April 23, 2017, marks the 25th anniversary of Southeastern Technical Institute’s adult Medical Assisting Program first being accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). “Knowing that our program has consistently met or exceeded the standards set for by CAAHEP, and that I and my team of teachers have had a part in maintaining these high standards, provides a feeling of pride as well as the determination to continue this tradition,” said Susan Beer, Program Director. The program first began at STI in 1968.
Mrs. Beer’s predecessor, Faith Ward, was the Medical Assisting Program Director at STI for eighteen years, before retiring in 2003. Under Mrs. Ward’s leadership, CAAHEP accreditation was initially obtained and the program has maintained it ever since.
According to CAAHEP’s Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Medical Assisting; CAAHEP, the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the American Medical Association cooperate to establish, maintain and promote appropriate standards of quality for education programs in medical assisting and to provide recognition for educational programs that meet or exceed the minimum standards outlined. Lists of accredited programs are published for the information of students, employers, educational institutions and agencies, and the public. STI is proud to be accredited by CAAHEP as well as its own long-standing tradition of training outstanding medical assistants.
“Currently, I am the only CMA at the office I work for, which was my extern site when I was in school. The company is requiring that all their medical assistants become certified. A lot of my coworkers are stressing over this!” Whitney B. of Brockton, Class of 2014. In an industry headed towards requiring all medical assistants be certified, STI’s graduates are one step ahead because they graduate from an accredited school. Graduating from an accredited school is one of the requirements in order to sit for the national certification exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant.
Click here to learn more about STI’s Medical Assisting Program, or join us for Open House on Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.