Medical Assistant Training Pen Argyl PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Pen Argyl Pennsylvania

Pen Argyl PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pen Argyl PA, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? Many future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest 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 critical factors as well. You might choose to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that task, we have included some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Pen Argyl PA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their role is ensure that the Pen Argyl PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Pen Argyl PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically 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 frequently have a clinical component involving 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.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Pen Argyl PA There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good choice for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Pen Argyl PA area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the best choice for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for those who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Pen Argyl PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected 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 have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Pen Argyl PA medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Pen Argyl PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to explore when assessing programs. To help you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several great reasons to make certain that the program you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become 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 examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Pen Argyl PA 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 create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive 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 get a broader education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make certain that the schools you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Pen Argyl PA area healthcare providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Pen Argyl health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Landing that very first job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Pen Argyl PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s important that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Pen Argyl PA, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Pen Argyl Pennsylvania?

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

Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania

Pen Argyl (/pɛn ɑːrdʒɪl/; Pennsylvania Dutch: Kleiberg) is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 26 miles (42 km) north of Allentown, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is part of Pennsylvania's Slate Belt.[3]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 3,615 people, 1,427 households, and 1,003 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,603.9 people per square mile (1,004.1/km2). There were 1,506 housing units at an average density of 1,084.8 per square mile (418.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.81% White, 0.07% African American, 0.01% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 1,427 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant School Pen Argyl PA

Pen Argyl PA medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the right info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on 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 Training. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be 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 fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Pen Argyl PA.