How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Alexandria Bay New York
Once you have decided to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Alexandria Bay NY, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate 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 issues also. You might want to research some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting 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 Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their job is to make sure that the Alexandria Bay NY hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential 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 tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Providing general support during examinations and procedures
Even though medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are authorized to under New York law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Alexandria Bay NY health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 options 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 generally take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a practical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Classes
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good choice for those who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened also. But bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be completed in Alexandria Bay NY area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the best choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a position after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Alexandria Bay NY medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. Once those decisions 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 limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Alexandria Bay NY with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must explore when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several great reasons to ensure that the program you choose 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 need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations 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 intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Alexandria Bay NY employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to choose 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. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to acquiring 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, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Alexandria Bay NY area healthcare providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also help students build relationships within the Alexandria Bay medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Finding that first job can be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Alexandria Bay NY 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 signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indicator 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 teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the program you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Alexandria Bay NY, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Alexandria Bay New York?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Alexandria Bay NY area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Alexandria Bay, New York
Alexandria Bay is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States, within the town of Alexandria. It is located in the Thousand Islands region of northern New York. The population of the village was 1,078 at the 2010 United States Census.[2] It lies near the border of Canada and the United States.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.53 square miles (3.95 km2), of which 0.76 square miles (1.98 km2) are land and 0.76 square miles (1.97 km2), or 49.77%, are water.[2] The village is located on the south bank of the Saint Lawrence River near the U.S. and Canada international border. Keewaydin State Park is southwest of the village.
New York State Route 12 and New York State Route 26 intersect at the only stoplight in the village. NY-12 leads northeast (downriver) 36 miles (58 km) to Ogdensburg and southwest 11 miles (18 km) to Clayton. NY-26 has its northern terminus at Alexandria Bay and leads southeast 11 miles (18 km) to Theresa. Interstate 81 intersects NY-12 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Alexandria Bay, leading south 25 miles (40 km) to Watertown and 94 miles (151 km) to Syracuse, and north to the Thousand Islands Bridge into Canada.
Pick the Right Medical Assistant School Alexandria Bay NY
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must get the appropriate info 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 upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Being A Medical Assistant. But regardless 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, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Alexandria Bay NY.
More Medical Locations in New York
Business Results 1 - 10 of 4
3 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
4 Reviews 