Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Online Saddle Brook NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School near Saddle Brook New Jersey

Saddle Brook NJ medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Saddle Brook NJ, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Many future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You may want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Job of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Saddle Brook NJ nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their job is to make sure that the Saddle Brook NJ hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

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

Even though medical assistants can perform almost any duty 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 Programs

Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Saddle Brook NJ health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs offered at junior and community colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate 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 often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Saddle Brook NJ There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent option for students who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue working full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be completed in Saddle Brook NJ area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the right option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting employment after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Saddle Brook NJ medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Saddle Brook NJ medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Saddle Brook NJ with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must look at when researching programs. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to verify that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, 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 acknowledged 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 one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Saddle Brook NJ employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must find out which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive 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 elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Saddle Brook NJ area health care providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students build relationships within the Saddle Brook medical community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Finding that very first job may be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Saddle Brook NJ area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a couple of classes before selecting a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Saddle Brook NJ, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Saddle Brook New Jersey?

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

Saddle Brook, New Jersey

Saddle Brook is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 13,659,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 504 (+3.8%) from the 13,155 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 141 (-1.1%) from the 13,296 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

Saddle River Township was created on March 20, 1716, consisting of all of the territory in Bergen County west of the Saddle River,[20] making it one of the oldest municipalities in Bergen County, within the area that had been known as New Barbadoes Township, which itself had been set off from Essex County and added to Bergen County in 1710.[20] It was incorporated on February 21, 1798 by the Township Act of 1798 as one of the initial group of 104 townships incorporated in New Jersey.[20] The historic name of the township was from the Saddle River, a tributary of the Passaic River, which in turn was named for a stream and valley in Saddell, Argyll, Scotland.[21][22] It was bounded on the north by Ridgewood, south by Lodi, east by the Saddle River and west by the Passaic River. In 1724, the Township formally seceded from New Barbadoes.[20]

After its formation in 1716, Saddle River Township was split up in 1772 by royal decree, with the northernmost half becoming Franklin Township, named after the last royal governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin. Pompton Township was established in 1797 from parts of both Franklin and Saddle River Townships west of the Ramapo River, leaving sections of both townships disconnected to the west of Pompton Township. West Milford Township was formed from the discontinuous, western sections of both Franklin and Saddle River townships in 1834. Saddle Brook was among the initial group of 104 municipalities formally incorporated under the Township Act of 1798.[20]

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant School Saddle Brook NJ

Saddle Brook NJ medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Online. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Saddle Brook NJ.