Clinical Medical Assistant Schools Lawrence MA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training School near Lawrence Massachusetts

Lawrence MA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Lawrence MA, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Many future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors also. You might decide to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about 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 colleges you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Lawrence MA nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their job is to make sure that the Lawrence MA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Supplying general support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Massachusetts law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices offered 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 Courses

In contrast to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Lawrence MA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Lawrence MA There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent option for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be performed in Lawrence MA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training might be the ideal choice for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Lawrence MA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Lawrence MA medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you must choose which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. Once those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Lawrence MA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to verify that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Lawrence MA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to select a program focused on that certification. Next, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths 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, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take about 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Lawrence MA area medical providers. They are a great means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Lawrence health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Getting that first job can be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Lawrence MA 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 an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? 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 furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before choosing a school to witness what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s important that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lawrence MA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all clinical training or internships that will be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Lawrence Massachusetts?

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

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Merrimack River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 76,377,[2] which had risen to an estimated 78,197 as of 2014.[3] Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. Lawrence and Salem were the county seats of Essex County, until the Commonwealth abolished county government in 1999.[4] Lawrence is part of the Merrimack Valley.

Manufacturing products of the city include electronic equipment, textiles, footwear, paper products, computers, and foodstuffs. Lawrence was the residence of poet Robert Frost for his early school years; his essays and poems were first published in the Lawrence High School newspaper.[5]

Native Americans, namely the Pennacook or Pentucket tribe, had a presence in this area. Evidence of farming at Den Rock Park and arrowhead manufacturing on the site of where the Wood Mill now sits have been discovered.[6]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant College Lawrence MA

Lawrence MA medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college 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 practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Clinical Medical Assistant Schools. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Lawrence MA.