Medical Assistant Program Cost Uniondale NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Uniondale New York

Uniondale NY medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Uniondale NY, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues as well. You might want to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Uniondale NY nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their duty is to make sure that the Uniondale NY clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many 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 fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are authorized to under New York law, some choose 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) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

In contrast to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Uniondale 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 generally two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn 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 option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a clinical component involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. 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 related field.

Medical Assistant Online Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Uniondale NY There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent option for students who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened also. But bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be completed in Uniondale NY area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the best option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for individuals who wish 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 Uniondale NY medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and perhaps 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, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating 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 offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Uniondale NY medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to decide which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Uniondale NY with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should look at when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to confirm that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to 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 school is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Uniondale NY employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at 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 focused on 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 just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, verify that the schools you are looking at offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Uniondale NY area health care providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also help students develop relationships within the Uniondale healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Finding that initial job can be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Uniondale NY area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Uniondale NY, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Uniondale New York?

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

Uniondale, New York

Uniondale is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP), as well as a suburb in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead. The ZIP Code is 11553. The population was 24,759 at the 2010 United States Census. Uniondale is home to Hofstra University's north campus.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all land. It is a diverse, predominantly African-American hamlet and neighbors the diverse towns of Hempstead, Roosevelt, East Meadow, Garden City, and Freeport.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 23,011 people, 6,026 households, and 4,826 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 8,676.5 per square mile (3,352.7/km²). There were 6,201 housing units at an average density of 2,338.1/sq mi (903.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 26.97% White, 55.53% Black, 0.35% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 9.95% from other races, and 5.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.86% of the population.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant School Uniondale NY

Uniondale NY medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized agency, 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 Medical Assistant Program Cost. 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, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Uniondale NY.