How to Select a Medical Assistant School Program near Ellicott City Maryland

Once you have decided to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Ellicott City MD, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? Many potential students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues also. You may want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have included a few questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is to make sure that the Ellicott City MD clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
• Scheduling and confirming appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
• Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
• Providing general support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Maryland law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Programs

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Ellicott City MD health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about 1 year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good option for individuals who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue working full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized also. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be completed in Ellicott City MD area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your education might be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Ellicott City MD medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Ellicott City MD with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must examine when researching programs. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to ensure that the program you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Ellicott City MD employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Ellicott City MD area healthcare providers. They are a great method to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Ellicott City medical community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Getting that first job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Ellicott City MD area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a program to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the program you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Ellicott City MD, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any clinical training or internships that might be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Ellicott City Maryland?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Ellicott City MD area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Ellicott City MD

It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Accredited Schools For Medical Assistant. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Ellicott City MD.

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