Medical Assistant Education Clinton CT - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant School Program near Clinton Connecticut

Clinton CT medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Clinton CT, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? Many prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You might decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Clinton CT nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their role is ensure that the Clinton CT hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Supplying general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options offered 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 Education

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Clinton CT health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two options available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at junior and community colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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 related field.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Clinton CT There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are an excellent choice for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be lessened also. Just keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be carried out in Clinton CT area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education may be the best choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Clinton CT medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Clinton CT medical assistant programs Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. After those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Clinton CT with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you need to explore when researching programs. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to confirm that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Clinton CT employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready 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 planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Clinton CT area medical care providers. They are a great means to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students build relationships within the Clinton medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Landing that very first job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Clinton CT area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before selecting a college to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s important that the school you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Clinton CT, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Clinton Connecticut?

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

Clinton, Connecticut

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.0 square miles (49 km2), of which 16.3 square miles (42 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (14.50%) is water. The CDP corresponding to the town center has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), of which 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) is water.

Clinton is bordered by the towns of Madison on the west, Westbrook on the east, and Killingworth on the north. Clinton is directly from Long Island Sound. The town has one town beach named Clinton Beach. Many fishers come to Clinton to catch bluefish. The annual Bluefish Festival is held in Clinton in summer.

Other minor communities and geographic features in Clinton are Beach Park, Boulder Lake, Clinton Beach, Cow Hill, Duck Hole, Grove Beach, Grove Beach Manor, Harbor View, Kelseytown, Lochwood, Mill District, Old Harbor Village, Ridgewood, Riverside, and Silver Bluff.

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant School Clinton CT

Clinton CT medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the right training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Education. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Clinton CT.