Clinical Medical Assistant Mansfield MA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near Mansfield Massachusetts

Mansfield MA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to enter the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Mansfield MA, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Many potential students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might decide to research several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have included a few questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Mansfield MA nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their function is to make sure that the Mansfield MA clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work run efficiently. 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 responsible for giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Providing general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Massachusetts law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options available 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 Programs

Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Mansfield MA 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 available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about one year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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 Mansfield MA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good choice for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. But keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Mansfield MA area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your education 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 provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Mansfield MA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. Among 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). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Mansfield MA medical assistant programs Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you must decide which kind of credential you want to earn, 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, many potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Mansfield MA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when evaluating schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in 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 one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Mansfield MA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to 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 example, then of course you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, verify that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Mansfield MA area medical providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Mansfield healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that initial job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Mansfield MA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the program you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Mansfield MA, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the protocol 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 Mansfield Massachusetts?

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

Mansfield, Massachusetts

Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184.[1] Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island. The village of Mansfield Center is located in the town. The town is twinned with Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, England.

Mansfield was first settled in 1658 and was officially incorporated in 1775. It was named for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, a pro-colonial member of the House of Lords.[2] Mansfield is the home of the Xfinity Center (formerly known as Great Woods, Tweeter Center and Comcast Center) concert venue, one of the most popular in New England. It is also the birthplace of Honey Dew Donuts,[3] a regional New England chain of donut shops.

Benjamin E. Bates, an industrialist and philanthropist, who was the founder of Bates College was born in Mansfield in 1808. Stove and furnace manufacturer and innovator Gordon Chilson (1804–1877) worked here.[4]

Choose the Best Medical Assistant Training Mansfield MA

Mansfield MA medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in health 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 so many schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Clinical Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Mansfield MA.