Medical Assistant Programs Online in Connecticut: Degree Details
Become part of the quickly growing field of medical assisting with a top online program in Connecticut. Kickstart your career by finding the right school for your needs.
Few jobs are as diverse — or as stable — as that of a medical assistant, and choosing an onlinemedical assistant program in Connecticut is the first step to launch you into your future career. Medical assistants work in a variety of settings and perform both medical and administrative duties. Some of their duties include interviewing patients and recording their medical histories, collecting and preparing samples for lab work, preparing and administering medication, recording billing information, ordering office supplies, documenting patient information, and sterilizing medical instruments.
Medical assisting can be either a steppingstone to get you started in the medical field or a long-term career. Medical assisting provides variety, making it a career that you can stick with. However if you’re eager to get into healthcare now and looking to further your education later, medical assisting provides an excellent foundation and many opportunities to help others in need.
This guide was written to help you feel prepared to start this path. As you read, you’ll discover some of the best online MA programs in Connecticut, the schooling you’ll need, and salary expectations for the state. Read on to learn more.
Spotlight Schools: Online Medical Assistant Programs in CT
Below we’ve highlighted several standout online medical assistant programs in Connecticut that will help you see what to expect in a high-quality program. Whether you’re looking for the shortest route to completion or the most customizable program in the state, these spotlights can be a springboard for your search.
CT State Community College
The registered medical assistant program at CT State Community College is a great option when considering an online MA program in Connecticut. The program takes between six months and a year to complete. It’s available in a hybrid or online format. You’ll learn computer and therapeutic communication skills, clinical and medical office procedures, how to use and update electronic health records, financial management, healthcare insurance processing, billing and coding, medical law and ethics, and medical terminology. Upon completion, you’ll be eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists registered medical assistant (RMA) national examination, paving the way for the start of your new career.
To be admitted into the program, students must be at least 18, have their high school diploma or GED, and have their doctor complete a health form. The entire program costs around $9,500. Other options at CT State Community College include administrative medical assistant (only healthcare administration), a medical assisting certificate, and an associate degree in medical assisting.
Goodwin University
Another great option for online MA programs in Connecticut is the medical assisting program at Goodwin University. This program typically can be completed in 12 to 16 months, with coursework available mostly online. Required clinical experiences must be completed on campus, where students will have access to a lab and equipment for hands-on teaching in small groups.
As part of the program, students will be placed at clinical sites throughout CT; those who wish to specialize can work with their advisors and professors to tailor their clinical experiences to match their desired specialty. Students are simultaneously enrolled in both the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited certificate and the two-year degree program. Once the certification is achieved, students can sit for the certified medical assistant (CMA), RMA, or certified clinical medical assistant exams. Students will then complete their full associate degree in medical assisting. Before starting the program, students are encouraged to apply for financial aid and submit any previously acquired college credits that have the potential to transfer.
Porter and Chester Institute
The flexible medical assistant program at Porter and Chester Institute (PCI) is offered in a hybrid format, with lectures online and required lab experiences on campus. The program is available at seven Connecticut and Massachusetts locations. This online medical assisting program offers students a diploma upon graduation and can be completed in as few as 10 months. Students develop patient care and healthcare administration skills throughout their studies and gain hands-on experience in their required externship. The sixth module of the program prepares students to take the CMA or RMA national exam, with the cost of the first attempt covered by the school.
PCI’s team of educational funding specialists helps students determine if they qualify for financial aid. The school’s career service advisors are also available to help students secure employment in the medical assistant field upon graduation. New sessions start multiple times per year, so students are encouraged to apply as soon as they’re ready.
Connecticut’s Salary & Career Overview for Medical Assistants
Two important factors for anyone considering a career in healthcare are salaries and job growth potential. The tables below offer recent salary and job growth figures for medical assistants in the U.S. and Arkansas, starting immediately below with annual general earnings in the nation and state, and in six specific major Arkansas metropolitan areas.
