Portland-South Portland reports 1,730 medical assistant jobs, the largest base in Maine, a signal that medical assistants are in demand, but training costs vary from about $4,156 a year at a community college to over $20,000 at a private school. Seven ranked programs span community colleges in Calais, Presque Isle, Fairfield, Bangor, South Portland, and Lewiston, plus a private college in Bangor.
For most learners, the decision comes down to cost, accreditation, delivery format, and graduate job placement. No matter the format, most programs require in-person clinical hours, so location still matters even when fast online medical assistant certificate programs put coursework online.
Best Medical Assistant Programs in Maine: Ranked & Compared
Washington County Community College leads this list by pairing Maine's lowest community college tuition with a hybrid format that lets students start online before moving into clinical work. Northern Maine Community College and Kennebec Valley Community College follow close behind with fast certificate options and strong local employer links. These rankings highlight programs where affordability, flexible scheduling, and hands-on externships line up with the needs of Maine's healthcare employers.
Washington County Community College
#1Calais, ME · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Best for: Rural Maine students needing online flexibility
Washington County Community College offers a CAAHEP-accredited Associate in Applied Science in Medical Assisting. The two-year hybrid program begins with online first-year coursework, which helps rural Maine students start without relocating. A 165-hour clinical practicum and a focus on rural healthcare needs make it a practical, low-cost path: in-state net price is around $5,150, with tuition and fees near $4,156.
- 64-credit Associate in Applied Science
- Hybrid delivery with online first-year coursework
- 165-hour clinical practicum required
- Prepares for CMA or RMA national certification
- CAAHEP and MAERB accredited
- Focus on rural healthcare settings
- 80% competency standard required
- Minimum 2.0 GPA required
Northern Maine Community College
#2Presque Isle, ME · $4,000 – $7,000/yr
Best for: Fast-track certificate seekers in northern Maine
Northern Maine Community College serves Aroostook County with both a one-year certificate and a two-year associate degree in medical assisting. The CAAHEP-accredited program reports a 92% job or continuing-education placement rate and strong employer satisfaction. Net price for in-state students is about $7,181, with tuition and fees near $4,156.
- CAAHEP accredited program
- 83% exam pass rate 2019-2023
- 92% job or education placement
- 100% employer satisfaction rate
- Eligible for CMA and RMA certification
- Prepares graduates for medical office roles
- One-year certificate program
- 165 clinical hours required
- Prepares for CMA national certification
- CAAHEP and MAERB accredited
- Clinical and administrative skill training
Kennebec Valley Community College
#3Fairfield, ME · $4,000/yr
Best for: Central Maine learners wanting strong employer ties
Kennebec Valley Community College offers a CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Certificate in Fairfield. The program combines clinical skills such as EKGs and phlebotomy with billing and insurance training, then pairs students with local employers like Inland Hospital and MaineGeneral for a final-semester externship. In-state net price is around $3,910, and the five-year certification pass rate is 86.49%.
- CAAHEP accredited certificate program
- Prepares for CMA (AAMA) certification
- Clinical externship in final semester
- 86.49% five-year certification pass rate
- 100% graduate satisfaction rate
- 100% employer satisfaction rate
- Professional partners: Inland Hospital, MaineGeneral
Eastern Maine Community College
#4Bangor, ME · $9,000/yr (net price)
Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor offers a CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assistant associate program with both day and evening courses. The curriculum aligns with American Association of Medical Assistants guidelines and prepares students for the CMA exam, though the final clinical practicum is daytime only. In-state net price is about $8,928, with tuition and fees near $4,156.
- CAAHEP accredited associate degree
- Day and evening course formats
- Final clinical practicum requires daytime attendance
- Prepares for CMA national certification
- Administrative and clinical procedure training
Southern Maine Community College
#5South Portland, ME · $11,000/yr
Southern Maine Community College in South Portland offers a CAAHEP-accredited Associate Degree in Medical Assisting. Students learn clinical tasks like drawing blood and giving injections alongside administrative duties such as billing, ending with a 160-hour practicum. In-state net price is about $11,086, with tuition and fees near $4,156 per year.
- Associate degree in Medical Assisting
- 160-hour practicum required
- CAAHEP accredited program
- Clinical duties: phlebotomy, injections, exam assistance
- Administrative duties: billing and scheduling
- Approximately $4,156 annual tuition and fees
- Can complete in two years at 15 credits per semester
Beal University
#6Bangor, ME · $40,000/yr (net price)
Beal University in Bangor offers an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting through an 18-month hybrid format. The program includes hands-on laboratory work, a 160-hour externship, and training in patient care, medical procedures, and healthcare communication. As a private institution, the net price is higher at about $40,109, but the hybrid delivery adds flexibility for working adults.
