Medical Assistant Technical School Springtown PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Springtown Pennsylvania

Springtown PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Springtown PA, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You might decide to research several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Springtown PA nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Springtown PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate efficiently. Based 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 responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options 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 Courses

In contrast to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Springtown PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about 1 year to complete, some 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 community and junior colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical component involving 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 related field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Springtown PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good option for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced also. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be completed in Springtown PA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the right choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for individuals who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting a job after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Some possible Springtown PA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. 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 apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Springtown PA medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must choose which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. Once those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, some prospective students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Springtown PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to look at when researching schools. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the college you choose is accredited. To start with, 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 need to complete 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 qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Springtown PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about two years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Springtown PA area health care providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students develop relationships within the Springtown medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing that very first job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Springtown PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a couple of classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the program you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Springtown PA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that will be required. Also, find out what the protocol 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 Springtown Pennsylvania?

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

Pennsylvania Route 212

Pennsylvania Route 212 (PA 212) is a 14.9-mile-long (24.0 km) state highway in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The route runs from PA 313 in Quakertown northeast to PA 611 in Durham Township, just south of the borough of Riegelsville. The route, which is a two-lane undivided road its entire length, passes through rural areas of northern Bucks County, serving Richlandtown and Springtown. PA 212 has a concurrency with PA 412 through the Springtown area.

The westernmost part of PA 212 between Quakertown and Richlandtown was part of the Richland Turnpike or Plank Road Company, a company established in 1854 to build a turnpike connecting present-day PA 313 and PA 412. PA 212 was first designated by 1927 to run from U.S. Route 309 (US 309, now PA 309) and PA 312 (now PA 663) in Quakertown northeast to US 611 (now PA 611) in Riegelsville. The easternmost part of PA 212 was completed by 1940. PA 313 was designated concurrent with PA 212 on Broad Street in Quakertown by the 1970s. By the 1990s, the west end of PA 212 was cut back to its current location, removing the concurrency with PA 313.

PA 212 begins at an intersection with PA 313 in the borough of Quakertown in Bucks County, heading north on two-lane undivided Hellertown Avenue. The road passes through residential areas, curving east and becoming Tohickon Avenue. The route leaves Quakertown for Richland Township and heads northeast, crossing Tohickon Creek and becoming Richlandtown Pike. PA 212 is lined with homes as it passes through rural areas, crossing into the borough of Richlandtown. Here, the name of the road becomes Main Street and runs past more residences. The route turns northeast onto Church Road and heads back into Richland Township, where it heads north into farmland and woodland with some homes. PA 212 curves northeast and winds north into forested areas, entering Springfield Township. Here, the route becomes an unnamed road and turns northeast into agricultural areas with some woods and homes. The road passes through the community of Pleasant Valley as it continues north through more rural areas. PA 212 reaches an intersection with PA 412, at which point that route joins PA 212 in a concurrency.[2][3]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant School Springtown PA

Springtown PA medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Technical School. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Springtown PA.