The figures show that MA salaries in the state fall somewhat below those in the U.S., which is not surprising given the lower overall cost of living in Arkansas compared to the nation. And, as indicated by the differences in metro area salaries, what you will actually earn in your medical assistant job will depend on your geographic location, specific employer and job duties, and level of professional work experience.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Mean Annual Wage | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $33,500 | $43,350 | $56,480 |
| Connecticut | $37,380 | $46,630 | $57,110 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $39,440 | $47,840 | $57,650 |
| Danbury, CT | $36,580 | $44,990 | $52,490 |
| Hartford, CT | $37,950 | $46,500 | $56,170 |
| New Haven, CT | $36,890 | $47,210 | $58,760 |
| Norwich, CT | $38,130 | $45,310 | $54,960 |
| Waterbury, CT | $37,830 | $45,120 | $56,900 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
| Area | New Jobs | Job Growth Rate | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 132,600 | 18.4% | 104,400 |
| Connecticut | 1,490 | 16.7% | 1,270 |
Source: Projections Central, 2020-2030
Those looking to work as medical assistants in Connecticut will be pleased to know that the mean annual salary in the state for MAs is $46,630, which is above the national mean. Depending on your experience and location, MAs in the 90th percentile can make over $57,000 a year in Connecticut. New graduates starting out in the 10th percentile can expect to earn closer to $37,000 a year.
Pay also varies within the state. Bridgeport pays the most at the 10th and median percentiles, while experienced medical assistants make the most in New Haven, earning $58,760 a year at the 90th percentile. Danbury pays the lowest annual salary in the state for the 10th percentile and the mean, though it is still well above the mean wage throughout the United States.
Regardless of where in the state you work, the demand for medical assistants is high. This vocation within Connecticut is expected to grow by almost 17 percent in the next decade; nationwide growth is even higher, at above 18%. On average, there are 1,270 job openings each year within the state and 104,400 throughout the country.
Answering Your Questions
Can you do a medical assistant program without going to college?
Technically, yes. There’s nothing in Connecticut law that states that medical assistants must be certified or graduates of online medical assistant programs in CT. Medical assistants can be trained on the job and throughout their careers. However, taking the time to learn online or on campus and become certified as a medical assistant can improve your chances of finding work, increase the responsibilities you’re allowed to take on, increase your relevant experience before starting work, and help you earn a higher salary than you would without experience and certification.
What is the salary for medical assistants in Connecticut?
The answer to this question depends on your experience and location within the state. New medical assistants receiving an annual salary in the 10th percentile are likely to make around $37,000 a year in Connecticut. More experienced medical assistants with a salary in the 90th percentile could make $58,000 or more. Find additional salary details in the Salary and Career Overview section above.
How long is medical assistant school?
The duration of online medical assisting programs in CT depends on the program you’re pursuing. Diploma programs are shorter than certificate programs, and certificate programs are shorter than degree programs. For example, the medical assisting diploma from CT State Community College can be earned in six months, whereas an associate degree in medical assisting from Goodwin University takes about two years (both are highlighted above).
How do I know if a school is accredited?
If a school’s medical assisting program is accredited, it will likely say so on the program’s main web page. If you can’t find it there, search for accreditation information in the search bar or the school’s About Us section, or ask via email, online message, or phone call. You may also look at accrediting agencies’ websites to find accredited programs.
Medical Assistant Scope of Practice
Medical assistants perform a variety of tasks on both the medical and administrative side of healthcare clinics. Typically medical assistants work under the supervision of a licensed practitioner (usually a physician), though some work in hospitals.
Some of the clinical tasks they perform include:
- rooming patients
- taking vital signs
- cleaning and preparing exam rooms
- cleaning and sterilizing medical tools and equipment
- assisting the physician during exams and outpatient surgeries
- collecting blood and urine samples for lab tests
- caring for wounds and changing dressings
- explaining diet and/or medication instructions that are unrelated to a diagnosis
- updating patient charts and data
- authorizing drug refills and providing prescription information to pharmacies
Administrative tasks that a medical assistant may perform include:
- greeting and assisting patients with paperwork
- answering phones and emails
- scheduling patient appointments online
- ordering office supplies
- processing payments
- billing and coding information for insurance purposes
Connecticut has no official list of tasks that a medical assistant may perform. However, they can only perform functions that can be done without licensure. For example, even if a medical assistant knows how to do a procedure, if it’s legally required to be performed by a licensed nurse or doctor, then a nurse or doctor cannot delegate it to a medical assistant. That being said, there are many tasks that a medical assistant can do that don’t require licensure, such as those listed above.
Several tasks that require licensure that a medical assistant cannot perform in Connecticut include:
- administering medication, including oxygen, and tuberculin testing (unless given special training and under certain supervision)
- perform radiography
- make medical diagnoses
- perform complex medical procedures
