Becoming A Medical Assistant Stony Point NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School Program near Stony Point New York

Stony Point NY medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Stony Point NY, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Most prospective students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean 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 might decide to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you should ask all of the schools on your short list. But before we start 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 Duties of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Stony Point NY nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Stony Point NY hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under New York law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Education

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Stony Point NY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about a year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at junior and community colleges together with trade 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 classes. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Stony Point NY There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good option for students who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized also. But keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be performed in Stony Point NY area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training may be the best choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Stony Point NY medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Stony Point NY medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. After those choices have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Stony Point NY with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must look at when researching schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to make certain that the program you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies 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 either of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Stony Point NY employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths 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 about 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Stony Point NY area medical providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Stony Point health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that very first job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Stony Point NY area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before selecting a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s imperative that the school you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Stony Point NY, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still need to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Stony Point New York?

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

Stony Point, New York

Stony Point is a triangle-shaped town in Rockland County, New York, United States. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. The town is located north of the town of Haverstraw, east and south of Orange County, New York, and west of the Hudson River and Westchester County. The population was 15,059 at the 2010 census.[3] The name of the town is derived from a prominent projection into the Hudson River.

The town is in the northeast part of the county. U.S. Route 9W, U.S. Route 202, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway are major north-south routes through the town. Stony Point is included in the North Rockland Central School District. It is the most rural out of the 5 towns in Rockland County.

During the American Revolution, the King's Ferry in Stony Point linked New York and the southern colonies with New England; it was used many times by George Washington's Continental Army, and in 1781 Washington's French allies used it on their way to the Battle of Yorktown.

Choose the Best Medical Assistant Course Stony Point NY

Stony Point NY medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering 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, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Becoming 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 supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Stony Point NY.