The medical assisting programs in Maine are some of the only ones in the nation to be free.
Yes, you read that correctly–in Maine, New England’s northernmost state, students can attend in-person medical assistant training and certification for free.
In fact, one program pays students to do on-the-job training.
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5 Medical Assistant Schools in Maine
Northern Maine Community College
At Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle, ME, students can enroll in a medical assistant training course.
This program began in 2019 with 15 students.
Upon graduation from this NMCC track, students are prepared to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam for the American Association of Medical Assisting (AAMA).
Tuition for NMCC is $96 per credit hour and $2,880 per semester for in-state full-term students.
Fees average $1,000 a semester.
Washington County Community College
The Washington County Community College has a training program for clinical medical assistants.
At the Calais, ME campus, WCCC students can take two levels of CMA training.
The first is certified clinical medical assistant training.
This can be supplemented with an associate of science (AS) in medical assisting also available at the college in Maine.
The program is delivered using online and in-person training and is held weekly in a clinical lab on campus.
The class runs from July to September and again from October through December.
The course is 20 weeks in length and 100 percent free for students.
York County Community College
At York County Community College in Wells, ME, students are partnered with three hospitals.
Apply to apprentice with York Hospital, Southern Maine Healthcare, or Nasson Health Care while in on-the-job training during the program.
The class runs from August 29 to June 2 annually for nine months of training.
Students participate in paid training via an apprenticeship and work for 20 hours weekly.
This is in addition to computer-based instruction and in-person classes.
The course leads to 30 college credits and results in a health studies degree.
The medical assistant apprenticeship provides free certification training for the CMA exam.
Eastern Maine Community College
The Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, ME trains students for entry and advanced levels of medical assisting.
The program prepares students to be certified as medical assistants in classes during the day and evenings.
To attend EMCC in medical assistant training, students pay $96 per credit hour for tuition.
This is $3,072 total for the first year, which is 32 maximum credit hours.
Additional fees include $125 for a medical assistant externship and AAMA certification, matriculation fees of $70, and other miscellaneous fees for attending college.
Kennebec Valley Community College
The Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, Maine offers a medical assistant certification program.
Using state-of-the-art technology including a provider practice simulation lab, students learn onsite how to interact with patients and provide treatment.
This is supplemented by a final semester of practical experience in the real health care world.
Students complete 36 credit hours for the medical assisting certificate program.
In addition, there is the option of completing 61 credit hours of training to earn an associate in applied science (AAS) degree in medical assisting.
The cost for this school is $96 per credit hour with additional fees and insurance costs, including a $75 fee for graduation.
Medical Assistant Schools in Maine – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Maine
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Northern Maine Community College | 33 Edgemont Dr, Presque Isle, ME 04769 |
| Washington County Community College | College Dr, Calais, ME 04619 |
| York County Community College | 112 College Dr, Wells, ME 04090 |
| Eastern Maine Community College | 354 Hogan Rd, Bangor, ME 04401 |
| Kennebec Valley Community College | 92 Western Ave, Fairfield, ME 04937 |
Salary for Medical Assistants in Maine
The average salary for medical assistants in the US is $38,017 based on a range from $32,350 to $43,817 a year.
In Bangor, Maine, the salary for medical assistants ranges from $29,564 to $40,044, and there is a median salary of $34,743.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Assistants in Maine
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Portland | $37,154 |
| Lewiston | $36,773 |
| Bangor | $34,743 |
| South Portland | $37,154 |
| Auburn | $36,773 |
| Brunswick | $36,824 |
| Biddeford | $36,976 |
| Sanford | $38,084 |
| Augusta | $35,568 |
| Scarborough | $37,154 |
Regional Salary in Maine
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 660 | $40,670 | $19.55 | $48,020 | $32,340 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 370 | $42,010 | $20.2 | $47,940 | $36,610 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,190 | $44,180 | $21.24 | $52,410 | $37,750 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to be a medical assistant in ME?
The state of Maine offers several easy-to-enter, entry-level certified medical assistant training opportunities.
These programs take less than a year to complete at most colleges.
All programs include a hands-on apprenticeship that is completed after the student trains and sits for a board exam.
Therefore, training times vary based on if you are just getting trained or if you are getting certified as well.
What is the fastest program for training as a medical assistant in Maine?
The quickest pathway to completing a training program as a medical assistant in Maine is nine months or two semesters.
That is the standard time it takes most schools to carry out this type of training program.
There is the national requirement to provide 75 hours, at a minimum, of hands-on training that students also have to complete.
As a result, the process takes longer to become a CMA than in other certification programs.
Do medical assistants in Maine need to be certified?
No, to work as a medical assistant, individuals do not have to be certified or licensed by an association or organization in Maine.
However, in order to be on par with job expectations, job employers expect to see some level of training and certification on job applications.
This is why it is recommended that students who want to become trained as medical assistants complete a certification exam.
What is required to register for a board exam as a medical assistant?
To register to take the board exam for certified medical assistant in Maine, US federal guidelines state you must show that you have at least 75 hours of training in person.
Typically, the only way to get this hands-on training is with an apprenticeship at a college.
Complete medical assistant training in Maine and do an apprenticeship, and then you are ready to register for the board exam.
Can medical assistants in Maine give injections?
No, Maine medical assistants cannot give injections.
This is unique, as the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing states there are just two states that cannot administer intravenous drugs to patients.
These two states are both in New England and include Maine and Massachusetts.
