Certified Medical Assistant Schools Pomona NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant School Program near Pomona New York

Pomona NY medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pomona NY, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Most future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You may decide to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Pomona NY nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Primarily their function is ensure that the Pomona NY hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Providing basic support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under New York law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options 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 Training Courses

Unlike many other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Pomona NY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a practical component involving an internship with a local medical 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 similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Pomona NY There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue working full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be carried out in Pomona NY area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your education may be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for graduates who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Pomona NY medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. Among 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 sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Pomona NY medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you must decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. After those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Pomona NY with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to look at when evaluating programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to confirm that the program you enroll in is accredited. To start 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 must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 organizations, you will not be eligible 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 finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Pomona NY employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain 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 decide to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take about 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Pomona NY area medical providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the Pomona health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Getting that very first job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Pomona NY area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before enrolling in a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the college you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Pomona NY, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Pomona New York?

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

Pomona, New York

Pomona is a village partly in the town of Ramapo and partly in the town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of New Hempstead, east of Harriman State Park, north of Monsey and west of Mount Ivy. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 3,103, a 13 percent increase from the 2000 figure of 2,726.

The village of Pomona was incorporated February 3, 1967, within the towns of Ramapo and Haverstraw. Actor Burgess Meredith provided the seed money for the incorporation.[2] Pomona was named after the goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards, for the area's many apple orchards.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) of which is in the town of Haverstraw and 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) of which is in the town of Ramapo. All of Pomona's total area is land.

Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Pomona NY

Pomona NY medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized 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 Certified Medical Assistant Schools. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend 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 supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Pomona NY.