Medical Office/Administrative Assisting Programs in Vermont

If you enjoy helping people and want to make a difference in health care, becoming a medical secretary may be a great option for you. After attending an associate’s degree program or certificate program, you can find job opportunities to work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and clinics, as well as virtually any organization that offers health care services. You may even find opportunities in environments as diverse as medical laboratories and the health care facilities of colleges and universities.

To learn about the education you will need to become a medical office assistant in Vermont, contact the schools listed below for program details today.

One of the strongest areas of job growth in the last several years has been in health care, and recent employment numbers in Vermont revealed the addition of 600 new health care jobs in 2014. In addition, the Vermont Department of Labor showed continued improvement Vermont’s job market with unemployment above 4.5 percent at the beginning of 2013 and unemployment at 4.1 percent at the beginning of 2015. Despite a fairly steady population, the state has still been able to add jobs to its economy.

Training to Become a Medical Office Assistant in Vermont

Programs for training as a medical secretary usually occur at community colleges and career training schools in VT. Strong components of such programs include learning about medical terminology, as well as medical transcription and patient privacy. You’ll even learn about various treatments used to treat common diseases, and the way in which a modern medical office must operate. You may take classes like Medical Terminology, Medical Transcription, Business Communication, and Computer Applications in Business.

As you explore your educational opportunities in Vermont, you’ll want to check out scholarships given by organizations within the state. The Vermont Medical Society is one resource for medical scholarships, and the Vermont Department of Health also offers loan repayment and loan forgiveness programs. You may also qualify for federal student loan assistance and scholarships through the school you choose to attend.

Getting Certified as a Medical Administrative Assistant

The primary certification organization in the United States for medical office assistants is the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and they offer a variety of certification tests you’ll want to explore as you begin your search for employment. As you learn about the different roles and responsibilities of the medical secretary, you may choose to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). The test will ensure you understand the tasks of a medical secretary such as answering calls, maintaining patient records, and preparing operating reports.

The NHA also offers certifications if you’re interested in working with electronic health records or billing & coding. The state of Vermont doesn’t require its medical admin assistants to become certified; however, taking the test may increase your chances of landing an interview. Also, as you gain experience in the workforce, you’ll want to look at continuing education for medical admin assistants to help you remain knowledgeable about new technologies and standards being introduced to the average health care environment.

Medical Administrative Assistant Job Outlook in Vermont

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment data for medical secretaries in Vermont paints a positive picture for the profession’s future. Nationwide, statistics suggest a mean annual wage of $33,530. However, medical admin assistants in Vermont are measured at a higher annual mean wage of $37,610. Job density for medical secretaries was highest in the Burlington area with a lighter density of jobs to the south in the small communities of rural Vermont.

As a medical administrative assistant, you’ll connect patients and doctors by providing clerical support and answers to basic queries. Depending upon the environment in which you work, you may also work with insurance codes and payments, and you may also keep track of patient records and appointments. Often, you’ll be one of the first faces a patient sees when he or she walks into the office for an appointment.

Reach out to the schools offering the medical assisting programs in Vermont the interest you the most to get started.