New Hampshire employed roughly 2,990 medical assistants as of the latest federal wage data, with a statewide median Medical Assistant Salary of $48,040, well above the national median. The short answer to Are Medical Assistants In Demand? is yes: demand continues to climb across primary care offices, specialty clinics, and expanding health systems like Dartmouth Health. Most certificate programs run 9 to 12 months, making this one of the faster routes into clinical work.
Eight accredited programs serve the state, spanning traditional campus formats, hybrid options, and registered apprenticeships that pay you while you train. Choosing among them means weighing real cost differences, clinical hour requirements, and certification exam outcomes.
Top Medical Assistant Programs in New Hampshire
New Hampshire offers medical assistant training through campus, hybrid, and online formats, from short certificates to an associate degree pathway. The programs below stand out for hands-on clinical practice, employer partnerships, and clear routes to national certification. Use the highlights and quick facts to compare cost, timeline, and fit.
White Mountains Community College
#1Berlin, NH · $7,000 – $15,000/yr
Best for: Rural students wanting hospital-based training
This North Country community college offers a medical assistant certificate with hands-on clinical training, including an internship in a medical office and preparation for the CMA (AAMA) exam. The curriculum covers administrative and clinical competencies with a team-based approach, and credits can transfer into an associate degree. Through a MaineHealth Memorial Hospital partnership, some cohorts have had tuition fully covered while earning a paycheck. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 62%.
- 37 total credit hours
- 100% job placement rate
- 85.71% CMA exam passage rate
- Internship in a medical office
- Transferable to an associate degree
- Prepares for the CMA (AAMA) exam
Manchester Community College
#2Manchester, NH · ~$14,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Career changers needing accredited classroom training
Manchester Community College offers a nationally accredited medical assistant certificate that blends clinical and administrative training, from phlebotomy and vital signs to insurance claims and electronic health records. The 37-credit curriculum includes a supervised practicum, and employers report high satisfaction with graduates. Transfer pathways to four-year schools can extend the credential toward a bachelor's degree. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 41%.
- CAAHEP accredited through MAERB
- 37 total credit hours
- Prepares for CMA-AAMA certification
- 100% employer satisfaction rate
- Transfer pathways to four-year universities
- Supervised practicum included
- Information session required for admission
Colby-Sawyer College
#3New London, NH · $27,000/yr
Best for: Working adults preferring hybrid associate pathway
Colby-Sawyer College offers an Associate of Health Science pathway in medical assisting, combining online liberal education courses with an 11-week intensive training block at Dartmouth Health. The hybrid structure includes a registered apprenticeship, and graduates can pursue the NHA CCMA credential. This degree pathway can also feed into a bachelor's degree for learners who want to keep advancing. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 57%.
- 60 total credits required
- 11-week intensive training at Dartmouth Health
- Hybrid delivery with online liberal education
- 25 credits from medical assistant training
- 21 credits from apprenticeship electives
- 2,000-hour registered apprenticeship
- Prepares for NHA CCMA certification
- Credits can roll into a bachelor's degree
St Joseph School of Nursing
#4Nashua, NH · $20,000 – $25,000/yr
This Nashua-based school offers a fast-paced 12-week medical assistant training program with 288 classroom hours and a 160-hour externship. The curriculum covers phlebotomy, medical coding, lab testing, and exam assistance, with an emphasis on clinical skills and ethics. Graduates can sit for the CCMA (NHA) exam. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 100%.
- $5,237 total program tuition
- 12-week program
- 160 clinical hours
- $25 application fee
- Two start dates per year
- Prepares for CCMA (NHA) certification
- Phlebotomy and medical coding included
- Financial aid and employer reimbursement supported
River Valley Community College
#5Claremont, NH · $15,000/yr (net price)
River Valley Community College offers an intensive 22-week hybrid medical assistant certificate with one in-person day per week and online coursework, plus a 160-hour clinical practicum. The program includes 560 didactic hours and prepares students for the AMT RMA exam. Small cohorts of eight students support personalized instruction. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 22%.
