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How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Oxford Connecticut

Oxford CT medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Oxford CT, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Most prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes 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 factors also. You may choose to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start 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 Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Oxford CT nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Oxford CT clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Based 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 support 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 potential duties of a medical assistant include:

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

Although medical assistants can perform almost any task they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Education

Compared to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Oxford 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 essentially 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a practical component involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Oxford CT There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good choice for individuals who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be lessened also. But bear in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in Oxford CT area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree 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 needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for graduates who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many potential Oxford CT medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among 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 take 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 as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Oxford CT medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Oxford CT with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must examine when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make certain that the college 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 need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Oxford CT employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must find out which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, verify that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Oxford CT area medical providers. They are a great way to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Oxford health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting that initial job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Oxford CT area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a college to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the program you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Oxford CT, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Oxford Connecticut?

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

Oxford, Connecticut

Oxford is a residential town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,683 at the 2010 Census.[2] Oxford is the 26th-wealthiest town in the state by median household income.[3] Distinct settled areas in the town include Oxford Center, Quaker Farms, and Riverside. Oxford belongs to the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk Metropolitan Statistical Area, a subregion of the New York metropolitan area.

In the 18th century, farmers herded livestock through Oxford from as far away as Litchfield on the way to the port of New Haven. In the 19th century, the town lost population as farmers moved to work in better-paying factories.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86.3 km2), of which 32.7 square miles (84.8 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 1.78%, is water.[7]

Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Program Oxford CT

Oxford CT medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Quick Medical Assistant Programs. But regardless 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, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Oxford CT.