How to Select a Medical Assistant School Program near Selinsgrove Pennsylvania
Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Selinsgrove PA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? Many prospective students start by evaluating 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 critical issues also. You may want to look into 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 complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.
The Function of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their role is ensure that the Selinsgrove PA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential 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 specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Giving basic support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants can perform almost any task they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and obtain 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 Courses
Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Selinsgrove PA health care employers choose 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 fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about a year to finish, some 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 option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as trade and vocational 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 requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Classes
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good choice for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be lessened also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be carried out in Selinsgrove PA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Selinsgrove PA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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 take the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you must choose which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Selinsgrove PA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must look at when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies 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 organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Selinsgrove PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the 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 colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower 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 select 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 choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, confirm that the schools you are considering offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Selinsgrove PA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Selinsgrove healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Finding that first job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Selinsgrove PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal attention you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the school you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Selinsgrove PA, verify that those times are offered. 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 might be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Selinsgrove Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Selinsgrove PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove is geographically located in the middle of the Susquehanna River Valley in Central Pennsylvania, along U.S. Routes 11 and 15, 36.4 miles (58.6 km) north of Harrisburg and 5.7 miles (9.2 km) southwest of Sunbury. It is the home of Susquehanna University.
The Penns Creek Massacre on October 16, 1755, was the first Indian hostility event in the region after General Braddock's defeat in the Seven Year War.[6] A marker on the bank of Penns Creek north of Selinsgrove commemorates the massacre of 14 settlers and the capture of 11 more. In response to this and other Indian actions that day, Fort Augusta, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, the largest of Pennsylvania's frontier forts, was built in 1756 as a result of this conflict.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2). Selinsgrove borders the Susquehanna River. The portion of the borough that is located between Penns Creek and the Susquehanna River is known locally as the "Isle of Que" (pronounced queue).
Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Course Selinsgrove PA
It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re planning 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 decision. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in How Long Are Medical Assistant Courses. But irrespective of the kind 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Selinsgrove PA.
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