Medical Assistant Curriculum Eden NC - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Eden North Carolina

Eden NC medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Eden NC, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? A number of potential students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences 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 choose to research a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have included some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Eden NC nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their role is to make sure that the Eden NC clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Providing general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are qualified to under North Carolina law, some choose to specialize in a specific 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

Compared to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Eden NC health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to technical 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 clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. 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.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Eden NC There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent option for students who might not have 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 working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized as well. But remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be carried out in Eden NC area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training may be the ideal choice for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Eden NC medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among 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 apply for the CMA examination, a candidate 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 offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Eden NC medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine 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 beginning of this article, some students confine their searches to the schools that are closest to Eden NC with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you should examine when researching programs. To help you with that task, following are some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to verify that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Eden NC employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose 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 about one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, verify that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Eden NC area health care providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Eden healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that very first job may be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Eden NC area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before selecting a school to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, 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 Eden NC, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Eden North Carolina?

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

Eden, North Carolina

Eden is a city in Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States, in the state's Piedmont region. The population was 15,527 at the 2010 census. From the late nineteenth century through much of the 20th, the city was a center of textile mills and manufacturing. The city was incorporated in 1967 through the consolidation of three towns: Leaksville, Spray, and Draper.

Eden is the largest city in Rockingham County, North Carolina and is a secondary city of the Piedmont Triad, with more than 10,000 population.[4][5] Eden is part of the Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Eden is located at 36°30′23″N 79°44′42″W / 36.50639°N 79.74500°W / 36.50639; -79.74500 (36.506434, -79.745092).[6] The Smith and the Dan River have their confluence on the south side of Eden. The Dan River flows along Eden's southern border while the Smith River flows from the north bisecting the city on its route to meet the Dan River. The city of Greensboro is 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the south, Reidsville is 11 mi (18 km) southeast, and High Point is 50 mi (80 km) southeast via U.S. Route 29. Ridgeway, Virginia is 8 mi (13 km) Northwest of the city.

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant School Eden NC

Eden NC medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Curriculum. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Eden NC.