How to Pick a Medical Assistant School near Cloverdale Virginia
Now that you have made a decision to join the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Cloverdale VA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Most future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You might choose to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have included some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.
The Job of Medical Assistants
The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their job is to make sure that the Cloverdale VA clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work run successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Giving basic support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Virginia law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training
Unlike most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Cloverdale VA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent choice for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be reduced also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be carried out in Cloverdale VA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your education may be the best choice for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for graduates who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting a position after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Cloverdale VA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Cloverdale VA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to explore when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to make sure that the program you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in 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 either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Cloverdale VA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to choose a program targeting that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is 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 avoid.
Which Programs are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are looking at provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Cloverdale VA area health care providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Cloverdale health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Getting that initial job can be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Cloverdale VA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the college you enroll in offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Cloverdale VA, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Cloverdale Virginia?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Cloverdale VA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Cloverdale, Virginia
Cloverdale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,119 at the 2010 census, which was an increase from the 2,986 reported in 2000. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Cloverdale is the birthplace of Charles Follis, who became the first African-American to play professional football when he signed with the Shelby Blues of Shelby, Ohio in 1902 (note that he was first paid for playing in 1904).
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,986 people, 1,158 households, and 858 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 956.2 people per square mile (369.5/km²). There were 1,204 housing units at an average density of 385.6/sq mi (149.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.01% White, 2.21% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.80% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
Choose the Right Medical Assistant College Cloverdale VA
It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re goal is to launch 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 information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, 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 Major. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Cloverdale VA.
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