2026 Medical Assistant Training Programs
Program Overview
The Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program begins with 12 weeks of paid classroom instruction and skills training to provide the foundational knowledge and certification needed to work as a medical assistant in a Dartmouth Health Clinic.
At the conclusion of the 12-week program, trainees sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and then work full-time in the clinic as a Medical Assistant Apprentice to gain on-the-job experience while completing a required 2,000-hour Registered Apprenticeship with the US Department of Labor.
Program & Job Placement Locations
The Medical Assistant Program is offered in 2 classroom locations, Bedford and Lebanon, NH. At the time you apply, you’ll select the classroom location that will place you in the region that best aligns with your full-time employment needs.
Bedford candidates are applying for full-time roles in one of the more southern New Hampshire Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics located in:
- Manchester, NH
- Nashua, NH
- Concord, NH
Lebanon candidates are applying for full-time roles at clinics in central New Hampshire and Vermont, specifically:
- Alice Peck Day Multi-Specialty Clinics, Lebanon, NH
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics, Lebanon, NH (includes Lyme and Hanover)
- Mt. Ascutney Health Center, Windsor, VT
- New London Hospital Clinics, New London, NH
- Newport Health Center, Newport, NH
- Ottaquechee Health Center, Woodstock, VT
- Valley Regional Hospital Clinics, Claremont, NH
Note: Specific clinic openings vary by each training program based on available/open positions.
Interested candidates should submit a location-specific DHCI Program Application, either Bedford or Lebanon.
Qualifying candidates will have the opportunity to interview with DHCI program staff and representatives from hiring clinics in the specific region. If an offer to join the program is extended, it includes both a spot in the training program and a full-time role at a specific Dartmouth Health Clinic upon completion of the training program.
Training seats are limited to 20 per cohort per classroom location. The training program is offered twice per year, starting in mid-September and mid-March.
The training program is offered twice per year, starting in mid-September and mid-March. We are currently accepting applications for the September programs; please see the timelines below for more details.
2026 Fall Program Timelines
| Location | Info Sessions & Pre-Screenings |
Application Deadline | Interviews | Program Enrollment | Training Program | Certification Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Classroom | On-Demand | July 24, 2026 | August 5 – 7, 2026 | August 19, 2026 | September 14 – December 4, 2026 | December 4, 2026 |
| Lebanon Classroom | As scheduled | July 17, 2026 | July 28, 2026 | August 20, 2026 | September 14 – December 4, 2026 | December 4, 2026 |
Note: Applicants should be available to participate in the dates listed above by program.
The Role of a Medical Assistant
Medical Assistants (MAs) are valued members of the clinic care team. As an MA, you will work in a fast-paced, wide-ranging role guided by patient care and safety. You will welcome each patient into the clinic, setting the stage for a comfortable, efficient, and supportive experience during their time with you and as they interact with each member of their care team.
Clinical teams count on MAs to maintain clinic flow by efficiently and accurately rooming patients in a high-volume environment. Duties may include obtaining vital signs, administering immunizations, and completing necessary point-of-care tests such as EKGs, bladder scans, throat swabs, and urinalysis dipsticks. Additionally, MAs maintain supply inventory, update electronic health records, follow up with patients as directed by nurses and providers, and perform other duties as needed.
MAs must have a strong work ethic, be flexible with scheduling, maintain a high level of professionalism, and be able to work as part of a team and communicate effectively.
$2,500 Sign-On Bonus & Benefits
Eligible medical assistants receive a $2,500 sign-on/retention bonus; some conditions apply. Ask a program representative for details.
Additionally, all program participants are Dartmouth Health employees, which makes you eligible for benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; short- and long-term disability; paid time off; and retirement plans.
Did You Know?
Training program participants are co-enrolled as Colby Sawyer College (CSC) students when they begin the program. Upon successful completion of the 12-week training program, you’ll earn 22 college credits at no cost.
Additionally, during your 2,000-hour apprenticeship, you’re eligible to enroll in 4 elective CSC courses at no cost, earning an additional 21 credits toward your Associate in Science and Health Sciences (ASHS).
To learn more, visit the Colby Sawyer College Partnership Programs.
MA Spotlight: Meet Ryan Cutter
Ryan, a Medical Assistant III working in Nashua’s Neurology Clinic, found his starting point in healthcare through the Dartmouth Health Career Institute. After successfully completing his training and certification in 2020, Ryan dove into his US Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship gaining clinical skills and making a meaningful impact in patient care and on his team in Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Ryan’s drive for continual learning and professional development led him to earn his associate’s degree in Health Science in December of 2021. Ryan has not stopped there, he continues to drive efficiency, kindness, and care within his clinic and precepting activities. In 2023 he was promoted to an MA III and graduated with his Master’s in Business Administration in 2024.
“I am incredibly fortunate that Dartmouth Health has given me this opportunity through the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program. Being out of the traditional workforce for 15 years created a period of unsettling uncertainty. The only two things that I was sure of were that I wanted to help others and that I wanted to learn and grow as part of an extraordinary institution. This program offered me both.”
Ryan always offers a warm smile and provides an abundance of care to his patients. We are so proud to have people like Ryan choose to return to (or join) the workforce through the DHCI.