How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near Clarion Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to become a part of the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Clarion PA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? Most future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors also. You might want to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have provided some questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short 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
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Clarion PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the options 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
Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Clarion PA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about one year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Programs
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good choice for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. But bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Clarion PA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training may be the right choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining employment after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Clarion PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. Once those selections have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Clarion PA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make certain that the program you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Clarion PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and get 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 choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are looking at provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Clarion PA area medical providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students establish relationships within the Clarion health care community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Landing that first job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Clarion PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Clarion PA, 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 any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol 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 Clarion Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Clarion PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Clarion, Pennsylvania
Clarion is a borough in and the county seat of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States.[3] It is located 77 miles (124 km) north-northeast of Pittsburgh and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Clarion was settled in 1839 and incorporated in 1841. In the past, the surrounding area produced natural gas, oil, lumber and coal. The population was 2,004 in 1900, 2,864 in 1910, and 5,276 at the 2010 census.[4] It is home to the annual Autumn Leaf Festival and Clarion University of Pennsylvania. The county courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Clarion is located slightly northeast of the center of Clarion County at 41°12′42″N 79°23′2″W / 41.21167°N 79.38389°W / 41.21167; -79.38389 (41.211791, -79.384005),[5] in the Allegheny Plateau region of western Pennsylvania. The main part of the borough sits at an elevation of 1,400 to 1,500 feet (430 to 460 m) above sea level, overlooking the 400-foot-deep (120 m) valley of the Clarion River, a tributary of the Allegheny River.
U.S. Route 322 passes through the borough as Main Street, leading northwest 28 miles (45 km) to Franklin and southeast 16 miles (26 km) to Brookville. Pennsylvania Route 68 (Fifth Avenue) leads south from the center of Clarion, 2 miles (3 km) to Exit 62 of Interstate 80 and 11 miles (18 km) to Sligo.
Pick the Best Medical Assistant Program Clarion PA
It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, for example 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 How Long Are Medical Assistant Programs. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided 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 choosing the right program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Clarion PA.
More Medical Locations in Pennsylvania
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 