Are you interested in a healthcare career where you get to provide face-to-face, hands-on patient care? Do you want to become an integral part of a dynamic clinical team? Then look no further than the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program.

You'll find Medical Assistants (MA) in most Dartmouth Health Clinics providing a welcoming and efficient care-experience to each of our patients. Tasks that an MA may perform include patient rooming and information collecting, vital signs and biometric information collection, updating of medical records, assisting clinicians during procedures, performing EKG’s, urine dips, pregnancy testing, hearing and vision screens, lead testing, vaccine administration, prescription refills, and other administrative tasks as assigned. Successful MAs thrive in a fast-paced team environment, have a strong work ethic, are professionalism and dependable.   

If the role of an MA sounds like the ideal healthcare career for you, then the Dartmouth Hitchcock Workforce Readiness Institute (DHWRI) can provide all the training you need to become a Certified Medical Assistant. Our Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program is a paid and benefitted full-time position. It begins with an accelerated 12-week training program delivered in partnership with Colby-Sawyer College. Trainees sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam administered by the National Heathcareer Association, and then move into a Dartmouth Health Clinic to complete a 2,000-hour Registered Apprenticeship through the US Department of Labor to gain more skills and competencies with on-the-job training and mentorship.

There is no out-of-pocket cost for those selected to participate in the program. Trainees are provided with all the basic materials to complete the education program, including textbooks, a set of scrubs, and a laptop. Trainees will need access to reliable internet for out of classroom work. In addition to classroom instruction, trainees can expect a significant amount of homework and studying outside of the classroom. The course material is taught using a combination of in-person classroom instruction, online activities, skills labs, and shadowing. 

Classes offered during the program include Introduction to 1) Anatomy & Physiology, 2) Medical Terminology, 3) Pathophysiology, 4) Pharmacology, 5) Communications for the Healthcare Professional, 6) Medical Assistant Standards & Practices, 7) Clinical Medical Assisting Lab, and 8) MA Practicum. Successfully completing these courses will earn you 25 college credits at no cost towards an associate's degree in health science.

Apprenticeship provides a training system that combines job related technical instruction with structured on-the-job learning experiences. Apprentices have the opportunity to “earn while they learn” as they become more proficient on the job. Monthly professional and technical competencies are reviewed and learning plans are developed with supervisors. Technical and professional competencies are introduced during the classroom educational portion with the expectation that the apprentice will develop proficiency over their apprenticeship.

This posting is for the MA Apprenticeship program taught out of the Lebanon, NH classroom. Participants in the Lebanon program have the opportunity to be placed at the following locations: Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics in Lebanon, Mt Ascutney Health Center, New London Hospital, Newport Health Center, and Alice Peck Day Multi-Specialty Clinic.

The MA Apprenticeship program is offered twice a year, starting in September and March. For more details about the program, visit the WRI website at Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program - D-H Workforce Readiness Institute (dhwri.org).

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Equal Employment Opportunity Pledge:

DHWRI will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX (INCLUDING PREGNANCY AND GENDER IDENTITY), SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, OR BECAUSE THEY ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY OR A PERSON 40 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. DHWRI will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30.

A Medical Assistant (MA) is a valued member of the clinic care team. The MA role is fast‐paced, interesting, and patient safety guides every interaction. The MA is the first person to welcome a patient to the clinic, and they set the stage for a comfortable, caring experience. Once trained by the Dartmouth Hitchcock Workforce Readiness Institute and certified through National Healthcareer Association as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, an MA Apprentice will be responsible for: clinical duties such as taking vital signs, giving injections, performing simple diagnostic tests, collecting specimens, drawing blood, sterilizing and cleaning equipment, and maintaining examination rooms at an outpatient care site.

• High School Diploma, GED or Equivalent by the end of the 12-week training program.