How To Become A Medical Assistant Andover CT

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School near Andover Connecticut

Andover CT medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have decided to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Andover CT, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You may decide to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have provided a few questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Andover CT nursing home patientThe role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their role is ensure that the Andover CT clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
  • Giving basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Courses

In contrast to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Andover CT health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Andover CTThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good choice for students who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced also. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be carried out in Andover CT area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your training may be the right option for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for individuals who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing employment after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some potential Andover CT medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Andover CT medical assistant programsPrior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Andover CT with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to look at when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several great reasons to verify that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved organizations for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Andover CT employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Andover CT area medical providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also help students develop relationships within the Andover health care community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting that initial job may be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Andover CT area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a program to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the college you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Andover CT, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Andover Connecticut?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Andover CT area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Andover, Connecticut

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.7 square miles (41 km2), of which, 15.5 square miles (40 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (1.53%) is water. Most of the water of that is Andover Lake.

As of the 2010 United States Census Andover had a population of 3,303. The racial composition of the population was 95.9% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.5% from some other race and 1.2% reporting two or more race. 1.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,036 people, 1,150 households, and 861 families residing in the town. The population density was 196.4 people per square mile (75.8/km²). There were 1,198 housing units at an average density of 77.5 per square mile (29.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% White, 0.92% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant School Andover CT

Andover CT medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in How To Become A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Andover CT.

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