Medical Assistant Training Programs in Massachusetts
Becoming a certified medical assistant in Massachusetts can be done in one to two years, and requires some training and the passing of an exam. Becoming a certified medical assistant is not a requirement in the state to work as a medical assistant, but it is highly recommended in order to be more competitive. More and more clinics, physicians, and hospitals are seeking candidates for medical assistant positions who are certified.
Medical Assistant Training Programs in Massachusetts
The first step is to choose the best Medical Assistant program in Massachusetts for you. Many vocational schools, community colleges and junior colleges offer medical assistant programs, and there are online medical assisting program options as well. You could also pursue an associate degree in medical assisting for even more specialized training in the field. Medical assistant training will cover many skills in both the administrative parts of the job as well as the clinical part. A medical assistant has many different responsibilities. You will need to effectively communicate with patients, insurance companies, other healthcare workers, and manage medical records and office organization to help everything run smoothly. They will also be performing clinical tasks such as taking blood, assessing patients, taking their vital signs, preparing them for procedures, educating them about procedures, or assisting physicians. A good medical assistant training program will teach you to do all of these things as well as provide you with a background in basic medical terminology, pharmacology, and some anatomy. It is important that you choose a medical assistant program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
The second step is to take the certification exam, which is a computer-based, multiple-choice test given by the certifying board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). You must have completed or be near completing a certified training program in order to register for the exam. Once you pass this, you are ready to pursue your career in healthcare. The outlook for medical assistants is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that medical assistants are some of the fastest growing jobs in healthcare.
There were over 11,900 medical assistants working in Massachusetts in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earning a mean annual salary of $34,370. The salary will vary but will also increase with experience, added responsibility, and specialized training and duties. Massachusetts also has six state chapters of the American Association of Medical Assistants that can help you stay connected and current in your field.
You may also be interested in learning about the Medical Billing and Coding programs in Massachusetts. This is another popular career preparation path for entry to the health care field.
(Sources: AAMA, Salary.com, Bureau of Labor and Statistics)