- 18-month hybrid program delivery
- 160-hour externship experience
- Clinical and administrative skills training
- Prepares for national certification
- Medical terminology and procedures covered
- Laboratory and practical training included
Maine College of Health Professions
#7Lewiston, ME · $26,000/yr
Maine College of Health Professions in Lewiston offers an Associate of Science in Clinical Health Science with a Medical Assistant concentration. The campus-based program emphasizes hands-on training and accepts transfer credits. Estimated total cost is $25,465, and the institution-wide graduation rate is about 67%, with a net price of about $26,312.
- Associate of Science in Clinical Health Science
- Medical Assistant concentration
- Campus-based learning in Lewiston
- Estimated total cost $25,465
- Transfer credits accepted
- Hands-on training approach
- Multiple health science tracks available
Medical Assistant Salary by Metro Area in Maine
Medical assistant pay varies across Maine. Portland-South Portland has the largest reported employment base with 1,730 medical assistant jobs, while Lewiston-Auburn has the highest median annual wage at $49,990. Entry level workers in these metro areas often start in the low to mid $40,000s, based on 25th percentile wages.
| Metro area | Total employment | Mean annual wage | 25th percentile wage | Median annual wage | 75th percentile wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1730 | 48160 | 43590 | 47530 | 52360 |
| Bangor, ME | 640 | 46200 | 41670 | 46370 | 50830 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 360 | 48410 | 45010 | 49990 | 49990 |
How We Ranked Maine's Medical Assistant Programs
We ranked Maine medical assistant programs around the factors that most affect your time in school and your first years on the job: affordability, graduate outcomes, completion, and flexibility. The goal is to highlight programs that are realistic to afford, possible to finish, and connected to actual medical assistant job outcomes.
What We Weighed
- Cost: We used average net price after grants and scholarships as a starting point, then reviewed published tuition when available. Net price is an institution-wide average, so your own cost may be higher or lower depending on your income and aid package.
- Earnings and debt: Where schools report outcome data, we considered median earnings for program completers and typical debt, informed by Medical Assistant Salary: What to Expect data. These figures are median outcomes for completers, not promises, and not every Maine school reports program-level earnings.
- Completion: We included the institution's graduation rate as a signal of student support. This rate reflects all students at the school, not only medical assistant students.
- Online availability: We gave credit to programs with online or hybrid coursework, a feature in Online Medical Assistant Certificate and Diploma Programs that can cut commuting time for working adults.
Where the Data Comes From
We used U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS records for cost, completion, and earnings information. When a school does not report program-level earnings, we state that directly instead of estimating.
What the Ranking Can and Cannot Tell You
Treat this list as a practical starting point, not a replacement for due diligence. Confirm current tuition, clinical placement policies, and accreditation status with the program directly before you enroll.
Online Vs. Campus Medical Assistant Programs in Maine
Most Maine medical assistant programs require at least some in-person training, even when coursework is delivered online. The ranked programs below show the primary delivery format reported in the latest listing data; hybrid options may still require scheduled on-campus labs or clinical hours. Because no fully online CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program appeared in the ranked Maine data, students who need a completely remote pathway may need to review out-of-state online providers such as U.S. Career Institute, keeping in mind that accreditation and externship placement support can vary.
| Institution | Location | Degree or Credential | Delivery Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County Community College | Calais, ME | Associate degree | Hybrid |
| Northern Maine Community College | Presque Isle, ME | Associate degree | Campus |
| Kennebec Valley Community College | Fairfield, ME | Certificate | Campus |
| Eastern Maine Community College | Bangor, ME | Associate degree | Campus |
| Southern Maine Community College | South Portland, ME | Associate degree | Campus |
| Beal University | Bangor, ME | Associate degree | Campus |
| Maine College of Health Professions | Lewiston, ME | Associate degree | Campus |
Maine by City
Related Articles
Certification, Accreditation, and Externship Hours: What Maine Employers Look For
Why Accreditation Matters
CAAHEP and ABHES accreditation signals that a medical assistant program meets national standards for curriculum, faculty, and clinical training. Many Maine employers prefer or require graduates from these programs, and finishing a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program is the most direct route to sitting for the AAMA CMA exam.1 Without it, you may need to qualify through a work-experience route or a different certifying body.
Accreditation at Maine's Ranked Programs
The Maine community college medical assistant programs in this comparison hold current CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation: - Eastern Maine Community College: CAAHEP1 - Kennebec Valley Community College: CAAHEP1 - Southern Maine Community College: ABHES1 - Northern Maine Community College: CAAHEP2 - Washington County Community College: CAAHEP2
No ranked program currently lacks programmatic accreditation, but accreditation cycles can change, so confirm current status with the program before enrolling.