- $6,500 total program tuition
- 22-week program
- One in-person day per week
- 160 clinical hours
- 560 didactic hybrid hours
- Prepares for AMT RMA exam
- 8 seats per cohort
- Earns 9 transferable college credits
Lakes Region Community College
#6Laconia, NH · $13,000/yr
Lakes Region Community College offers a 14-week hybrid medical assistant certificate that pairs online instruction with in-person lab sessions and an 80-hour clinical externship at local medical offices. The program covers phlebotomy, pharmacology, electronic medical records, and patient care, with training partners that include Concord Hospital. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 46%.
- $5,600 total program tuition plus fees
- 14-week fast-track program
- 80-hour clinical externship included
- Hybrid online and in-person format
- Learn phlebotomy, pharmacology, EMR
- Partners with Concord Hospital and My Turn
- Starts May 6, 2026
Nashua Community College
#7Nashua, NH · $23,000/yr
Nashua Community College offers a medical assistant training certificate that combines classroom theory with hands-on lab work and clinical rotations at partners like Southern NH Health. An apprenticeship option lets students earn while they learn through paid on-the-job training. The cohort-based program reports strong exam completion in its first class. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 38%.
- 100% exam completion rate
- Paid apprenticeship available
- Clinical partnership with Southern NH Health
- Combines theory and hands-on lab
- Earn as you learn
NHTI-Concord's Community College
#8Concord, NH · $18,000/yr
NHTI-Concord's Community College offers a fully online certificate for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), covering medical terminology, scheduling, records management, insurance and coding, and revenue cycle basics. The program has rolling admissions and no prerequisites, making it a flexible option for career changers. Some learners may access an apprenticeship pathway with Concord Hospital through ApprenticeshipNH. Schools offering this program have a graduation rate of 29%.
- 100% online course
- Rolling admissions
- No prerequisites required
- Prepares for CMAA certification through NHA
- Covers medical terminology and coding
How to Choose the Best Medical Assistant Program in NH
Medical assistant training in New Hampshire has shifted toward hybrid formats that keep essential skills labs in person while moving lectures online, which makes careful program vetting more important than ever. The right program should line up with how you learn, where you want to work, and which national credential you plan to earn.
Start with programmatic accreditation
Look for accreditation from CAAHEP or ABHES. These are the widely recognized programmatic accreditors for medical assisting, and choosing one of their programs can simplify your path to the CMA (AAMA) exam. If you are targeting the NHA CCMA instead, confirm the training hours and curriculum align with that exam, because New Hampshire employers may prefer one credential over the other depending on the health system, so compare Medical Assistant Certifications before you decide. Do not rely on a school's general regional accreditation alone; it matters, but it does not tell you whether the medical assistant program meets clinical and administrative skill standards. A quick call to the program director can confirm whether graduates are eligible for the exact exam you plan to take, so do not guess.
Compare format, length, and total cost
Online programs can make lectures and medical terminology easier to fit around work, but hands-on blood draws, injections, EKGs, and vitals still require in-person lab time or an Medical Assistant Externship. Ask exactly where those skills are practiced and whether the school places you in a New Hampshire clinical site. Some hybrid programs have online general education and in-person clinical labs; request a sample weekly schedule to see if it fits your life. Certificate programs often run about 9 to 12 months, while associate degree options take closer to two years and include general education courses.
Cost should be evaluated as a total package rather than sticker price alone. A lower net price may look attractive, but if that comes with a lower graduation rate or fewer clinical placement options, the bargain can be misleading. A slightly higher tuition may be worth it when a program demonstrates stronger graduation support and clearer certification preparation.
Ask about career services and job placement
Before enrolling, ask how the program helps graduates move into employment. Strong options provide externship coordination, resume help, interview practice, and relationships with New Hampshire clinics, physician practices, and hospital systems. Job placement specifics are covered later in this guide, but use them now as a tiebreaker when two accredited programs look similar.
Accreditation and Certification Requirements for NH Medical Assistants
Accreditation and certification are how a medical assistant training program proves it meets a national standard and how you prove to employers that you have the clinical and administrative skills for the job. New Hampshire does not license medical assistants1, but most health care employers in the state require or strongly prefer a national certification before they will hire.2 As of 2026, the practical question is less about getting permission from the state and more about completing the right program and earning the right credential.
Does New Hampshire require a license?
