How To Become A Medical Assistant Billerica MA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Program near Billerica Massachusetts

Billerica MA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to join the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Billerica MA, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? A number of future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues also. You may choose to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Billerica MA nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Billerica MA clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Massachusetts law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

In contrast to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Billerica MA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical component involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Billerica MA There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good option for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized also. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be completed in Billerica MA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education may be the best option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed 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 option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a position after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Billerica MA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Billerica MA medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Billerica MA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should look at when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction 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 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Billerica MA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Billerica MA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students build relationships within the Billerica health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Finding that initial job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Billerica MA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? 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 likely to provide increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a college to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s important that the school you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Billerica MA, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Billerica Massachusetts?

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

Billerica, Massachusetts

Billerica /bɪlˈrɪkə/ (listen) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,243 according to the 2010 census.[2] It borrows its name from the town of Billericay in Essex, England.

In the early 1630s, a Praying Indian village named Shawshin was at the current site of Billerica,[3] commonly spelled Shawsheen today, such as in the Shawsheen River. In 1638, Massachusetts Bay Governor John Winthrop and Lt. Governor Thomas Dudley were granted land along the Concord River in the area, and roughly a dozen families from Cambridge and Charlestown Village had begun to occupy Shawshin by 1652.[4] The settlers chose the name Billerica because some of the families originally came from the town of Billericay in Essex, England. The town was incorporated as Billerica in 1655, on the same day as neighboring Chelmsford and nearby Groton. The original plantation of Billerica was divided during the colonial period into the towns of Billerica, Bedford, Wilmington, and Tewksbury.

The oldest remaining homestead in the town is the Manning Manse built in 1696, which was also the residence of William Manning (1747–1814), the author of The Key of Libberty, a critique of Federalist policies.[5] Other notable Revolutionary War era residents included Asa Pollard (1735–75), the first soldier killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and Thomas Ditson (born 1741), who was tarred and feathered by the British in 1775 while on a visit to Boston. The song "Yankee Doodle" supposedly became a term of national pride instead of an insult because of this event.[6] The town now celebrates "Yankee Doodle Weekend" every September.

Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Billerica MA

Billerica MA medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the right info on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in How To Become A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Billerica MA.