Category Archives: Connecticut

Medical Assistant How Long Woodbridge CT

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Woodbridge Connecticut

Woodbridge CT medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have made a decision to join the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Woodbridge CT, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? Most potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might decide to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided several 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 type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Woodbridge CT nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Primarily their role is to make sure that the Woodbridge CT hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work run efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

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

Although medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Connecticut law, some elect to specialize in a specific 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 Training

Unlike most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Woodbridge CT health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Woodbridge CTThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent option for students who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be performed in Woodbridge CT area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a position after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Woodbridge CT medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Woodbridge CT medical assistant programsBefore you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, some potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Woodbridge CT with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should look at when assessing schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make certain that the school you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction 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 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 one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Woodbridge CT employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take about two years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the schools you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Woodbridge CT area health care providers. They are a great method to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Woodbridge health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding that first job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Woodbridge CT area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? 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 practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before selecting a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the program you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Woodbridge CT, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Also, ask 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 Woodbridge Connecticut?

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

Woodbridge, Connecticut

Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,990 at the 2010 census.[1] It is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 8th in the state per the 2010 US Census in terms of per-capita income, and is home to many of the faculty of Yale University. The town center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Woodbridge Green Historic District.

Woodbridge was originally called "Amity", having been carved out of land originally belonging to New Haven and Milford as an independent parish in 1739. In 1742, the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge was ordained in Amity, and it is after him that the modern town was named. Woodbridge was incorporated in 1784.[2]

In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" — three of the judges who signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found on the nearby West Rock ridge, which runs along the town's eastern border.

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Woodbridge CT

Woodbridge CT medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant How Long. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Woodbridge CT.

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