Medical Assistant Schools Barnstable MA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near Barnstable Massachusetts

Barnstable MA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Barnstable MA, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Many potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues as well. You might want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have included several questions that you need to 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 kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Barnstable MA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their role is ensure that the Barnstable MA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Giving basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Massachusetts law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the options 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

In contrast to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Barnstable MA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about a year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are often 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 Barnstable MA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good option for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be carried out in Barnstable MA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training may be the ideal option for you. With the online courses 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, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Barnstable MA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of 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). To qualify to apply for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Barnstable MA medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. After those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Barnstable MA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should look at when researching programs. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many great reasons to verify that the college you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must complete 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 program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Barnstable MA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, find out 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 assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring 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, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Barnstable MA area medical providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Barnstable health care community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that first job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Barnstable MA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a program to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the school you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Barnstable MA, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still have to schedule any clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Barnstable Massachusetts?

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

Barnstable, Massachusetts

Barnstable (/ˈbɑːrnstəbəl/ BARN-stə-bəl) is a city,[2] referred to as the Town of Barnstable,[3] in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County.[4] Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. At the 2010 census it had a population of 45,193.[5] The town contains several villages (one of which is also named Barnstable) within its boundaries.[6] Its largest village, Hyannis, is the central business district of the county and home to Barnstable Municipal Airport, the airline hub of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Additionally, Barnstable is a 2007 winner of the All-America City Award.

Barnstable takes its name from Barnstaple, Devon, England. The area was first explored by Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602. It was one of the first towns to be settled in Plymouth Colony, one year behind Sandwich, in 1638, and was incorporated on September 4,1639, the same day as the towns of Sandwich and Yarmouth. On the first Tuesday of December, the same year, its deputies took their seats in the general court. The early settlers were farmers, led by the Reverend Joseph Hull, the founder of Barnstable.[7] A memorial tablet was dedicated there in 1939 (the 300th anniversary of the town's founding) marking the site of his home, and the rock from which he preached still stands along the highway there.[8][9][10]

Soon after the town's founding, agriculture, fishing and salt works became its major industries. By the end of the 19th century, there were some 804 ships harbored in the town. But the role of sailing ships declined with the rise of ocean-going steamships and the railroad, which had arrived in 1854.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Training Barnstable MA

Barnstable MA medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Schools. 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, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Barnstable MA.