Top Medical Assistant Programs in New Hampshire: Online & Campus
Online medical assistant programs in New Hampshire can kickstart an exciting career full of opportunities. Find your perfect program today.
You already know that becoming a medical assistant (MA) will provide you with a fulfilling career path, lots of opportunity for growth, and a good degree of stability. So, how do you embark on a career as a medical assistant? For many, the first step is enrolling in a medical assistant program. If you’re in the Granite State, that will mean exploring and choosing from among the many medical assistant programs in New Hampshire.
On-campus and online medical assistant programs in New Hampshire provide myriad options. Maybe you’re looking for a program that will fast-track your career and get you in the workplace as soon as possible. In other cases, something a little more flexible with adjustable timeframes and a 100% virtual setting might be more your speed.
Luckily, whatever you envision as your ideal in-person or online medical assistant program in NH, you’ll discover options that deliver that experience. To help you choose among the best medical assistant programs in New Hampshire, check out a few of our hand-picked options from across the state.
New Hampshire’s Popular Medical Assistant Programs
The three fully or partially online medical assistant programs in New Hampshire spotlighted below are among the most popular. No doubt you’ll see why as you discover their unique blends of online and on-campus learning opportunities, affordable costs, and comprehensive curricula that prepare you for the workforce.
NHTI – Concord’s Community College
New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) – Concord’s Community College offers a 100% online, 12-month, self-paced medical assistant program. The program cost starts at $2,815, which includes a voucher for the certified clinical medical assistant exam.
Throughout the program you’ll learn a range of relevant skills, including medical terminology, HIPAA rules, how to use popular scheduling systems, and more. You’ll also learn how to obtain laboratory samples and assist medical professionals with exams. After you’re finished with the online program, you’ll be eligible to complete unpaid clinical work, which helps you further grow your skills, and sit for the certified clinical medical assistant exam.
While there are no prerequisites for the medical assistant course, to take the certified clinical medical assistant exam you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent. While the New Hampshire Employment Security, Economic, and Labor Market Information Bureau doesn’t require you to have a professional license to become a medical assistant, passing this exam and achieving certification following your online medical assistant program in New Hampshire can greatly increase your value to employers.
River Valley Community College
The MA program at River Valley Community College isn’t fully online and requires a hybrid, in-person component. However the program is quick, fast-tracking you toward your career path in less than six months.
The program combines weekly in-person classes and online coursework over 18 weeks, followed by four weeks working in a clinical setting. After you complete the 22 total weeks of training, you’ll be eligible to take the American Medical Technologists registered medical assistant exam.
While you won’t be able to secure Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funding for this program, if you need financial assistance to cover the cost of your online medical assistant program in NH, you can find it through the NH SNAP Employment & Training Program, as well as via the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Scholarship and the Rural Health Careers Scholarship. This program starts at $6,500 and includes the cost of your textbooks.
The program requires you to be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and undergo an application and interview process. You’ll also need to submit certain personal records.
University of New Hampshire
When considering which medical assistant program in New Hampshire might be for you, your mind might jump to the University of New Hampshire — but does a big name necessarily mean a better experience?
At the University of New Hampshire, you can expect to spend just under $3,000 on tuition, making this program comparable to that offered by NHTI. Likewise, this 100% online medical assistant program in New Hampshire takes a year to complete and covers the cost of your certified clinical medical assistant exam fees. The open enrollment format means you can register and start the course whenever you want, with no need to wait around.
Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Assistants in NH
| Area | 10th Percentile | Mean Annual Wage | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $33,500 | $43,350 | $56,480 |
| New Hampshire | $36,950 | $45,490 | $55,140 |
| Dover-Durham, NH | $36,950 | $44,420 | $54,870 |
| Manchester, NH | $36,500 | $45,100 | $53,420 |
| Portsmouth, NH | $36,970 | $44,860 | $52,530 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
| Area | New Jobs | Job Growth Rate | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 132,600 | 18.4% | 104,400 |
| New Hampshire | 540 | 18.9% | 420 |
Source: Projections Central, 2020-2030
Beyond knowing what to expect during the time you’ll spend in an online medical assistant program in New Hampshire, you likely also want to know what to expect after you’ve achieved certification and are ready to claim your first job.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics table above, expect to make around $45,000 annually as a medical assistant in New Hampshire, with your salary fluctuating depending on where you live. For example, MAs in Manchester make more than MAs in Portsmouth, though not by a large margin. The difference is only a few hundred dollars per year.
