Medical Assistant Student Mystic CT - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School near Mystic Connecticut

Mystic CT medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Mystic CT, it’s time to select a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Most prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You may want 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 college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have included several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Mystic CT nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Mystic CT hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

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

While medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain 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 Training

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Mystic CT health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about a year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed 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 normally two year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Mystic CT There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good alternative for students who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized as well. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be completed in Mystic CT area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for individuals who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Mystic CT medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and arguably 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. Alternative certifications are offered also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Mystic CT medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Mystic CT with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should explore when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make sure that the program you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Mystic CT employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, verify that the schools you are looking at provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Mystic CT area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students develop relationships within the Mystic health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Mystic CT area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a school to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the college you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Mystic CT, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Mystic Connecticut?

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

Mystic, Connecticut

Historically, Mystic was a leading seaport of the area, and the story of Mystic's nautical connection is told at Mystic Seaport, the nation's largest maritime museum[2] which has preserved a number of sailing ships, most notably the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan. The village is located on the Mystic River, which flows into Long Island Sound, providing access to the sea. The Mystic River Bascule Bridge crosses the river in the center of the village. According to the Mystic River Historical Society, the name "Mystic" is derived from the Pequot term "missi-tuk", describing a large river whose waters are driven into waves by tides or wind. The population was 4,205 at the 2010 census.[3]

Before the 17th century, the Pequot people[4] lived in this portion of southeastern Connecticut. They were in control of a considerable amount of territory, extending toward the Pawcatuck River to the east and the Connecticut River to the west.

To the northwest, the Five Nations of the Iroquois dominated the land linked by the Great Lakes and the Hudson River, allowing trading to occur between the Iroquois and the Dutch. The Pequots were settled just distant enough to be secure from any danger that the Iroquois posed.[5] The Pequot War profoundly affected the Mystic area between 1636 and 1638. In May 1637, captains John Underhill and John Mason led a mission through Narragansett land, along with their allies the Narragansetts and Mohegans, and struck the Pequot Indian settlement in Mystic in the event which came to be known as the Mystic massacre.[6] On September 21, 1638, the colonists signed the Treaty of Hartford, officially ending the Pequot War.[7]

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant Training Program Mystic CT

Mystic CT medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Student. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Mystic CT.