Medical Assistant Near Me Mount Holly NC - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Mount Holly North Carolina

Mount Holly NC medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to join the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Mount Holly NC, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Many prospective students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues also. You may decide to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Mount Holly NC nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their duty is ensure that the Mount Holly NC clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers 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 support to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under North Carolina law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Programs

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Mount Holly NC health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about a year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Mount Holly NC There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent choice for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be carried out in Mount Holly NC area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your training may be the ideal option for you. With the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Some potential Mount Holly NC medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Mount Holly NC medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Mount Holly NC with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to look at when researching programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several good reasons to verify that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 one of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Mount Holly NC employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Mount Holly NC area healthcare providers. They are a great method to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Mount Holly health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting that first job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Mount Holly NC area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small 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 possible, try to attend a few classes before enrolling in a school to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the program you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Mount Holly NC, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any clinical training or internships that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Mount Holly North Carolina?

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

Mount Holly, North Carolina

Mount Holly is a small suburban city in northeastern Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The city is situated just west of the Catawba River, north of Interstate 85, south of North Carolina State Highway 16, and west of Charlotte. The population was 13,656 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 9,618 at the 2000 census.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (25.9 km2), of which 9.8 square miles (25.4 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km2), or 1.98%, is water.[4]

Land grants were first issued in the Mount Holly area by King George II of Great Britain around 1750. In 1754, a land grant was issued to James Kuykendall of Holland in the locale known as Dutchman's Creek. Later in 1838, a post office in the area was named Woodlawn. In 1875, the name of the town was changed to Mount Holly, after the Mount Holly Cotton Mill that was started that year. The name "Mount Holly" was used in recognition of the famed yarn made at a spinning mill in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Program Mount Holly NC

Mount Holly NC medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Near Me. But regardless of the type 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 picking the best program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Mount Holly NC.