Medical Assistant Credentials Stanhope NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Stanhope New Jersey

Stanhope NJ medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Stanhope NJ, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Most potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors also. You may want to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have included several questions that you should ask each 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 type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Stanhope NJ nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their function is to make sure that the Stanhope NJ clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many responsibilities 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 rooms and instruments for doctors
Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

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

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Stanhope NJ health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few 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 option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. 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.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Stanhope NJ There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good choice for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be minimized as well. But bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in Stanhope NJ area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the right choice for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for those who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting employment after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Stanhope NJ medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. 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 sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Stanhope NJ medical assistant programs Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which kind of credential you would like 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 start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Stanhope NJ with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to look at when researching schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several great reasons to ensure that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must complete 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Stanhope NJ employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must learn 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 want to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Stanhope NJ area healthcare providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Stanhope medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing that very first job may be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Stanhope NJ area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much personal attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s important that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Stanhope NJ, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Stanhope New Jersey?

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

Stanhope, New Jersey

Stanhope is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,610,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 26 (+0.7%) from the 3,584 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 191 (+5.6%) from the 3,393 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Stanhope borough had a total area of 2.188 square miles (5.667 km2), including 1.836 square miles (4.755 km2) of land and 0.352 square miles (0.912 km2) of water (16.1%).[1][2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,610 people, 1,396 households, and 957.7 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,966.3 per square mile (759.2/km2). There were 1,472 housing units at an average density of 801.8 per square mile (309.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.36% (3,298) White, 1.58% (57) Black or African American, 0.08% (3) Native American, 2.33% (84) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.63% (95) from other races, and 2.02% (73) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.50% (307) of the population.[9]

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Program Stanhope NJ

Stanhope NJ medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re planning to begin 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 right information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Credentials. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Stanhope NJ.