Best Medical Assistant Programs in Maine: Online and Campus
Medical assisting is one of the fastest paths to enter the healthcare field. The profession comes with many benefits, including speedy certification, stability, and variety.
Situated at the northernmost tip of New England, Maine boasts coastal beauty and vibrant communities. Amidst its picturesque scenery lies a robust healthcare sector supported by dedicated professionals, including medical assistants. As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow (nearly 7% for medical assistants in Maine through 2032), so does the need for skilled individuals to support medical practices across the state. From Portland to Bangor, Maine’s online medical assistant programs and degrees play a pivotal role in training tomorrow’s healthcare workforce, ensuring both quality care and community well-being.
Many medical assistant programs offer affordable, accelerated paths that can be completed in a year or less, with the added convenience of online learning options. The field’s versatility extends across various medical fields, encouraging medical assistants to specialize in the areas that interest them the most and to gain pertinent credentials. Given their broad expertise and vital role, medical assistants are crucial in ensuring the seamless operation of physician offices, hospitals, and clinics throughout the state. This guide walks you through the information you need about medical assisting, including how to get started and get certified.
Featured Medical Assistant Programs in Maine
After deciding to become a medical assistant, determining which program to attend is the next step. Below, we’ve highlighted three high-quality medical assisting programs to help you understand how a typical program will work and what you’ll learn.
Beal University
Beal University offers students the option of an online 12-month diploma or an 18-month associate degree in medical assisting. Both programs combine online components and in-person educational experiences. They’re also both accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which allows successful graduates to sit for the certified medical assistant (CMA) exam, provided they meet all eligibility criteria. During the medical assisting program, you’ll complete a 160-hour externship in an actual medical setting after you’ve completed the four required medical assisting labs.
Throughout the medical assistant program, you’ll develop many skills and abilities, such as recognizing and respecting cultural diversity; adapting communication to an individual’s ability to understand; identifying and responding effectively to verbal, nonverbal, and written communications; using medical terminology appropriately; and providing instruction to individuals according to their needs. Your training in administrative functions will help you meet the highest legal and ethical standards of the medical assistant profession.
Washington County Community College
Washington County Community College offers students a hybrid associate degree in medical assisting that requires completion of 64 credits. This program allows students to complete their first year entirely online and their second year partially online and partially on campus. The program is accredited by the Medical Assisting Education Review Board and the CAAHEP. Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the CMA or registered medical assistant (RMA) certification exam.
Students enrolled in the medical assisting program must maintain 80% on all competencies within the program to graduate.
York County Community College
York County Community College (YCCC) partners with MaineHealth, York Hospital, and Galbraith Family Medicine, LLC, to provide free medical assistant certification for 18 participants every year in August. This all-expense paid, nine-month accelerated program provides paid, on-the-job training and mastery of medical assisting skills learned in the classroom. Through the apprenticeship, students work with medical assistants for 20 hours a week at a partnering medical office. At the same time, they receive blended classroom and online instruction from YCCC’s medical assistant instructors.
Students take the certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) exam to become certified upon successful completion of the program. Those who are accepted and opt to work with MaineHealth commit to working within the system for at least 12 months after completing the training program. Students can also receive up to 30 college credits and advance into YCCC’s health studies degree program.
Medical Assistant Salaries in Maine: A Numbers Breakdown
Maine is an excellent place for new medical assistants to start out. As the table below shows, Maine workers in the 10th percentile or those making the mean annual wage earn more than the national average for those percentiles. Depending on which city you’re in, the difference can amount to thousands of dollars.
However, medical assistants who are likely to be paid the highest due to additional education, experience, and/or specialization may find a higher salary in another state. On average across the U.S., medical assistants in the 90th percentile earn $56,480 per year, while Maine pays a little less, at $52,440.
