Medical Assistant Career Bent Mountain VA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Program near Bent Mountain Virginia

Bent Mountain VA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bent Mountain VA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Many prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You might choose to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have included a few questions that you should ask each 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 type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Bent Mountain VA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their job is to make sure that the Bent Mountain VA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving general support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Virginia law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Bent Mountain VA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed 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 two year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Bent Mountain VA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent option for those who may 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 to work full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many 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. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be performed in Bent Mountain VA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting a job after graduation, but it may also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Bent Mountain VA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, 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, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Bent Mountain VA medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some prospective students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Bent Mountain VA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should examine when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to confirm that the college you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee 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 acknowledged 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 program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Bent Mountain VA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to enroll in 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. Doing this is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to obtaining 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, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, verify that the colleges you are looking at offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Bent Mountain VA area healthcare providers. They are a great way to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students build relationships within the Bent Mountain healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Landing that initial job can be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Bent Mountain VA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Bent Mountain VA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still have to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bent Mountain Virginia?

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

Bent Mountain, Virginia

Bent Mountain is an unincorporated community in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. Bent Mountain is located on U.S. Route 221 13.6 miles (21.9 km) southwest of Roanoke. Bent Mountain has a post office with ZIP code 24059.[2][3]

The community of Bent Mountain sits, as the name implies, on top of the large and fertile Bent Mountain Plateau. It is located in the extreme Southwest corner of Roanoke County and is in close proximity to neighboring Floyd, Franklin, and Montgomery counties. The geographic borders of the mountain are also partially located in Floyd County, which has inspired the annual "Bent Mountain Brawl" Benefit Game between the Cave Spring Knights and the Floyd County Buffaloes.

The roads through Bent Mountain are also historic. "The Salem and Bent Mountain Turnpike Company was charted in 1840 to build a road from Salem, Virginia across Twelve O'clock Knob to Back Creek and thence to the top of Bent Mountain. The road was long delayed in construction, but the route planned was eventually used, and the road is now a hard surfaced state highway." Part of this road followed the famous Trader's Path.[5]

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Bent Mountain VA

Bent Mountain VA medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Career. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend 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 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 Bent Mountain VA.