Medical Assistant Jobs and Programs in Connecticut – Schools, Salary, and License Info

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Connecticut

To learn how to become a highly qualified medical assistant job in Connecticut, you need to follow a few steps.

These major steps include:

• Completing a Connecticut Medical Assistant Education Program
• Passing a Certification Examination
• Pursuing a Job and Maintaining Your Medical Assistant Credential

Connecticut is a fountain of employment in medical assisting.

This can be seen in the recent article written on this issue.

The article is that of U.S News and World Report.

According to it, in Danbury, Connecticut, medical assistants will find the highest salaries in the entire US nations.

The salary number there is estimated to be $39,430.

Which stands $10,000 higher than the average national salary from 2012.

In 2013 also, there was another statistic drawn regarding the salary in Connecticut.

According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics, the fifth-highest salary in the state was found to be $34,260.

That was a year when medical assistants were many in the state.

Precisely 7160 of them were in work relations.

When talking about work, we all know that it comes after finishing education.

Fortunately, there are enough Medical Assisting programs available in the state.

But the same does not stand for practice which follows soon after.

However, that does not stop the graduates from performing at work in their possible ways.

For instance, the Connecticut Department of Public Health has regulations for unlicensed health professionals through which they manage to enter the market.

However, there are certain duties which they cannot perform, and they consist of:

• Administer medications
• Perform radiography
• Assess, diagnose, plan and evaluate patients/patient care

Medical assistants, on the other hand, may perform the following duties:

• Collect data to be used by licensed health care professionals in the diagnosis, treatment, care planning, etc
• Offer health maintenance education not related to a diagnosis
• Assist in handling equipment in preparation for procedures or following up on procedures

Medical Assistants work under other professional supervisors.

They can be nurses, physicians or in general, health professionals in Connecticut.

Step 1. Complete a Connecticut Medical Assistant Education Program

Apart from setting regulations related to medical assistants’ work, the Connecticut Department of Public Health also offers guidance for them through advice, recommendations regarding their education and so on.

In the state, however, accrediting bodies do this job very well.

These accrediting bodies are two:

• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) – Connecticut CAAHEP-accredited programs may be found in the following cities:
  • Hartford
  • Branford
  • East Hartford
  • Southington
  • Norwalk
  • Winsted
  • New London
  • Danielson
  • West Haven
  • Bridgeport

• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) – Connecticut ABHES-accredited programs may be found in the following cities:
  • Southington
  • Windsor
  • East Hartford
  • Rocky Hill
  • Enfield
  • Watertown
  • Stratford
  • Branford
  • Waterbury

Degrees offered at Connecticut medical assisting schools include:

• Certificate in Medical Assistant (Residential)
• Diploma in Medical Assisting (Residential and Distance Learning)
• Collegiate Certificate in Medical Assisting (Residential and Distance)
• Diploma in Professional Medical Assistant (Residential)
• Associate in Science in Medical Assisting
• Associate in Science in Medical Assisting – Insurance Option
• Associate of Applied Science in Executive Medical Assisting
• Associate of Science in Allied Health – Medical Assisting

Courses that you will take in any Connecticut medical assistant preparation program will hold titles such as:

• Human Biology
• Medical Terminology
• Psychology
• Law and Ethics for Health Care Careers
• Lab Principles for Medical Assisting
• Medical Insurance and Billing
• Social/Behavioral Science
• Algebra
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Computerized Medical Practice Management
• Clinical Medical Assisting

Medical Assisting Externship

Medical Assisting Externship includes a real-life clinical experience.

Medical assistants are asked to perform it in order to test their skills gained during the program.

Some of the skills in which they will be tested at this time include these:

• Applying legal concepts to the practice of health care
• Participating in operations
• Providing instruction to patients
• Communicating clearly and effectively
• Administrative duties (entry-level)
• Clinical duties (entry-level)

Step 2. Pass a Certification Examination

We saw that it is possible to find work as a medical assistant in Connecticut without a license.

However, as a graduate student, one needs to meet the minimum requirements to find a simple job.

For this reason, the candidates can take the national certification at least, which has to be recognized by an organization that functions in the state.

However, some programs offer other chances as well.

For instance, they may offer the opportunity to receive certification examination before graduating from the program at all.

While some programs can help students take the exam after graduation and similar kind of help.

From the organizations that offer the Certified Medical Assistant, certification examination is also the American Association of Medical Assistants.

The candidate who aspires to this certification needs to graduate from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assistant program.

The exam consists of 200 questions, while separated in four segments, in 40 minutes length.

The CMA exam is usually administered at Prometric testing centers.

In Connecticut, these are found in:

• Norwalk
• Glastonbury
• Hamden

The exam results are usually given by the end of the test.

However, they can also be posted online in eight weeks’ time.

Once, the candidate passes the exam, the AAMA sends a mail with the certificate and wallet card, which certifies the person as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).

The name of the person will automatically be listed on the DPH website.

Precisely it will be put in the list of Connecticut residents certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Other Medical Assistant Certifications Available

CMA is the most popular credential among Connecticut medical assistants, but it is not the only one.

There are other certifications that you can obtain in the state.

They include:

• RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) by the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
• CPC (Billing and Coding Certification) by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders)
• MT (Medical Technologist) by the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology)
• CPT (Current Procedural Technology) by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders)

Step 3. Pursue a Job and Maintain Your Medical Assistant Credential

Certification for Medical Assistants in Connecticut lasts five years.

After that comes recertification.

This action includes passing the Certification Recertification Examination for a second time.

Or taking part in the AAMA’s continuing education program.

The procedure also includes doing 60 points over the five upcoming years.

This period can be filled up with clinical, administrative activities.

Some of these activities can be approved by AAMA.

The RMA renewal can be made yearly.

Its cost is $50, while there has to also be completed 30 certification points every three year period.

This is the AMT’s Certification Continuation Program (CCP)

Professional Organizations for Medical Assistants in Connecticut

Medical Assistants who work in Connecticut are leaded by the professional organization of the Connecticut Society of Medical Assistants.

The organization is part of the American Association of Medical Assistants.

It also offers job opportunities and professional growth to medical assistants who are a member of it.

While networking is one of its key features in this organization as well.

Medical Assistant Jobs in Connecticut

Jobs for medical assistants in Connecticut may be found in a variety of health care settings. Examples of these include:

• University of Connecticut Health Center – Farmington
• Yale-New Haven Health – New Haven
• TLC Pediatrics, LLC – Norwalk
• Stamford Hospital – Stamford
• Middlesex Hospital – Madison
• Western Connecticut Medical Group – Danbury
• New Milford Hospital – New Milford
• Saint Francis Care – Hartford
• Bristol Hospital-Bristol
• Vein Clinics of America – Glastonbury

The Best Medical Assisting Schools in Connecticut

Connecticut offers nearly 20 Medical Assisting Schools in its areas.

With so many doors open, students have many options to consider in their education.

All they need is do the right choice and do their best to succeed.

Medical Assisting Salaries in Connecticut

Medical Assisting Salaries in Connecticut vary constantly.

But there are some factors which indicate this variation.

They are work experience, qualification, place and skills.

 Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in Connecticut

Medical Assisting by State