No. Medical assistants in New Hampshire are not required to hold a state license. The expectation is still real in hiring: completing a postsecondary Medical Assistant Certificate and Diploma Program and earning a recognized national credential is the standard path, especially for new graduates without years of experience. Even when a job posting says certification is preferred rather than required, having a credential helps you compete with applicants who already hold one.
Recognized certifications in New Hampshire
The three credentials most often named by New Hampshire employers and the New Hampshire Society of Medical Assistants are CMA, RMA, and CCMA. These acronyms can feel like alphabet soup, but the practical difference comes down to exam eligibility and employer preference.
- CMA (AAMA): Offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. This credential requires graduation from a program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.2
- RMA (AMT): Offered by American Medical Technologists. Eligibility can come from an accredited program, military training, or qualifying work experience.2
- CCMA (NHA): Offered by the National Healthcareer Association. It is widely accepted in New Hampshire, and some schools, including Herzing University, prepare students for this exam.
The NCMA credential from the National Center for Competency Testing also appears in New Hampshire job postings, but CMA, RMA, and CCMA are the ones most consistently requested.3
Why programmatic accreditation matters
Institutional accreditation covers the college or school as a whole. Programmatic accreditation for medical assisting is more specific and matters most for CMA exam eligibility and employer confidence. The two programmatic accreditors to look for are CAAHEP and ABHES.4 As one example, River Valley Community College's medical assisting program holds CAAHEP accreditation. If your goal is the CMA (AAMA) credential, choosing a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program keeps that door open, and it helps to know How Hard Is the CMA Exam.
Your certification checklist
- Complete a postsecondary medical assisting program, ideally with CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation.
- Match the program's preparation to your target exam: CMA, RMA, or CCMA.
- Before enrolling, ask which certification exam graduates sit for and whether that credential satisfies most New Hampshire job postings.
- Apply for the exam and pass the certification test.
- Maintain the credential through the required continuing education and renewal process for your certifying body.
New Hampshire by City
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Admission Requirements by NH Medical Assistant Program
Published admission requirements vary by program, and several schools share full details only after an initial application or at orientation. The table below summarizes what is publicly available for medical assistant programs serving New Hampshire. Contact each program directly for current deadlines and any missing requirements.
| School | Admission Requirements | Application Deadline | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Mountains Community College | No formal prerequisites; anyone can enroll. Online application required and a high school diploma or GED is recommended. | Not specified | Listed as a top feeder program in New Hampshire for Medical/Clinical Assistant, with about 17 graduates per year. No background check or immunization details listed. |
| Colby-Sawyer College | Not specified | Not specified | Identified as a feeder program for Medical/Clinical Assistant. Institutional acceptance rate reported at 80%; detailed medical assistant specific prerequisites are not listed. |
| Manchester Community College | Minimum age 18; high school diploma, GED, or HiSet; submit medical assistant certificate program admission application, non-credit registration form, resume, proof of transcript, and immunization record with all immunizations and Hepatitis B completed before lab/practicum. | Not specified | Criminal history background check form required if applying without employer sponsorship; fee $25. Drug screening estimated $35 to $75. CPR/First Aid certificate required for externship. |
| River Valley Community College | Minimum age 18; high school diploma, GED, or HiSet; comply with RVCC application procedures and submit a completed application. | Not specified | Criminal background check required before clinical; AHA BLS certification required. Immunization, drug screening, and background check details provided first week of class. |
| Herzing University, Online Medical Assisting Programs for New Hampshire Residents | High school diploma, GED, or equivalent; demonstrate capacity for college-level work via prior ACT/SAT scores, prior college credit, or additional entrance testing; meet and interview with an admissions advisor and complete enrollment application. | Not specified | Because programs involve direct patient contact, requirements include drug testing, immunizations, health checks, and a background check. Specific lists are determined by the admissions office. |
| Great Bay Community College | Submit an application for admission to the Medical Assistant Certificate Training Program. Detailed eligibility such as age or diploma status is referenced but not fully enumerated in available materials. | Not specified | Background check and drug test information provided on first day of class. Immunization, background check, and drug test information is communicated after acceptance. |
| Greater Seacoast Community Health, Medical Assistant Apprenticeship (ApprenticeshipNH) | Minimum age 18; high school diploma or equivalent; provide vaccination records or proof of immunity. | Not specified for 2026; previous cohorts listed April 7, 2025 and June 30, 2025 | Applicants must pass a nationwide criminal background check and a 12-panel drug screen. Registered apprenticeship combining employment and formal training. |
| DH Career Institute, Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program (Bedford and Lebanon) | Submit a location-specific DHCI Program Application for either Bedford or Lebanon. | Not specified | 2026 Medical Assistant Apprenticeship is advertised; apprenticeship structure implies paid on-the-job training and related instruction. Background check, immunization, and GPA details are not listed. |
| St. Joseph School of Nursing, Medical Assisting Training Program | Complete the school's online application and meet general admissions requirements. Additional documentation for the Medical Assisting Training Program must be submitted as specified by the school. | Not specified | Admission is contingent on submission of required items beyond the general school application. Exact items such as immunization records or background checks are not detailed in available materials. |
NH Medical Assistant Program Costs: Beyond Tuition
The sticker price on a program brochure rarely matches what lands on your credit card. In New Hampshire, tuition is only the starting line, and the gap between advertised cost and out-the-door cost can run $500 to $2,000 depending on which program you pick and what it bundles in.
