Do medical assistants need a license in Rhode Island?

No statewide license is required for medical assistants in Rhode Island. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT).

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Rhode Island (2026)

Q: How long does medical assistant training take in Rhode Island?

Most people become a Medical Assistant in Rhode Island through a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Q: How much do medical assistants earn in Rhode Island?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical assistants in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,190. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is about 1.22 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island currently employs approximately 3,210 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island medical assistants earn a median annual wage of $47,190 ($22.69/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,210 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.3% above the national median of $45,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,190 ($22.69/hr)
25th percentile: $45,370 per year
75th percentile: $48,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $56,840 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,280 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 3,210
Versus national median: 3.3% above the U.S. median of $45,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.22 - this occupation is more concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Rhode Island employs about 3,210 medical assistants earning a median $47,190 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Assistant here means completing a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Key Facts

Median wage (Rhode Island): $47,190/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Rhode Island: 3,210 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.22x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 12.5% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Assistant Schools in Rhode Island

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Motoring Technical Training Institute	67.8	Contact school for pricing	$46,174	89%	—	6 mi
2	New England Institute of Technology	62.3	$37,275 - $48,543	$62,151	59%	Yes*	10 mi
3	Massachusetts Bay Community College	58.1	Contact school for pricing	$56,076	16%	Yes*	37 mi
4	Southeastern Technical Institute	54.0	Contact school for pricing	$48,037	Not reported	—	24 mi
5	Massasoit Community College	53.9	Contact school for pricing	$54,288	21%	Yes*	30 mi
6	Community College of Rhode Island	51.2	$5,550 - $14,834	$51,971	26%	Yes*	6 mi
7	Bristol Community College	49.8	$5,832 - $12,168	$48,840	22%	Yes*	17 mi
8	Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln	34.9	Contact school for pricing	$42,316	64%	—	11 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Rhode Island employs approximately 3,210 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,190 ¹. The state’s concentration of medical assistant jobs is 1.22x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 112,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Medical Assistant in Rhode Island, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical assisting certificate or diploma program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants
Exam: CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT)
Median wage (Rhode Island): $47,190 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in Rhode Island

How to become a Medical Assistant in Rhode Island? Complete a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Rhode Island? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). See the licensing section below.

What do medical assistants earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Rhode Island is $47,190 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,280 and experienced professionals can earn $56,840 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Rhode Island

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a medical assisting program. Finish a certificate or diploma program in Rhode Island, often under a year. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CMA or RMA. Pass CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). Employers typically require one of these.
Confirm any state delegation rules. Most states do not license medical assistants. Scope is set by the delegating provider and state medical-board rules.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Assistant License Requirements in Rhode Island

Most states do not license medical assistants. Employers expect CMA or RMA after a short program.

Typical path

Complete a medical assisting program.
Earn CMA or RMA.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical assistants wages in Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	4,120	$47,020	$47,260	$39,280	$56,390

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 3,210 medical assistants ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Rhode Island? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Rhode Island.

How much do medical assistants earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Rhode Island is $47,190, which is $2,990 above the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data ¹.

In Rhode Island

Best Trade Schools in Rhode Island (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)