Medical Assistant Degree Programs New Rochelle NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near New Rochelle New York

New Rochelle NY medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near New Rochelle NY, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Most future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You may decide to look into several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have provided a few questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with New Rochelle NY nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their job is ensure that the New Rochelle NY clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under New York law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices available 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 Education

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of New Rochelle NY health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire 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 prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in New Rochelle NY There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are an excellent choice for those who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened as well. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in New Rochelle NY area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for those who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible New Rochelle NY medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably 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 exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask New Rochelle NY medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to New Rochelle NY with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should examine when evaluating programs. To help you with that process, 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 College Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential New Rochelle NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Second, 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 evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in 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 one year. Or you can decide to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately two years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with New Rochelle NY area healthcare providers. They are a great way to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students develop relationships within the New Rochelle medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding that very first job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the New Rochelle NY area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a school to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near New Rochelle NY, make sure that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near New Rochelle New York?

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

New Rochelle, New York

In 2007, the city had a population of 73,260, making it the seventh-largest in the state of New York.[4] As of the 2010 Census, the city's population had increased to 77,062. In November 2008 Business Week magazine listed New Rochelle as the best city in New York State, and one of the best places nationally, to raise children.[5] In 2014, based on analysis of 550 U.S. cities, New Rochelle was voted the 13th best city to live in.[6]

The European settlement was started by refugee Huguenots (French Protestants) in 1688, who were fleeing religious persecution in France (such as dragonnade) after the revocation by the king of the Edict of Nantes. Many of the settlers were artisans and craftsmen from the city of La Rochelle, France, thus influencing the choice of the name of "New Rochelle".

Some 33 families established the community of la Nouvelle-Rochelle in 1688. A monument containing the names of these settlers stands in Hudson Park, the original landing point of the Huguenots.[7] Thirty-one years earlier, the Siwanoy Indians, a band of Algonquian-speaking Lenape (also known as the Delaware by English colonists) sold their land to Thomas Pell. In 1689 Pell officially deeded 6,100 acres (25 km2) for the establishment of a Huguenot community.[8] Jacob Leisler is an important figure in the early histories of both New Rochelle and the nation. He arrived in America as a mercenary in the British army and later became one of the most prominent merchants in New York. He was subsequently appointed acting-governor of the province, and it was during this time that he acted on behalf of the Huguenots.[9]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant College New Rochelle NY

New Rochelle NY medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is 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 obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Degree Programs. But irrespective of the type 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 so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in New Rochelle NY.