What NH Programs Actually Charge
Among the lower-cost Medical Assistant Schools, Lakes Region Community College's workforce program runs $5,600 for a 16-week format.2 Saint Joseph School of Nursing sits around $5,000 in tuition.1 Manchester Community College's certificate is roughly $5,800 to $7,090 depending on credit load.35 River Valley Community College comes in near $6,500 with books included.4 Colby-Sawyer's Medical Assistant Associate's Degree pathway is a different animal at roughly $19,125, but it comes packaged with an apprenticeship and stackable credit toward a bachelor's.
The Fees Nobody Advertises
Expect a handful of mandatory add-ons on top of tuition:
- Books and supplies: $200 or more if not bundled (Saint Joseph lists textbooks around $2121).
- Uniforms, shoes, stethoscope: roughly $150 for scrubs plus $70 for shoes at Saint Joseph1, similar elsewhere.
- Background check and drug screen: about $25 for a state check, plus $35 to $75 for drug screening at MCC3. LRCC's academic track bundles the drug test in; its workforce track does not.6
- Vaccinations and physical: variable, and generally not covered by the program. Costs depend heavily on your insurance.
- Medical Assistant Certification exam: $119 (NCCT NCMA), $125 to $250 (AAMA CMA, member vs nonmember), $135 (AMT RMA), or $160 (NHA CCMA).5
Realistic Total and How to Pay Less
For a typical NH community college pathway, budget $6,500 to $8,500 all in once fees and the exam are added to tuition. Financial aid can shrink that meaningfully. Federal Pell grants and Direct Loans apply to credit-bearing programs, and NH Charitable Foundation scholarships plus WIOA tuition assistance help with workforce tracks.
Apprenticeships are the most aggressive discount. Catholic Medical Center covers about 60% of tuition while paying apprentices for 40 hours a week.8 Great Bay Community College's federally sponsored apprenticeship offers up to $2,000 in scholarship funds plus $1,500 in support services.9 WorkInvestNH also reimburses participating employers up to 50% of training costs.7 This is why some hospital-sponsored seats end up effectively free.
Apprenticeship vs Traditional Medical Assistant Programs in NH
New Hampshire's apprenticeship models, including programs at Dartmouth Health Career Institute, NHTI with Concord Hospital, and Nashua Community College with Southern NH Health, combine paid classroom training with a registered on-the-job apprenticeship. Traditional certificate and diploma programs generally keep the classroom and clinical pieces shorter and student-funded, then leave job placement and extended training to the graduate. The comparison below focuses on the differences that affect time, money, eligibility and certification.
