Jumpstart a New Career in Medical Assisting in Rhode Island
Job markets are flourishing all over the US; the state of Rhode Island bears no exception. One industry in particular demonstrates a pattern of demand throughout the country as well, and that is Healthcare.
Medical Assisting is as a result, becoming a popular profession, showing a twelve and a half percent increase in job openings as of this writing (Bureau of Labor Statistics). [Leer en español]
Outlook
The outlook is optimistic in Rhode Island. The job market is on the rise and is only expecting to continue its growth. Some speculate that job security is a given, with the demand on healthcare largely due to the needs of the aging baby boomer population, as well as those availing themselves of the Affordable Healthcare Act.
Salary
Another aspect of this occupation, which factors in region and other demographics, is that of wages. Pay scales fluctuate by facility type (clinic or specialty, for example), region (such as rural versus metropolitan), staff experience level (entry-level versus advanced), and other factors.
The average wages earned by Medical Assistants in Rhode Island is currently reported as $15.87 hourly. Top earners made more than $19.97 hourly. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm)
Salaries by Metropolitan Area in Rhode Island
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,120 | $15.23 | $31,670 |
Requirements
There is no special certification requirement for Medical Assistants in the state of Rhode Island. This means that medical support personnel for the most part, are allowed to perform all of the same functions whether licensed or unlicensed.
Obtaining Certification
Although Medical Assistants are not required by Rhode Island law to become certified, pursuing the field without it is no longer practical. Practicing without a license will significantly decrease your marketability and overall success in the field. Check out the AAMA website for details on obtaining certification.
Popular Schools
College and University Listings
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA Area
Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln
622 George Washington Hwy, Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865Medical Assistant – Certificate Program
The Certificate program at Lincoln Technical Institute is taught at their Lincoln campus in the city of Anchorage. The college has around 563 students in total, with most students on programs that last under 2 years. The Medical Assisting program, with a duration of 40 credit hours, is the college’s largest program. The program is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.* Fees for tuition are about $16,298 for each academic year.
Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute-West Warwick
186 Providence Street, West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893Medical Assistant – Certificate Program
The Certificate program at Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute is taught at their West Warwick campus in the city of Anchorage, RI. Most of the school’s 196 students are on short programs of under two years. The Medical Assisting program, with a duration of 62 credit hours, is the college’s largest program. Ridley-Lowell Business & Technical Institute-West Warwick is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.* Tuition fees are generally around $17,000 annually.
* Tuition fees and accredition status are correct at the time of writing, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Confirm with college before applying.
Other Options
See also the neighbor states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.
Healthcare News for Rhode Island
Americans told to toss romaine lettuce over E. coli fears
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its warning about tainted romaine from Arizona, saying information from new illnesses led it to caution against eating any forms of the lettuce that may have come from the city of Yuma, including bagged salads and whole heads or hearts of romaine.
Brown University gets $100M gift for neuroscience institute
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — One of the largest gifts in Brown University history, from Brown graduate Robert J. Carney and his wife, Nancy D. Carney, is intended to quicken the pace of neuroscience research in R.I., with the potential to develop new treatments and cures for such devastating conditions as Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Middletown farm animals quarantined after visitors fall ill
Simmons Farm must quarantine its animals while the state investigates whether its “pet and cuddle” events with goats sickened three people, according to the state Department of Environmental Management.