Maine Medical Assistant Courses – ME

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 18 2010

Find the best medical assisting training in Maine that fits your schedule. There are many online programs, vocational schools, junior and community colleges. Choose a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Most training programs in Maine last a year and results in earning a diploma or certificate. The two-year training programs result in earning an Associates Degree. Typical classes you can expect to take from Maine medical assistant training will consist of medical terminology and transcription, accounting, insurance billing procedures, recordkeeping, physiology, anatomy, diagnostic and clinical procedures, laboratory skills, pharmaceuticals, first aid, medication administration, ethics, patient relations, medical law and basic office practices. Most accredited training programs will also offer an internship that affords you to have hands-on, practical and real-life experience working in a doctor office or any other health care facility.

Maine medical assistants tend to work in Lewiston where they find the most employment opportunities, due to the population, than in any other areas of Maine. An area such as Portland has fewer employment opportunities for medical assistants. Although statistics show there are more actual employment opportunities in Portland, competition is stiff for obtaining that employment.

In 2008, there were approximately 2,000 people employed as medical assistants in Maine and employment opportunities are expected to grow due to the health care industry is continually growing. The average salary for medical assistants is around $38,000 and can be more depending on specialization, education and training. The American Association of Medical Assistants has two chapters in Maine.