| Comparison factor | Apprenticeship pathway | Traditional certificate or diploma |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 12 weeks of paid classroom instruction plus a 2,000 to 3,600 hour registered on-the-job component, often about 1 to 2 years total. Dartmouth Health lists about 12 months for its 2,000-hour apprenticeship; Nashua Community College and NHTI list about 24 months for 3,600 hours. | Typically a fixed academic term with several hundred hours of classroom and lab instruction. NHTI's classroom component is 480 hours, and it does not automatically include the longer registered on-the-job apprenticeship. |
| Cost to student | No direct tuition cost in the Dartmouth Health model; tuition and related training costs are covered, and apprentices can earn up to 46 college credits at no cost. Nashua Community College includes paid classroom instruction, and NHTI combines classroom instruction with paid on-the-job training. | Students pay tuition and fees out of pocket for a certificate or diploma program; costs vary by college, and there is no automatic employer reimbursement. |
| Pay during training | Paid from the start in many models. Dartmouth Health pays $680 per week during the 12-week classroom phase, with structured increases around 1,000 and 2,000 hours. Nashua Community College apprentices are hired into full-time positions before classroom training; NHTI apprentices complete paid on-the-job training at Concord Hospital. | Wages are not guaranteed during classroom training; students generally do not receive pay for lecture or lab hours unless they arrange separate employment. |
| Eligibility and entry | Employer selected and often limited by cohort size. Dartmouth Health seats 20 apprentices per classroom location and requires a location-specific program application; Nashua Community College apprentices are hired into full-time positions before starting classroom training. | Open enrollment through the college admissions process; students apply to the certificate or diploma program and meet the college's standard entry requirements. |
| Certification outcomes | Leads to national certification eligibility plus a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship completion certificate. Dartmouth Health and NHTI prepare for the NHA CCMA exam; Nashua Community College tests for a national medical assistant certification. | Prepares graduates for national certification exams such as the NHA CCMA after the classroom term, but does not result in a registered apprenticeship completion credential. |
| On-the-job training | Includes structured mentored hours: 2,000 at Dartmouth Health, or 3,600 at NHTI and Nashua Community College, completed as a full-time employee. | May include an externship or clinical lab, but not a guaranteed full-time paid apprenticeship; the NHTI classroom component is 480 hours with limited structured paid on-the-job training. |
| Employment and benefits | Apprentices are employees during training, often with hourly wages and benefits, and may continue into Dartmouth Health, Concord Hospital or Southern NH Health primary care and specialty practices after completion. | Employment is not guaranteed after graduation; students typically seek medical assistant positions after completing the program and passing certification. |
Certification Exam Pass Rates for NH Programs
A certification exam pass rate tells you what percentage of a program's graduates pass their credentialing exam on the first attempt. This number offers a snapshot of how well a school prepares students for the real test, making it one of the most useful metrics when comparing medical assistant programs in New Hampshire.
Where to Find Program-Specific Pass Rates
Start with each program's official website. Accrediting bodies like CAAHEP and ABHES require schools to publicly disclose student achievement data, including certification exam pass rates and job placement rates. Look for pages labeled "Student Outcomes," "Program Effectiveness," or "Graduate Success." Great Bay Community College, for example, reports a 100% CCMA pass rate across its program's history, which stands well above national averages.1
If you cannot locate this information online, contact the school's admissions office directly. You can also verify a program's accreditation status through CAAHEP or ABHES and request outcome data from these organizations when schools do not post it publicly.
National Benchmarks for Context
Professional certification organizations publish aggregate exam statistics that help you understand what "good" looks like:
- CCMA (NHA): The NHA Annual Pass Rates report shows a 2024 first-time pass rate of 81.38% across more than 78,000 test-takers nationwide.
- CMA (AAMA): First-time pass rates typically fall between 60% and 75%, with graduates from CAAHEP-accredited programs often performing better.
- RMA (AMT): The national pass rate hovers around 70%.
These organizations do not publish state-specific or program-level breakdowns, so use these figures as reference points rather than direct comparisons.
Additional Resources
For employment and wage data, BLS.gov provides state-level statistics on medical assistants in New Hampshire. However, state workforce agencies generally do not track program-level outcomes. Your best option for detailed information is contacting the NH Community College System or individual schools, where admissions staff can share the most current pass rate and placement figures for their specific programs.
Medical Assistant Salary in New Hampshire
According to the latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants in New Hampshire held about 2,990 jobs. The statewide median annual wage was $48,040, with the middle half of earners falling between $43,920 and $50,930. National median comparison data was not included in this state-level release, so the table below shows New Hampshire wage percentiles only.
| Measure | New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Total employment | 2,990 |
| Mean annual wage | $47,770 |
| 25th percentile annual wage | $43,920 |
| Median annual wage | $48,040 |
| 75th percentile annual wage | $50,930 |
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