Medical Assistant Degree Programs Epsom NH - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant School near Epsom New Hampshire

Epsom NH medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Epsom NH, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of prospective students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You might want to research several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided a few questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Epsom NH nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Epsom NH clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under New Hampshire law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Courses

Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Epsom NH health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about a year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Epsom NH There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be lessened also. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be completed in Epsom NH area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your training might be the best choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Epsom NH 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) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Epsom NH medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Epsom NH with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to look at when evaluating programs. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several good reasons to make certain that the college you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Epsom NH employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Epsom NH area health care providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Epsom medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that first job can be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Epsom NH area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the program you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Epsom NH, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that may 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 issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Epsom New Hampshire?

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

Epsom, New Hampshire

Incorporated in 1727, Epsom takes its name from Epsom in Surrey, England.[2] Although dotted with several small mountains, the land was suitable for grazing and growing grain. By 1859, when the town's population was 1,366, it had two gristmills and two sawmills.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.4 square miles (89 km2), of which 34.2 sq mi (89 km2) is land and 0.2 sq mi (52 ha) is water, comprising 0.58% of the town. The highest point in Epsom is the summit of Fort Mountain, at 1,413 feet (431 m) above sea level, in the eastern part of town. Other neighboring small mountains in town include McCoy Mountain (1,270 ft or 390 m) and Nats Mountain (1,180 ft or 360 m). The town is drained by the Suncook River. Epsom lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[4]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 4,021 people, 1,491 households, and 1,103 families residing in the town. The population density was 117.7 people per square mile (45.4/km²). There were 1,592 housing units at an average density of 46.6 per square mile (18.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.63% White, 0.10% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Course Epsom NH

Epsom NH medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re planning to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Degree Programs. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend 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 so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Epsom NH.