How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near West Hartford Connecticut

Now that you have made a decision to join the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near West Hartford CT, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? A number of prospective students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues also. You may choose to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that task, we have included a few questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their job is ensure that the West Hartford CT clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. 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 tasked with providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
• Setting and confirming appointments
• Taking vital signs and weighing patients
• Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
• Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
• Providing general support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task 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 Training Programs

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many West Hartford 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 essentially 2 options offered for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about one year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Classes

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent option for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit 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 extra benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be completed in West Hartford CT area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your education may be the best choice for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible West Hartford CT medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to West Hartford CT with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, 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 organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential West Hartford CT employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with West Hartford CT area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the West Hartford medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing that very first job can be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the West Hartford CT area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal instruction you will receive during 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 convenient, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the program you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near West Hartford 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 still have 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 work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near West Hartford Connecticut?

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

Select the Right Medical Assistant College West Hartford CT

It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training these days that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training Online. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan 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 choosing the best program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in West Hartford CT.

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