Medical Assistant Certification Online Schools Kenyon RI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School near Kenyon Rhode Island

Kenyon RI medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to join the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Kenyon RI, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? Most future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You may decide to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Job of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Kenyon RI nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their duty is ensure that the Kenyon RI hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. 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 tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health 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:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Giving general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Rhode Island law, some choose 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

Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Kenyon RI health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two options available for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about a year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed 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 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently 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 four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Kenyon RI There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue working full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. But keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Kenyon RI area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training may be the best option for you. With 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 earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a position after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Kenyon RI medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Kenyon RI medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. After those choices have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Kenyon RI with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must explore when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several good reasons to confirm that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Kenyon RI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, 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. Of course programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Kenyon RI area medical care providers. They are a great way to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students develop relationships within the Kenyon health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Finding that very first job may be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Kenyon RI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can 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 likely to furnish increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Kenyon RI, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Kenyon Rhode Island?

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

Samuel Clarke Farm

The Samuel Clarke House, dating to c.1691, is one of the earliest surviving structures in the State of Rhode Island. It is the central building of the Samuel Clarke Farm, a 40-acre parcel in Kenyon, Rhode Island, within the Town of Richmond. The farm is bordered to the west by the Beaver River. This property was originally part of a larger parcel (one mile wide and five miles long) that was sold in 1662 by the Niantic Sachem Wanumachon. This historic land transaction is known as the Stanton Purchase. ]]

Joseph Clarke (1642-1727) purchased approximately 200 acres of the Stanton Purchase land the following year. By 1691 Joseph Clarke had transferred a parcel to his son, Samuel (1672-1769). Samuel Clarke built the original portion of the farmhouse on this land in about 1691. A large carved granite block in the keeping room fireplace, just below the original beehive bake oven, memorializes this date. The original farmhouse was modified and expanded in the 18th century. The gambrel-roofed house is constructed on the five room plan. Remarkably, the house retains its original exterior wide oak weatherboards - on the north side, early 18th-century window sash and frames, a massive granite central chimney with four fireplaces and nearly all of its original period interior architectural detail.The kitchen addition to the north was added sometime in the late 19th century.

Extant farm buildings include a red-painted 19th-century barn, a corn crib - on its original granite piers, carriage and wood sheds, an outhouse, a stone blacksmith’s shop and forge, a stone root cellar, and a one-room schoolhouse (built in 1812). A well-preserved Clarke Family cemetery is also located on the property.

Pick the Right Medical Assistant College Kenyon RI

Kenyon RI medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important 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 regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Kenyon RI.