Medical Assistant Training Massachusetts
In order to become a medical assistant in Massachusetts, you need to follow these steps:
- Get a High School Diploma
High school students who are interested in joining this field right after finishing school are advised to take courses in physics, chemistry and the sciences.
- Complete a Postsecondary Education Program
Even though this step is not compulsory, it is highly recommended. Postsecondary education programs are offered at community colleges, vocational schools or universities. Typically these programs take one year to complete. Candidates can also opt for an associate’s degree in administrative or clinical medicine, to enter the field as a medical assistant. This degree would take two years to complete.
- Get On-the-Job Training
This step is particularly important for fresh high school graduates who intend to learn directly on the job, instead of going through a more traditional educational path. On-the-job training would be conducted by experienced physicians or certified medical assistants and will expose students to topics such as patient interactions, medical administration, names of instruments and medical terminology.
- Get a Certification
The state of Massachusetts does not require medical assistants to be certified in order to be eligible to practice. However, it is highly recommended that you opt for a certification to increase your job prospects and to remain relevant in an ever-evolving medical industry. Certifying agencies include the American Association of Medical Assistants, American Medical Technologists or the National Healthcareer Association.
- Look for a Job
Once you are certified, you can begin looking for jobs in local clinics, hospitals and healthcare facilities.
How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Massachusetts?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has listed the annual mean wage of medical assistants in the state as $40,270, which is substantially higher than the national mean of $34,540 in 2018.
Let’s take a look at some comparative salary data for the years from 2016 to 2018.
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
---|---|---|---|
Annual Mean Salary (MA) | $38,990 | $39,310 | $40,270 |
Annual Mean Salary (US) | $32,850 | $33,580 | $34,540 |
In all three years, the salaries for medical assistants have remained substantially higher than the national mean. The salary for medical assistants in Massachusetts has also experienced a consistent increase from 2016 to 2018.
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