# 20 Best Medical Assistant Programs in Boston, MA \(2026\) - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/20-best-medical-assistant-programs-in-boston-ma-2024/ - Published: 2024-03-16 - Author: Charlene Farwell - Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/) --- Boston is home to some of the top medical assistant programs in the country. With a vibrant healthcare industry and numerous hospitals, clinics, and private practices, Boston offers abundant opportunities for aspiring medical assistants to gain hands-on training and launch their careers. This article profiles the 20 best medical assistant programs in Boston based on quality of education, faculty expertise, career support services, affordability, and student outcomes. ## The Growing Need for Medical Assistants in Boston Demand for medical assistants is projected to grow at three times the national average in the Boston region over the next decade. According to economic modeling, over 15,000 new MA jobs will be added in Massachusetts by 2030 to meet growing healthcare staffing needs as the population ages. The expected 17% job growth greatly outpaces most other occupations. (1) The robust demand, combined with competitive salaries that average $37,000 per year locally according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, makes medical assisting an appealing career pathway for many, especially those interested in entering the high-demand healthcare sector without pursuing extensive postsecondary education. However, finding a quality training program that furnishes graduates with requisite clinical and administrative competencies remains imperative for positioning graduates to pass credentialing exams and securing well-paying roles after completion. The medical assistant programs showcased below are considered among the best in the Boston region based on metrics like career outcomes, affordability, and employer connections. **Projected Growth in Medical Assistant Employment in Boston (2020-2030)** | Year | # of MA Jobs | % Change | | --- | --- | --- | | 2020 | 21,000 | n/a | | 2025 | 25,000 | 19% | | 2030 | 29,000 | 17% | _Source: Emsi Burning Glass Labor Insights_ ## Overview of Featured Medical Assistant Programs in Boston | School | Location | Program Type | Program Length | Est. Program Cost | Credential Exam(s) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan | Boston, MA | Certificate | 9 months | $0* † | RMA, CMA | | Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing, MA | Certificate | 1 year | $8,500† | RMA, CMA | | Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology | Boston, MA | Certificate | 9 months | $13,975 | RMA, CMA | | Kaplan Career Institute | Boston, MA | Diploma or AS | 10-18 months | $17,000-$35,000 | RMA, CCMA | | Laboure College | Boston, MA | Certificate | 1 year | $26,500† | RMA, CMA | † _Tuition after scholarships/aid shown_ *_Guaranteed free tuition for Boston residents meeting program criteria_ ## 1. Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan **Location**: Boston, MA Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan is the flagship medical assistant training program offered by Boston Medical Center, the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The accelerated 9-month certificate program integrates 600 hours of classroom instruction with 540 hours of clinical rotations at BMC clinics and community health centers across Boston. **Key Features:** - Hands-on training with experienced MA instructors at Boston’s premier public hospital - Guaranteed interview for a Clinical MA position at BMC upon graduation - Tuition-free program open exclusively to MA residents with priority enrollment for Boston Housing Authority residents ### Addressing Access and Affordability As a low-income serving institution, Boston Medical Center is tackling two major issues facing many Americans seeking postsecondary credentials – access and affordability. By guaranteeing free tuition for Boston residents (valued at $5,500), BMC removes the financial barriers that might otherwise preclude talent medical assistants from underserved communities the opportunity to pursue this career pathway. Meanwhile, guaranteed job interviews upon completion provide both a strong incentive for prospective students to enroll and a reasonable assurance of employment outcomes post-graduation. Viewed through an equity lens, Boston Medical Center‘s program model warrants consideration by other schools seeking to expand access to allied health careers, as medical assistants offer lower barriers to entry and good job prospects compared to degrees like nursing that require more extensive education. **Website:** [www.bmc.org](http://www.bmc.org) ## 2. Roxbury Community College **Location**: Roxbury Crossing, MA Roxbury Community College offers a comprehensive 1-year medical assisting certificate tailored to diverse student learners. The program includes medical terminology, anatomy, clinical skills labs, lab procedures, health records management, and a 160-hour externship. Graduates can sit for the RMA or CMA certification exams. **Highlights:** - Convenient day and evening/weekend course schedules - Dedicated career placement support services - High first-time RMA/CMA exam pass rate - Associate degree pathway option ### Diverse Schedules Expand Access Roxbury Community College‘s medical assistant program smartly leverages variable course schedules – offering day, evening, and weekend options – to provide flexible pathways that can accommodate students balancing work, families, and other obligations. This approach aligns with best practices for expanding access and student success, meeting learners where they are rather than expecting full-time attendance. It may partly explain strong student outcomes like a 90% RMA/CMA first-time exam pass rate. As the medical field grapples with talent shortages, this diversity and inclusion focused approach is imperative, ensuring those employed in lower-wage healthcare roles have opportunities to upskill. **Website:** [www.rcc.mass.edu](http://www.rcc.mass.edu) ## Evaluating Medical Assistant Program Models Medical assistant programs generally fall into two categories – shorter-term certificate programs taking 8-15 months to complete or 2-year associate degree programs. When evaluating schools, it‘s important to weigh the costs and benefits of each model. ### Certificate Programs Certificates provide focused career-oriented MA training designed to get students workforce ready more quickly and affordably. They emphasize hands-on clinical skills through labs and externships. Some benefits of certificate programs include: - Typically 8-15 months to complete - Lower cost ($3,000-$15,000) - Immediate employment focus ### Associate Degree Programs Associate degrees lead to more transferrable college credits. They provide a foundation to pursue bachelor‘s degrees in related healthcare fields. Benefits include: - Typically 2 years duration - Mix of general education and technical MA content - Articulation agreements enabling academic progression Both certificate and AS degree programs have pros and cons depending on a student‘s circumstances and goals. Those seeking quick workforce entry may prefer an accelerated certificate, while others wanting to continue their studies in the future would benefit more from an AS track. ## 3. Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology **Location**: Boston, MA The 9-month medical assisting certificate program at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology utilizes cutting-edge SIMS medical labs to provide an intensive hands-on learning experience. Students complete 210 hours of practicum at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and other elite Boston medical facilities. **Notable Features:** - Paid internship program placing 100% of eligible grads into Clinical MA jobs - Small class sizes (less than 20 students) - Top-ranked for graduate employment outcomes ### Skills-based Learning Model Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology employs an innovative skills-based curriculum that does away with conventional course credits and instead has students demonstrate competencies across over 560 essential medical assisting skills, from clinical procedures to patient relations to health records management. This mastery-based approach accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) ensures graduates have obtained verified abilities required for workplace success instead of just seat time. Meanwhile, guaranteed paid internships providing clinical experience to 100% of qualified students is rare among medical assistant programs and offers a meaningful point of differentiation. **Website:** [www.bfit.edu](http://www.bfit.edu) ## 4. Kaplan Career Institute **Location**: Boston, MA Kaplan Career Institute Boston offers both a diploma and associate degree track for aspiring medical assistants, combining online coursework with hands-on clinical experience at prestigious Boston hospitals and clinics. Graduates can take the RMA or CCMA certification exams. **Standout Features:** - 160-hour externship rotation included - Job placement assistance with lifetime career services support - Day, night and weekend course options - Financial aid and scholarships available for qualifying students As one of the largest healthcare career-focused educational systems nationally with campuses across major metro areas, Kaplan Career Institute is able to leverage extensive employer relationships to furnish students with externships at recognized medical facilities, including exposure to Boston‘s elite "Harvard 5" teaching hospitals. This real-world experience and connections better position graduates to secure jobs after finishing their program. Meanwhile, robust job placement support and even lifetime career assistance reflects Kaplan‘s alignment toward quality outcomes beyond just enrollment metrics. **Website:** [www.kaplancareerinstitute.com](http://www.kaplancareerinstitute.com) ## Comparing Student Outcomes When evaluating medical assisting programs, it‘s important to review metrics related to student success outcomes, including: - **Retention/Graduation Rates:** Percentage of entering students who complete the program - **Certification Pass Rates:** Performance on RMA/CMA/CCMA exams post-graduation - **Employment Rates:** Percentage of graduates working in field or related occupation These indicators validate whether programs are effectively educating and preparing students for the workforce. As prospective students assess options, examining outcomes data can verify program quality. For instance, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology trains medical assistants so rigorously that 100% of qualified recent graduates secure paid clinical externships. Meanwhile, top schools benchmark completion rates against national Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) standards – averaging above 60% retention for certificate programs. Carefully weighing student outcome metrics allows applicants to determine which schools offer the best combination of education, experience and job preparation. ## 5. Laboure College **Location**: Boston, MA Laboure College’s year-long medical assisting program leverages the school‘s 60+ year legacy training top hospital talent in Boston. Hands-on clinical rotations take place at Carney Hospital, Milton Hospital and other Steward Health Care facilities. **Key Features:** - Small class sizes for individualized attention - Externship placement assistance at high-quality clinical sites - Career guidance tailored specifically to medical assisting - Seamless transition for Laboure College nursing grads ### Value of Small Class Sizes While many medical assisting programs allow cohort sizes pushing towards 30 students or more, Laboure College deliberately caps enrollment at under 20 students to enable personalized instruction and valuable Faculty-student interactions. These small class sizes rated highly by graduates furnish the intimate learning environment that allows Laboure to produce exceptional medical assistants. Students benefit from tailored coaching and support based on individual strengths and development needs. This approach facilitates competency development and preparedness for clinical externships and subsequent job performance in ways not possible in large impersonal class settings. As allied health programs expand, maintaining reasonable faculty-student ratios will be imperative for quality and positive student outcomes as an overlooked constraint. **Website:** [www.laboure.edu](http://www.laboure.edu) ## Addressing Disparities Through Innovative Programs Despite growing demand, persons of color remain severely underrepresented within the medical assistant occupation compared to their share of the population nationally. Black and Hispanic workers each comprise less than 10% of medical assistants while together representing over 30% of the labor force, according to federal data. These disparities underscore the need for intentional efforts to promote diversity within medical assistant programs and career pathways. Innovative schools in the Boston area are advancing targeted interventions toward this end. ### Esperanza Academy Esperanza Academy based in East Boston trains medical assistants from predominantly Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, providing bilingual education, income-based tuition assistance, and robust services to promote student success. Over 85% of Esperanza graduates secure industry employment, often returning to medically underserved Hispanic communities with vital linguistic and cultural competencies. Meanwhile, Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary outside Boston offers specialized medical assisting training scholarships and job placement for seminarians entering healthcare ministry roles. Programs like these exemplify promising practices for addressing representation gaps among medical assistants through mission-driven interventions that align program elements with the unique needs of priority student groups. As healthcare strains with severe labor shortages, purposeful efforts to recruit and train talent from non-traditional backgrounds will prove critical region-wide. --- Source: [20 Best Medical Assistant Programs in Boston, MA \(2026\)](https://33rdsquare.com/20-best-medical-assistant-programs-in-boston-ma-2024/)