How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School near South Mountain Pennsylvania

Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near South Mountain PA, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Most future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes 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 want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to help you with that task, 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 Duties of Medical Assistants

The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their duty is ensure that the South Mountain PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

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

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices offered 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 Programs

In contrast to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of South Mountain PA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good alternative for students who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced also. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in South Mountain PA area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your education may be the right option for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential South Mountain PA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. 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 apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which type of credential you would like to attain, 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 procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to South Mountain PA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you need to explore when researching programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make sure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction 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 accepted agencies 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. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential South Mountain PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, verify that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with South Mountain PA area health care providers. They are a great method to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students establish relationships within the South Mountain health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Finding that initial job can be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the South Mountain PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near South Mountain PA, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all clinical training or internships that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near South Mountain Pennsylvania?

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

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Course South Mountain PA

It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges 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 decide on is accredited by an acknowledged 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 Medical Assistant Certification Online Schools. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in South Mountain PA.

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