WILLMAR -- The Ridgewater College Medical Assistant diploma program has been granted continuing accreditation by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The Medical Assistant Program, located on Ridgewater's Willmar campus, has been accredited since 1980 and serves about 60 students each year.
The commission's board of directors and the Medical Assisting Education Review Board recognized that the program was in compliance with all nationally established accreditation standards after conducting a peer review in April 2011.
The continuing accreditation is effective for 10 years, with the next review to take place no later than 2021.
"Accreditation is important to our students because to be eligible to take the national certification test, students must have graduated from an accredited institution," said Medical Assistant Department Chair Julene Bredeson. "More and more employers are seeking certified medical assistants to fill their open positions."
Accreditation standards are established by the commission, the American Association of Medical Assistants and the American Medical Association.
