Medical assistant scope of practice in Massachusetts
Under Massachusetts law, the medical assistant scope of practice includes giving vaccines when a licensed primary care provider delegates it to a certified medical assistant under direct supervision. This comes from state law. If you're not certified yet, pick an accredited program on our Massachusetts programs page and use the Request information form there to ask that school about starting.
- Injection task the law names: immunizations (vaccines)
- Who may receive the delegation: a certified medical assistant
- Training the law expects: completing an accredited post-secondary medical assisting program
- Supervision the law expects: the primary care provider stays in the building and is available right away
- Who sets the rules
- Massachusetts General Laws c. 112, s. 265 (Department of Public Health)
- State credential for medical assistants
- None required
- Supervision
- direct supervision of a licensed primary care provider who is present in the facility and immediately available
What Massachusetts rules say a medical assistant may do
| Task | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Delegation | A primary care provider may delegate the administration of an immunization to a certified medical assistant. | M.G.L. c. 112, s. 265(b) |
| Injections | Immunization (vaccine) administration is the injection-type task Massachusetts statute expressly lets certified medical assistants perform. | M.G.L. c. 112, s. 265(b) |
| State credential | A 'certified medical assistant' must have graduated from an accredited post-secondary medical assisting program (CAAHEP/ABHES or DPH-approved) and be employed by a licensed primary care provider. | M.G.L. c. 112, s. 265(a) |
| Supervision | Direct supervision means the primary care provider is present in the facility and immediately available, though not necessarily in the room. | M.G.L. c. 112, s. 265(a) |
| State credential | The statute says it does not authorize licensing of certified medical assistants. | M.G.L. c. 112, s. 265(c) |
| Medications | The Department of Public Health circular letter says a primary care provider may delegate immunization administration to an MA who meets education and supervision criteria, with DPH recognizing additional certifications. | Mass. DPH Circular Letter DCP 17-8-102 (Immunization Administration by Medical Assistants) |
Administering vaccines on the job
Giving vaccines is the injection task Massachusetts law expressly lets certified medical assistants perform, when a primary care provider delegates it to you. The law lists immunizations as that task.
The Department of Public Health also published a circular letter about the subject. According to it, a primary care provider may assign vaccine administration to a medical assistant who satisfies the education and supervision rules. The department also recognizes other kinds of certification.
Who qualifies as a certified medical assistant?
The statute lists 2 requirements. You must finish an accredited post-secondary medical assisting program. You must also work for a licensed primary care provider.
Accreditation means an outside organization has reviewed the program and approved it. For this law, the options are CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, or approval from the Department of Public Health. A brief course that lacks such approval does not qualify under the definition, so look into this before signing up. You can review accredited schools on our Massachusetts programs page, then use the Request information form there to contact the school that interests you.
Direct supervision in the workplace
To supervise you directly, the primary care provider must be at the facility and ready to respond right away. The provider need not be in the room with you during the injection.
Does Massachusetts license medical assistants?
No, the statute says it does not authorize licensing certified medical assistants. What counts under this law is your accredited program training, your employer, and the supervision arrangement.
Choosing a program that meets the rule
Nationwide we track 1,094 medical assistant programs, and 484 of them carry accreditation from CAAHEP or ABHES. Accredited programs, along with those approved by the Department of Public Health, are what lead to the certified status Massachusetts law recognizes.
| Comparison point | Number |
|---|---|
| Median length at career schools | 9 months |
| Range of reported lengths | 2 months to 32 months |
| Median full-program cost at career schools | $17,257 |
| Median annual tuition for in-district students at public colleges | $4,346 |
| Colleges that award an associate degree | 354 |
Every figure above comes from federal college data for 2023-24. Federal student aid is available at 1,049 of the schools on our list.
A number of programs offer classes online through distance learning. We list 30 programs that can be finished this way, and 14 of them carry accreditation. Hands-on clinical practice, usually called an externship, happens on site. To see accredited choices close to home, visit our Massachusetts programs page and use the form there to request details from the school you pick.
Pay for medical assistants
For May 2025, the median annual wage nationally for this occupation came to $45,690, which works out to about $21.97 per hour.
| Occupation | Median annual earnings, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Nursing aides | $42,260 |
| Phlebotomy technicians | $45,230 |
| Medical assistants | $45,690 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $64,400 |
| Registered nurses | $97,550 |
This plain summary is not legal advice; the statute or board rule linked in the table is the authority. Rules change, so check the source before you rely on a task.
Certification rules in Massachusetts · Medical assistant programs in Massachusetts · Jobs in Massachusetts · Scope of practice in every state
Nearby: Scope of practice in Connecticut · Scope of practice in New York · Scope of practice in Rhode Island