How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Warren New Hampshire
Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Warren NH, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Many prospective students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You might choose to research some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you should ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Job of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their function is ensure that the Warren NH hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
Although medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under New Hampshire law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training Programs
Compared to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Warren NH health care employers choose 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 acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about one year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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.
Online Medical Assistant Programs
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good alternative for individuals who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Warren NH area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education may be the right choice for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Warren NH medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. After those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Warren NH with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the program you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Warren NH employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Warren NH area medical providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Warren health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Finding that first job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Warren NH area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the college you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Warren NH, make certain that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that will 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 Warren New Hampshire?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Warren NH area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Warren, New Hampshire
Warren was granted in 1763 by Governor Benning Wentworth, and incorporated in 1770 by Governor John Wentworth. The town takes its name from Admiral Sir Peter Warren. It was first settled in 1767 by Joseph Patch.[2]
From 1909 until 1970, Glencliff, located in the northern part of Warren, was the mailing address for the New Hampshire State Sanatorium, located just over the town line in Benton, at an elevation of 1,650 feet (500 m) on the slopes of Mount Moosilauke. Before the discovery of antibiotics, pure mountain air was thought to be curative for patients with tuberculosis. With its own farm on 500 acres (200 ha), the facility would treat more than 4,000 individuals over its first half century, admitting between 50 and 100 per year. Many came from the industrial cities of southern New Hampshire such as Concord, Manchester and Nashua. It is now the Glencliff Home.[3]
The town's most famous landmark is a Redstone ballistic missile erected in the center of the village green. It was donated by Henry T. Asselin, who transported the missile from the Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama, in 1971, then placed in honor of long-time Senator Norris Cotton, a Warren native.[4]
Pick the Best Medical Assistant School Warren NH
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training these days that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Duties. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Warren NH.
More Medical Locations in New Hampshire
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 