How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near South Lancaster Massachusetts

Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near South Lancaster MA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might choose to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. 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 prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their job is ensure that the South Lancaster MA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work run successfully. Depending 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 giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
• Scheduling and verifying appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
• Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
• Supplying basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Massachusetts law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options 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 Programs

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many South Lancaster MA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about 1 year to complete, some as little as six to nine 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 normally two year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to 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 classes. They usually have a clinical element 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.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good option 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 working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be reduced as well. Just remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be performed in South Lancaster MA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training may be the ideal option for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for individuals who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many potential South Lancaster MA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. 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). To qualify to take the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you must choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to South Lancaster MA with the cheapest 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 must look at when evaluating schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make sure that the college you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential South Lancaster MA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get 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 opt to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with South Lancaster MA area healthcare providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students develop relationships within the South Lancaster healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Landing that very first job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the South Lancaster MA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before enrolling in a school to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s important that the college you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near South Lancaster MA, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near South Lancaster Massachusetts?

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

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Program South Lancaster MA

It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering 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 choose is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Evening Classes. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in South Lancaster MA.

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