Medical Assistant Accreditation Franklin Lakes NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Franklin Lakes New Jersey

Franklin Lakes NJ medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Franklin Lakes NJ, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might decide 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 need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Franklin Lakes NJ nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their duty is ensure that the Franklin Lakes NJ hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under New Jersey law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and attain 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 Courses

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Franklin Lakes NJ 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 generally 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational 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 usually have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Franklin Lakes NJ There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent choice for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full time while earning their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened also. Just remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be completed in Franklin Lakes NJ area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the right choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Franklin Lakes NJ medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably 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 examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Franklin Lakes NJ medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you need to decide which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Franklin Lakes NJ with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should examine when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several good reasons to verify that the college you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Franklin Lakes NJ employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine 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 of course you will need to choose a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Franklin Lakes NJ area medical care providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also help students establish relationships within the Franklin Lakes health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding that very first job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Franklin Lakes NJ area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a college to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s important that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Franklin Lakes NJ, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, 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 Franklin Lakes New Jersey?

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

Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Franklin Lakes is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough's population was 10,590,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 168 (+1.6%) from the 10,422 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 549 (+5.6%) from the 9,873 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] As of the 2000 Census, Franklin Lakes had the 18th-highest per-capita income of all 566 municipalities in the state.[21] Nationwide, Franklin Lakes ranked 17th among the highest-income places in the United States with a population of at least 10,000.[citation needed]Becton Dickinson, a Fortune 500 company, is headquartered in Franklin Lakes.

Franklin Lakes was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1922, from portions of Franklin Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 11, 1922.[22][23][24] The borough was named for William Franklin, the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin, a steadfast Loyalist who served as the last colonial Governor of New Jersey.[25][26]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 9.847 square miles (25.507 km2), including 9.379 square miles (24.292 km2) of land and 0.469 square miles (1.214 km2) of water (4.76%).[1][2]

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant School Franklin Lakes NJ

Franklin Lakes NJ medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Accreditation. But irrespective of the kind 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 ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Franklin Lakes NJ.