In a more localized report from June 2024, New Hampshire Employee Security found that the median hourly wage for medical assistants was just over $23, with entry-level workers earning closer to $19 and experienced workers earning closer to $25 per hour.
Looking at nationwide trends, New Hampshire offers slightly higher salaries than the U.S. averages, with slightly higher job growth rates as well.
Answers to Your Questions
What’s the salary for medical assistants in New Hampshire?
According to New Hampshire Employee Security, the median hourly wage for medical assistants as of June 2024 was $23.19 per hour. This works out to $927.60 per week if you’re working a 40-hour week, and just over $48,230 per year if you’re working 52 weeks per year. This rate is somewhat higher than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 estimation above, which puts the annual medical assistant salary at $45,490.
What does medical assistant training in New Hampshire look like?
It all depends on what online medical assistant program in New Hampshire you choose to attend. Some programs are conducted in a hybrid setting, with in-person classes complemented by online classwork completed on your own schedule. Other programs are 100% online and offer an open enrollment format, allowing you to work at your own pace and on your own schedule, with no in-person classes.
Whatever format you choose, the coursework and results will be similar. You’ll learn the basics about assisting in a medical office, both with patient care tasks and administrative tasks, and ultimately be qualified to sit for a certification exam that will verify your skills and enhance your employability.
What’s the scope of practice for medical assistants?
Medical assistants perform a variety of tasks within a medical setting. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the majority of medical assistants work in physicians’ offices rather than in hospitals or outpatient centers. A medical assistant in a doctors’ office might perform more clerical work such as scheduling appointments, billing, or working with insurance providers while also assisting with clinical responsibilities such as recording patients’ medical histories, prepping patients for examination, taking vital signs, or collecting laboratory samples.
Can I complete a medical assistant program online?
Yes, you can complete a medical assistant program in NH online. Several New Hampshire MA programs are totally online, with no in-person component. You can even take your medical assistant certification exam online. However, some programs require an in-person clinical externship to better prepare you for a future paid role and increase your value to potential employers.
What Medical Assistants Perform
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the New Hampshire Employment Security, Economic, and Labor Market Information Bureau, NH medical assistants perform a variety of tasks, with specifics differing according to your exact place of employment. Here’s what your online medical assistant program in New Hampshire will prepare you to do.
Clerical and administrative tasks might include scheduling patients’ appointments, general office maintenance, inventorying, keeping medical records, billing, working with insurance providers for claims, and keeping the office clean, neat, and stocked.
Clinical tasks might include interviewing patients to learn more about their medical histories and complaints, taking vital signs, authorizing drug refills, cleaning and sterilizing medical equipment, administering medications, explaining treatment plans, collecting laboratory samples, and otherwise assisting physicians in the treatment and examination process. If you work in a specialized physician office, such as at an optometry office, you may further take on specialty tasks, such as educating patients about contact lens use and care.
These tasks differ from those that you might do if you were, for example, a physician assistant. While the two professions sound similar in name, they’re actually quite different. Becoming a physician assistant requires more schooling (specifically a master’s degree) and comes with a higher salary, as well as responsibilities such as directly examining patients, ordering tests, making diagnoses, prescribing medication, and monitoring patients’ progress long-term — all tasks that medical assistants cannot perform (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Similarly, a medical assistant’s role differs from that of a nursing assistant. While more similar to a medical assistant than a physician assistant, the two jobs typically require different certifications and education. Nursing assistants also often work in long-term care facilities such as in nursing homes or hospitals, whereas medical assistants rarely do (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