Externship Hours and Exam Outcomes
Maine medical assistant programs typically require at least 160 hours of clinical or medical assistant externship experience before graduation.3 Southern Maine Community College lists a 160-hour externship requirement, and AAMA eligibility materials describe a qualifying pathway requiring at least 560 non-practicum hours plus 160 practicum or externship hours, unless the candidate has at least 1,000 hours of qualifying experience.1
Published exam outcomes are limited. Eastern Maine Community College reports a five-year exam pass rate of 91.75%, with 91.51% exam participation.1 Kennebec Valley Community College reports an 89.16% five-year pass rate.1 Northern Maine Community College and Washington County Community College do not publish comparable pass-rate or externship data, and no Maine program publishes job placement rates. Ask the program director for the most recent cohort report to verify current exam and placement performance.
Certifications Maine Employers Recognize
Maine employers commonly accept the CMA credential through AAMA and the CCMA credential through NHA. Graduates of accredited programs can usually sit for the CMA exam, while many employers also accept CCMA candidates from accredited or approved programs. Before choosing an exam, compare Medical Assistant Certifications: CMA, RMA, NCMA and confirm the credential your target employer prefers.
Apprenticeship Vs. Traditional Medical Assistant Programs in Maine
Maine learners choosing between an apprenticeship and a traditional MA program are really choosing between paid, employer-sponsored training and a conventional tuition-based path. MaineHealth, SMCC, and YCCC apprenticeships cover tuition and pay during clinical training, and MaineHealth graduates commit to 12 months of employment with MaineHealth after finishing. Traditional certificate or AAS programs do not typically include wages or a guaranteed job, so graduates find employment on their own after completing the program.
| Aspect | Apprenticeship (MaineHealth / SMCC / YCCC) | Traditional Certificate or AAS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Tuition fully covered by MaineHealth and grants for eligible participants; no cost to qualified trainees in the SMCC or YCCC programs. | Tuition-based; students pay tuition and fees unless covered by financial aid or employer reimbursement. |
| Pay during training | Paid on-the-job training; MaineHealth apprenticeship system-wide pays $18.00 per hour, with Southern Maine region positions at $18.36 per hour. York Hospital apprentices work 20 paid clinical hours per week. | Generally unpaid; externship hours are completed without wages, though students may work separately while enrolled. |
| Time to completion | Accelerated 9-month programs at MaineHealth, SMCC, and YCCC. | Varies by school and credential; certificate programs are usually shorter than associate degree programs, typically ranging from about one year to two years. |
| Credential earned | Certificate from partner college (SMCC or YCCC) plus eligibility to sit for the CCMA or other national Medical Assistant certification exam. | Certificate or Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting; eligibility for national certification exam after meeting program requirements. |
| Post-completion employment commitment | MaineHealth apprenticeship graduates commit to work at a MaineHealth practice for at least 12 months after training; this effectively guarantees initial employment. | No required employer commitment; graduates seek jobs independently after finishing. |
| Typical eligibility | Maine resident, high school diploma, GED, or HiSET, at least 18 years old, proof of authorization to work in the U.S.; some programs require acceptance to the partner college and may require testing. | High school diploma or GED; admissions requirements vary by school and program. |
| Reported post-certification pay | MaineHealth reports $20.32 per hour in the Southern Maine region and $21.22 per hour system-wide for certified Medical Assistants hired after program completion, equal to about $42,266 to $44,138 per year at 40 hours per week. | No uniform statewide figure is reported; wages depend on employer and region. |
High School and Adult Education Medical Assistant Programs in Maine
High school career and technical education and local adult education centers can be a practical first step to become a medical assistant, but college credit is not automatic, so you should verify articulation before you enroll.
High school CTE
Northern Penobscot Tech Region III describes itself as the only technical school in Maine offering clinical medical assisting at the high school level.1 Its two-year, college-level class gives students a head start on clinical skills, although no formal articulation agreement was publicly available. Many other Maine technical centers focus on nursing assisting, so confirm the program title says medical assisting rather than nursing assisting before committing.
Adult education and apprenticeships
For adult learners, Academy of Medical Professions runs a 16-week CCMA-prep program that is open statewide. A partnership with EMDC and Central Maine Healthcare adds 40 hours of clinical experience, but this route does not publish a college credit transfer. RSU 73 Spruce Mountain Adult Education also lists a Certified Medical Assistant program. Eastern Maine Community College2, Northern Maine Community College3, and Kennebec Valley Community College4 offer related certificate programs for adult students, but college credit transfer details are not always published. Ask about total cost, including background checks, immunizations, uniforms, and exam fees.
The clearest credit bridge
MaineHealth's Medical Assistant Training, a 9-month paid apprenticeship, is the most documented way to convert training into college credit. Southern Maine Community College's Medical Assistant Apprenticeship cohorts meet in South Portland or Brunswick, and York County Community College's Medical Assistant Apprenticeship uses a blended Wells-based format. Completion can yield 27 to 30 credits; YCCC says up to 30 credits can apply to its Health Studies Degree Program. You need a high school diploma, GED, or HiSET, be 18 or older, have work authorization, and live in Maine. The program pays you while you train and prepares you for the CCMA exam.
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