How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Program near North Providence Rhode Island
Now that you have decided to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near North Providence RI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? A number of prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. You might decide to research several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.
The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their duty is ensure that the North Providence RI clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
- Giving general support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Rhode Island law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain 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 Courses
In contrast to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of North Providence RI health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical component involving an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in North Providence RI area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the right option for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential North Providence RI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and possibly 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 graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, some students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to North Providence RI with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must look at when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the school you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training 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 approved 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 school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential North Providence RI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to select a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially 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 about 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about two years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with North Providence RI area health care providers. They are an excellent way to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the North Providence medical community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Getting that first job may be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the North Providence RI area and ask 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 medical community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller 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 convenient, try to attend a few classes before enrolling in a school to witness what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near North Providence RI, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all clinical training or internships that will be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near North Providence Rhode Island?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the North Providence RI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
North Providence, Rhode Island
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15 km2), of which, 5.7 square miles (15 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (2.07%) is water.
North Providence is bordered by Providence to the south, Johnston to the west, Smithfield and Lincoln to the north, and Pawtucket to the east. Has a total of 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and a highschool.
Settled shortly after Roger Williams arrived in 1636, North Providence was incorporated as a town in 1765. It originally included parts of what are today the cities of Providence and Pawtucket. Early colonial settlers built stone-ender houses such as the Joseph Smith House (1705), which is now listed the National Register of Historic Places. In 1874 the eastern part of North Providence became Pawtucket, resulting a large population drop.[3]
Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant School North Providence RI
It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on 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 Medical Assistant Info. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in North Providence RI.
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