve their skills, knowledge, and professionalism in the field.

The organization is also created to protect its rights in the practical part.

And at the same time, to promote more effective health care delivery.

It has done so by the recommendation that medical assistants in Massachusetts become CMAs in the long run.

The Best Medical Assisting Schools in Massachusetts

With 32 Medical Assisting in Massachusetts, there’s enough space for all to find a proper education in the field.

The program then goes along with the credentials.

Though you can do without a credential, you should definitely graduate from a program to be able to work in the profession.

Education in Medical Assisting is an important feature to achieve success in the career.

School NameAddress
Assumption CollegeWorcester, MA
Bay State CollegeBoston, MA
Branford Hall Career Institute-Springfield CampusSpringfield, MA
Bristol Community CollegeFall River, MA
Bunker Hill Community CollegeBoston, MA
Cape Cod Community CollegeWest Barnstable, MA
Charles H McCann Technical SchoolNorth Adams, MA
Everest Institute-BrightonBrighton, MA
Everest Institute-ChelseaChelsea, MA
Fisher CollegeBoston, MA
Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield, MA
Holyoke Community CollegeHolyoke, MA
Lincoln Technical Institute-BrocktonBrockton, MA
Lincoln Technical Institute-LowellLowell, MA
Lincoln Technical Institute-SomervilleSomerville, MA
Massasoit Community CollegeBrockton, MA
Medical Professional InstituteMalden, MA
Middlesex Community CollegeBedford, MA
Mildred Elley-Pittsfield CampusPittsfield, MA
Millennium Training InstituteWoburn, MA
Motoring Technical Training InstituteSeekonk, MA
Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, MA
North Shore Community CollegeDanvers, MA
Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill, MA
Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester, MA
Salter College-ChicopeeChicopee, MA
Salter College-West BoylstonWest Boylston, MA
Salter School-Fall RiverFall River, MA
Salter School-New BedfordNew Bedford, MA
Springfield Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MA
The Salter School-Malden CampusMalden, MA
The Salter School-Tewksbury CampusTewksbury, MA
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Medical Assisting Salaries in Massachusetts

Below you will see the minimum, average and maximum salary for medical assistants in Massachusetts.

This change in salaries comes depending on the place you work in.

But also from other factors.

These factors are work experience, skills, education and so on.

Annual Salary Range:

$35K
$38K
$41K
10%
50%
90%
Annual Salary by Location:
LocationAvg. Annual Salary
Boston$40,327
Worcester$37,623
Springfield$37,337
Lowell$38,945
Cambridge$38,756
Brockton$38,695
New Bedford$37,658
Fall River$37,658
Lynn$40,327
Quincy$40,327

Regional Salary in Massachusetts

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Barnstable Town, MA460$44,640$21.46$51,350$37,600
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH9,380$47,730$22.95$60,850$37,320
Leominster-Gardner, MA210$43,020$20.68$51,930$35,870
New Bedford, MA470$40,790$19.61$52,470$32,450
Pittsfield, MA190$39,840$19.15$48,840$32,600
Springfield, MA-CT1,870$42,790$20.57$52,420$35,970
Worcester, MA-CT1,110$43,800$21.06$55,930$35,080
* Salary information based on the May 2022 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Medical Assistants, OCC Code 31-9092, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

USA Medical Assisting by State


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