That said, medical assistants can leverage the data below to find work in the highest-paying cities in Maine, which include the Portland-South Portland and Lewiston-Auburn areas.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Mean Annual Wage | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $33,500 | $43,350 | $56,480 |
| Maine | $37,680 | $44,580 | $52,440 |
| Bangor, ME | $38,230 | $45,140 | $52,440 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $39,080 | $46,900 | $52,340 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $39,530 | $46,450 | $54,390 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
10-Year Outlook for Medical Assistants in Maine
Although salaries can be a little better in Maine than in the United States as a whole, job growth is slower. The projected growth for medical assistants in the United States is 13.8%; however, in Maine it’s half that, at 6.9%. Another way to look at it, though, is that the growth rate for medical assistants in Maine is still higher than it is for the average job in the United States (3 percent), indicating that it’s a stable job choice. Maine has about 530 openings each year and 320 new jobs that will be added by the year 2032.
| Area | New Jobs | Job Growth Rate | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 132,600 | 13.8% | 104,400 |
| Maine | 320 | 6.9% | 530 |
Source: Projections Central, 2022 – 2032
Common Questions About Medical Assistant Programs in Maine
Still want to know more? Below are some of the most asked questions about medical assistant programs or degrees in Maine. Whether you’re looking for information about certification, program timelines, salary, or Maine-specific options, we have the answers for you.
Do medical assistants have to be certified in Maine?
No. Most states, including Maine, don’t require medical assistants to be certified. However, it could be in your best interest to take the certification test because it allows you to perform a wider variety of tasks, opens the door to higher salaries, and gives you an advantage when looking for a job.
How long does it take to become a medical assistant in Maine?
The answer to this depends entirely on the program that you choose. Each program is a different length. Students going through the MaineHealth medical assistant internship need nine months to complete the program. As highlighted above, the medical assistant diploma at Beal University takes 12 months, and the associate degree takes 18 months.
How much do medical assistants earn to learn in Maine?
The Earn to Learn program in Maine is hosted by several health systems, including MaineHealth, MaineGeneral Health, and Central Maine Healthcare. These programs accept a limited number of students to work with partner providers. Students are paid for their work in the medical setting during part of each week, and the other part of the week is spent in classes or online learning about the medical assistant profession and preparing to take the CMA. To give you an example of what you can earn, MaineHealth pays students $18 per hour for their time working before certification and then $21.22 per hour upon graduation. MaineGeneral Health pays students $17.50 per hour for their time working before certification and $19.50 per hour upon graduation.
How much do medical assistants make at MaineHealth?
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system in Maine. Medical assistants typically make $21.99 per hour, which is 18% above the industry average.
What are the main duties of medical assistants in Maine?
Medical assistants in Maine typically perform several, if not all, of the following tasks:
- Take vital signs and medical histories
- Schedule appointments
- Answer calls
- Order supplies
- Prepare patients for examinations
- Collect sample specimens
- Assist physicians with patient exams
- Handle electronic medical record documentation
- Submit billing and insurance claims
- Prep for exams
- Change sterile dressings
- Assist with electrocardiography
- Provide patient education
Is accreditation important for Maine medical assistant programs?
The short answer is yes. Employers look for programmatic accreditation. It means the medical assisting program you attended is recognized by a governing body that sets the best practices for that industry. Graduating from a programmatically accredited degree also grants you access to take the state board examination (CMA) so that you can become a certified professional. Once you become certified, you can pursue employment in various clinical settings, having demonstrated that your skills meet the nationally accepted level of competency.
Educational Resources for Medical Assistant Students in Maine
Discovering resources is crucial to help Maine medical assistant students thrive during their training and professional careers. From scholarship opportunities to professional organizations such as the Maine State Society of Medical Assistants, these resources offer education, networking, and support, ensuring practitioners stay informed and connected within the state’s evolving healthcare landscape.
- American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
The AAMA offers medical assistants a membership with discounts on CMA exams, access to CMA Today magazine, and many networking and volunteer opportunities. Aspiring and current medical assistants who aren’t members can still access useful information, education, and training through articles and CEUs. - American Medical Technologists (AMT)
The AMT offers five $500 scholarships each year to qualified students. Applicants must attend a program or degree on campus or online that leads to an AMT-certifiable profession and demonstrate financial need. - American Registry of Medical Assistants (ARMA)
The ARMA helps aspiring RMAs with prequalification documents and provides a database of RMAs for employers to use for certification verification. Professionals will also find continuing education and information about the reregistration process if ARMA registration has lapsed. - CAAHEP
The largest and most highly regarded health science program accreditor in the United States, CAAHEP regularly audits the 2,100 programs it accredits across many unique health professions, including medical assisting, to ensure certain standards are being met. Students can check the website for programs that are accredited in Maine. - CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop has a database of over 9,500 scholarships, fellowships, and grants. The site offers a search bar so students can look for specific keywords such as medical assistant, allied health, or healthcare. The database also includes nonmedical scholarships that you may be eligible for based on your specific city or the fact that you live in Maine.
