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Table of Contents
- 1 How to Become a Medical Assistant in Massachusetts
- 2 Step 1. Complete a Massachusetts Medical Assistant Education Program
- 3 Step 2. Pass a National Certification Examination
- 4 Step 3. Find a Medical Assistant Job in Massachusetts
- 5 Step 4. Maintain Your Medical Assistant Certification
- 6 The Best Medical Assisting Schools in Massachusetts
- 7 Medical Assisting Salaries 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.
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 Name Address Assumption College Worcester, MA Bay State College Boston, MA Branford Hall Career Institute-Springfield Campus Springfield, MA Bristol Community College Fall River, MA Bunker Hill Community College Boston, MA Cape Cod Community College West Barnstable, MA Charles H McCann Technical School North Adams, MA Everest Institute-Brighton Brighton, MA Everest Institute-Chelsea Chelsea, MA Fisher College Boston, MA Greenfield Community College Greenfield, MA Holyoke Community College Holyoke, MA Lincoln Technical Institute-Brockton Brockton, MA Lincoln Technical Institute-Lowell Lowell, MA Lincoln Technical Institute-Somerville Somerville, MA Massasoit Community College Brockton, MA Medical Professional Institute Malden, MA Middlesex Community College Bedford, MA Mildred Elley-Pittsfield Campus Pittsfield, MA Millennium Training Institute Woburn, MA Motoring Technical Training Institute Seekonk, MA Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner, MA North Shore Community College Danvers, MA Northern Essex Community College Haverhill, MA Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Salter College-Chicopee Chicopee, MA Salter College-West Boylston West Boylston, MA Salter School-Fall River Fall River, MA Salter School-New Bedford New Bedford, MA Springfield Technical Community College Springfield, MA The Salter School-Malden Campus Malden, MA The Salter School-Tewksbury Campus Tewksbury, MA
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:Location Avg. 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
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Barnstable Town, MA 450 $47,800 $22.98 $56,930 $38,400 Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 11,910 $49,440 $23.77 $59,930 $39,390 Leominster-Gardner, MA 250 $47,300 $22.74 $58,010 $37,920 New Bedford, MA 450 $44,520 $21.4 $55,470 $35,580 Pittsfield, MA 180 $44,720 $21.5 $49,750 $37,500 Springfield, MA-CT 1,860 $45,710 $21.98 $53,540 $37,620 Worcester, MA-CT 1,220 $47,790 $22.98 $59,280 $38,480
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Medical Assisting by State