Medical Assistant Training Schools in Maine
You can become a certified medical assistant (CMA) in the state of Maine in just under a year. While it is not legally required in Maine to become certified, doing so would better qualify you and give you a competitive edge in your job search and a head start on your medical assisting career. You can become certified by enrolling in an accredited medical assistant school in Maine, or by earning an associate degree in medical assisting. The former takes just under a year, and the latter is more intensive and requires two years. The first step is to find the right medical assistant program for you. These medical assistant programs are offered online and in vocational training schools and community and junior colleges. The medical assistant program you choose should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) if you would like to later pursue certification as a certified medical assistant (CMA). You can check the website for the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) for a complete listing of the currently accredited medical assistant programs in Maine or search the medical assistant schools in Maine listed below.
Medical Assistant Training Programs in Maine
Medical assistant training in Maine will cover many skills, as the duties of a medical assistant are varied. Medical assistant duties tend to encompass even more within a small office, whereas larger offices often have more assistants employed in specialized tasks. Administrative skills that you will learn in the medical assistant schools in Maine include record keeping, billing, and effectively communicating with insurance companies and patients. Clinical skills can include learning to take a patient’s vital signs, taking blood, laboratory techniques, and other basic diagnostic procedures. It is important that medical assistants can handle a wide variety of tasks in order to help a clinic or office run smoothly. Finally, once you complete your medical assistant training program you need to sign up for the certified medical assistant exam. The medical assistant training is usually a prerequisite for signing up for the exam. This is given by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants, and when you pass it, you will be a CMA. Or you may choose to take the Registered Medical Assistant exam administered by American Medical Technologists to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) AMT.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 2,000 medical assistants were working in Maine in 2008. This is expected to grow, however, and according to the BLS, medical assistant jobs are some of the fastest growing in the already booming healthcare industry. The mean annual salary is $29,000, but this can increase with either experience or specialization training. Maine also has two state chapters of the American Association of Medical Assistants that can aid you in advancing your career. Maine is committed to providing its population with the healthcare its growing aging population needs. Get started on a medical assistant career for a secure job in healthcare.
Check out the Medical Billing and Coding programs in Maine as an alternate pathway to the allied health field. This career path can be rewarding both professionally and personally with great growth potential.
(Sources: BLS, AAMA, salary.com)
