Medical Assistant Colleges Midland PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Midland Pennsylvania

Midland PA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to enter the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Midland PA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? A number of future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues also. You may choose to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Midland PA nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their role is to make sure that the Midland PA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the choices offered 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 Education

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Midland PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about one year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created 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 usually 2 year programs provided 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 general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Midland PA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good choice for students who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized as well. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be carried out in Midland PA area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the best choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for individuals who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Midland 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 highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Midland PA medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Midland PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should explore when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the program you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in 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 program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Midland PA 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 colleges create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Midland PA area health care providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Midland healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Getting that very first job may be a daunting 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 Midland 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 healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a couple of classes before selecting a college to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s important that the school you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Midland PA, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that will be required. Additionally, find out 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 Midland Pennsylvania?

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

Midland, Pennsylvania

Midland is located in western Beaver County at 40°38′18″N 80°27′9″W / 40.63833°N 80.45250°W / 40.63833; -80.45250 (40.638273, -80.452455).[4] It is bordered to the northwest by Ohioville and to the northeast by Industry. To the southeast, across the Ohio River, is the borough of Shippingport, and Greene Township is to the southwest. Pennsylvania Route 68 (Midland Avenue) is the main street through the community, leading east into Industry and west to Glasgow and the Ohio border. Pennsylvania Route 168 joins PA-68 along Midland Avenue through the center of town, but splits off to the south to cross the Ohio River via the Shippingport Bridge, and climbs out of the river valley to the north via Fairview Road.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), of which 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km2), or 9.13%, is water.[3]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,137 people, 1,424 households, and 817 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,537.1 people per square mile (593.7/km²). There were 1,651 housing units at an average density of 809.0 per square mile (312.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 75.71% White, 20.85% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.89% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.70% of the population.

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant Training Midland PA

Midland PA medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision 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 an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Colleges. 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, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Midland PA.