How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Huntington Mills Pennsylvania
Now that you have decided to become a part of the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Huntington Mills PA, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the best one? Many future students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. 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 prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished several questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.
The Job of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Huntington Mills PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical 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 working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and filing claims
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are authorized to under Pennsylvania 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) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Huntington Mills PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about one year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Programs
There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Huntington Mills PA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your training may be the right option for you. With the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary 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 a good option for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Huntington Mills PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided 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 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Huntington Mills PA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should explore when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the program you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in 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 program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Huntington Mills PA employers will not hire 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 design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes 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 closer to one year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the schools you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Huntington Mills PA area medical care providers. They are an excellent way to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the Huntington Mills health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Getting that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Huntington Mills PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program 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 wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal attention you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a couple of classes before choosing a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s important that the program you enroll in offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Huntington Mills PA, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any clinical training or internships that may be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Huntington Mills Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Huntington Mills PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Huntington Mills, Pennsylvania
Huntington Mills is located in the center of Huntington Township. The village is very small. The "center" of town is marked by a local mom-and-pop general store, the post office (built on the foundations of one of the old mills), an elementary school, doctor's office, Christmas tree farm, and the volunteer fire company. The town is bisected by one major road, PA 239, and two creeks (Kitchen Creek and Huntington Creek).
Farming is a major way of life in and around Huntington Mills. The milk farms, which proliferated only twenty years ago, are in considerable decline. Farmers have begun to prefer growing hay, tomatoes, and feed-corn. There are half a dozen Christmas tree farms within the township.
Pick the Right Medical Assistant College Huntington Mills PA
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Best Medical Assistant Programs. 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 in order to 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 Huntington Mills PA.
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