Become A Certified Medical Assistant Stratford NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near Stratford New Jersey

Stratford NJ medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Stratford NJ, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? A number of prospective students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You may choose to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Stratford NJ nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their job is ensure that the Stratford NJ hospitals, clinics and other medical care 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 facilities both. They are responsible for 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. Some of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Providing basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are authorized to under New Jersey law, some prefer to specialize in a particular 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 Courses

In contrast to many other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Stratford NJ health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare 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.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Stratford NJ There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized as well. Just remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be carried out in Stratford NJ area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education may be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining employment after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Stratford NJ medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Stratford NJ medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Stratford NJ with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must examine when assessing programs. To help you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make certain that the school you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to 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 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 assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Stratford NJ employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the program’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. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, verify that the schools you are looking at provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Stratford NJ area healthcare providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students build relationships within the Stratford medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Landing that very first job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Stratford NJ area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the school you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Stratford NJ, make sure that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also need to schedule any clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Stratford New Jersey?

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

Stratford, New Jersey

Stratford is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 7,040,[7][8][9] reflecting a decline of 231 (-3.2%) from the 7,271 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 343 (-4.5%) from the 7,614 counted in the 1990 Census.[18] The Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Stratford.

The Borough of Stratford was created on February 13, 1925, from Clementon Township, one of seven municipalities created from the now-defunct township.[19] The borough was named for Stratford-upon-Avon, England, by the owners of the Rural Land Improvement Company that developed the area in the 1880s.[20][21]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,040 people, 2,641 households, and 1,822 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,547.0 per square mile (1,755.6/km2). There were 2,761 housing units at an average density of 1,783.3 per square mile (688.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.37% (5,799) White, 8.24% (580) Black or African American, 0.18% (13) Native American, 4.22% (297) Asian, 0.07% (5) Pacific Islander, 2.77% (195) from other races, and 2.14% (151) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.49% (457) of the population.[7]

Select the Right Medical Assistant Program Stratford NJ

Stratford NJ medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Become A Certified Medical Assistant. But regardless 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 provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Stratford NJ.