Medical Assistant Training Program Westminster MA

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Training School near Westminster Massachusetts

Westminster MA medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Westminster MA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many potential students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues also. You might want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have included some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start 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 Job of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Westminster MA nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their role is to make sure that the Westminster MA hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work operate successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and filing claims
  • Setting and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Massachusetts law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and obtain 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 Programs

Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Westminster MA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options provided for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Westminster MAThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good choice for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in Westminster MA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your training may be the ideal choice for you. With the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Westminster MA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received 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). In order to apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Westminster MA medical assistant programsBefore you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to decide which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Westminster MA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must examine when evaluating programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several good reasons to make sure that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved organizations for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Westminster MA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are reviewing offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Westminster MA area medical providers. They are a great method to get hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students develop relationships within the Westminster medical community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Landing that initial job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Westminster MA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get during your training. Small 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 monitor a couple of classes before choosing a program to witness what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the school you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Westminster MA, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still need to schedule any 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 because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Westminster Massachusetts?

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

Westminster, Massachusetts

The town achieved national news in November 2014 when the Board of Health proposed banning all sales of tobacco. The meeting between the Board of Health and concerned citizens did not go well with citizens raising objections to the governmental over-reach.[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.3 square miles (97 km2), of which 35.5 square miles (92 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), or 4.90%, is water.

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 6,907 people, 2,529 households, and 1,954 families residing in the town. The population density was 194.5 people per square mile (75.1/km²). There were 2,694 housing units at an average density of 75.9 per square mile (29.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.50% White, 0.46% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population. 17.6% were of French, 15.0% Irish, 13.2% French Canadian, 9.0% English, 9.0% Italian, 8.5% Finnish and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

Pick the Right Medical Assistant College Westminster MA

Westminster MA medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training Program. But irrespective of the type 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 gratifying career as a medical assistant in Westminster MA.

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