How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Collinsville Connecticut

Now that you have made a decision to join the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Collinsville CT, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Most prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You might want to look into several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their job is to make sure that the Collinsville CT clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
• Scheduling and verifying appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
• Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
• Providing general support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Courses

Compared to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Collinsville CT health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly 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 Courses

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced as well. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be carried out in Collinsville CT area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training may be the best choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Collinsville CT medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Collinsville 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 factors that you must explore when assessing programs. To help you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to make certain that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training 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 agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Collinsville CT employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Next, 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 methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Collinsville CT area medical care providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Collinsville healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Getting that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Collinsville CT area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may 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 likely to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a program to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the school you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Collinsville CT, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still need to schedule any clinical training or internships that will be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Collinsville Connecticut?

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

Choose the Best Medical Assistant School Collinsville CT

It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Responsibilities. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Collinsville CT.

More Medical Locations in Connecticut

Quick Medical Assistant Programs Oxford CT

Clinical Medical Assistant Schools Plainfield CT

Medical Assistant Degree Requirements Madison CT

Medical Assistant School Time Norfolk CT

Registered Medical Assistant Exam Columbia CT

Medical Assistant Online Berlin CT

How Long Does It Take To Become A Medical Assistant Bloomfield CT

Colleges That Offer Medical Assistant Degrees Portland CT

Medical Assistant Definition Storrs Mansfield CT

Top Medical Assistant Programs Plantsville CT