Medical Assistant Schools in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, but it offers some of the biggest opportunities for medical assistants of any state. Even with its small size, Rhode Island ranks right at the national average for employment of medical assistants, with between 2,270 and 6,920 medical assistants currently working in the state. In addition, Rhode Island offers medical assistants average annual salaries of between $30,870 and $32,380 a year, which is slightly above the average for the nation. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical assisting career field is expected to grow by as much as 30% over the coming decade. This growth will lead to even more job opportunities for medical assistants in Rhode Island and will also likely lead to higher average salaries as employers are forced to compete for the best candidates.

Before you can go to work as a medical assistant in the state of Rhode Island, you must get the proper education and training. Unfortunately, Rhode Island currently has no schools that offer medical assistant training, but there are other options available. Students in Rhode Island who wish to become medical assistants can choose to attend a school in a nearby state or take medical assistant training online. With online programs, however, it is important to remember that there are clinical requirements that must be met in most medical assistant programs. Some online programs will arrange for students to complete these requirements at a local healthcare facility, while others will require that students travel to a designated site. Be sure to understand all of the requirements of a program before making a commitment.

In addition, it is a good idea to select a training program that is accredited through either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Students who graduate from programs with these accreditations show that they have met rigorous training standards and that they are prepared to meet all of the demands of the career field. In addition, graduation from these programs qualifies students to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant or Registered Medical Assistant examinations. While these credentials are not required for medical assistants at this time, holding such credentials may qualify applicants for better career opportunities as well as higher pay rates.