How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Stafford New York
Now that you have made a decision to join the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Stafford NY, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? A number of future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You may decide to research several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished some questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.
The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their function is to make sure that the Stafford NY hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work run successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Supplying general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are qualified to under New York law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Courses
Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Stafford NY health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational 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 often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are routinely 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 Courses
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are an excellent option for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be completed in Stafford NY area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the ideal option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Stafford NY medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which type of credential you would like to earn, 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 comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Stafford NY with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when researching schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in 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 school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Stafford NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to enroll in a program focused 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 one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Stafford NY area medical providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students build relationships within the Stafford medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that first job can be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Stafford NY area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a program to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Stafford NY, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, find out 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 Stafford New York?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Stafford NY area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Stafford, New York
The town was first settled in 1798, one of the first of the towns in the Holland Purchase to be occupied. Stafford was formed in 1820 from parts of the towns of Batavia and Le Roy. Part of Stafford was taken to form the town of Pavilion in 1842. The historic core at the hamlet of Stafford was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Stafford Village Four Corners Historic District in 1985.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.2 square miles (81 km2), of which 31.1 square miles (81 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.35%, is water.
The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) runs through the northern part of the town. The southern terminus of New York State Route 237 is at New York State Route 5 in Stafford. New York State Route 33 crosses the northern part of the town, intersecting NY-237 north of the Thruway.
Choose the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Stafford NY
It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training Near Me. But regardless of the kind 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 supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Stafford NY.
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