Medical Assistant Online Shelton CT

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training School near Shelton Connecticut

Shelton CT medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Shelton CT, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes 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 important issues as well. You might decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. 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 briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Shelton CT nursing home patientThe duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their function is ensure that the Shelton CT hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may 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 practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and filing claims
  • Setting and confirming appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
  • Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices 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 Training Programs

Compared to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Shelton CT health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about one year to complete, some 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 acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs offered at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Shelton CTThere are many accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent alternative for students who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full time while earning their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced as well. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be carried out in Shelton CT area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your education may be the ideal option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Shelton CT medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and perhaps 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, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Shelton CT medical assistant programsBefore you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you must choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Shelton CT with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should explore when researching programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several great reasons to confirm that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Shelton CT employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Shelton CT area health care providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Shelton healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding that first job may be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Shelton CT area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a school to observe 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 college while you continue working full time, it’s important that the program you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Shelton CT, make sure that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, find out what the policy 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 Shelton Connecticut?

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

Shelton, Connecticut

Shelton was settled by the English as part of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in 1639. On May 15, 1656, the Court of the Colony of Connecticut in Hartford affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the territory 12 miles (19 km) inland from Long Island Sound, between the Housatonic River and the Fairfield town line. In 1662, Stratford selectmen Lt. Joseph Judson, Captain Joseph Hawley and John Minor had secured all the written deeds of transfer from the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation for this vast territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe. Shelton was split off from Stratford in 1789, as Huntington (named for Samuel Huntington).[3][4] The current name originated in a manufacturing village started in the 1860s named for the Shelton Company founded by Edward N. Shelton—also founder of Ousatonic Water Power Company.[5][6][7][8] The rapidly growing borough of Shelton incorporated as a city in 1915 and was consolidated with the town of Huntington in 1919 establishing the present city of Shelton.[9][10]

Shelton was the site of one of the largest arson fires in the United States history. It happened in 1975 when the Sponge Rubber Products plant (formerly owned by B.F. Goodrich) was set on fire. Charles Moeller, president of parent company Grand Sheet Metal Products, was acquitted of criminal charges, but in a suit under civil law (where preponderance of evidence suffices to establish a factual claim), a jury found in 1988 the insurer was entitled to disallow claims on the fire losses, based on the finding that the company's top officials arranged the fire to claim insurance money. Eight others were convicted or pleaded guilty.[11]

The explosion that destroyed the Sponge Rubber Plant on Canal Street in 1975 marked the start of the decline of Shelton's industries. During the remainder of the 1970s and 1980s several firms that operated factories along the banks of the Housatonic River either went out of business or relocated to areas where labor and operating costs were cheaper.[12] In 1995, Sikorsky Aircraft closed a plant off Bridgeport Avenue that manufactured electrical components for helicopters.[citation needed]

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Shelton CT

Shelton CT medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Online. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Shelton CT.

More Medical Locations in Connecticut

  • Medical Assistant Programs Putnam CT
  • Medical Assistant Associate Degree Brooklyn CT
  • Become A Certified Medical Assistant Fast North Haven CT
  • Medical Assistant Certification Online Bethany CT
  • Clinical Medical Assistant Salem CT
  • Medical Assistant Education Thomaston CT
  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Centerbrook CT
  • Ophthalmic Medical Assistant Ellington CT
  • How To Become A Medical Assistant Roxbury CT
  • Medical Assistant Course Requirements Monroe CT
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 142

    Lincoln Technical Institute
    1 Reviews
    Colleges & Universities, Vocational & Technical School, Adult Education
    Phone:
    8 Progress Dr, Shelton, CT 06484

    Southern Connecticut Women's Health Care Associates
    3 Reviews
    Obstetricians & Gynecologists
    Phone:
    247 Broad St, Milford, CT 06460

    Kocinsky Daniel T. M.D.
    2 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    888 White Plains Rd, Ste 203, Trumbull, CT 06611

    Yale Fertility Center of New Haven
    3 Reviews
    Sperm Clinic, Fertility
    Phone:
    150 Sargent Dr, Fl 2, New Haven, CT 06511

    OrthoFast Milford
    4 Reviews
    Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Orthopedists
    Phone:
    321 Boston Post Rd, Milford, CT 06460

    Branford Hall Career Institute
    3 Reviews
    Vocational & Technical School, Educational Services
    Phone:
    1 Summit Pl, Branford, CT 06405

    Hamden Medical Services
    4 Reviews
    Family Practice
    Phone:
    2337 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518

    East Haven Adult Learning Center
    1 Reviews
    Adult Education
    Phone:
    290 Dodge Ave, East Haven, CT 06512

    Huntington Walk-In Medical Center
    9 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    887 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton, CT 06484

    Brunson Deborah MD
    1 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    339 Boston Post Rd, Ste 120, Orange, CT 06477