Colleges That Offer Medical Assistant Degrees Gloucester VA

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Gloucester Virginia

Gloucester VA medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Gloucester VA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? A number of 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, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You may decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided several 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 offered.

The Duties of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Gloucester VA nursing home patientThe job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Gloucester VA hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
  • Giving basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Virginia law, some elect 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 Courses

Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Gloucester VA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs offered at junior and community colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Gloucester VAThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good option for individuals 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 solution for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. But keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be performed in Gloucester VA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for individuals who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a position after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Gloucester VA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Gloucester VA medical assistant programsPrior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Gloucester VA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you must examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the program you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must complete 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 eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Gloucester VA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course programs with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Gloucester VA area medical providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Gloucester medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Landing that very first job may be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Gloucester VA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal attention 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 instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a few classes before choosing a school to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s important that the program you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Gloucester VA, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Gloucester Virginia?

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

Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia

The Gloucester County Courthouse Square Historic District, Gloucester Downtown Historic District, Abingdon Glebe House, Airville, Burgh Westra, Cappahosic House, Gloucester Point Archaeological District, Gloucester Women's Club, Hockley, Little England, Roaring Spring, Rosewell, Toddsbury, T.C. Walker House, Ware Parish Church, and Warner Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4][5][6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 2,951 people[8], 857 households, and 561 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 324.7 people per square mile (125.3/km²). There were 907 housing units at an average density of 129.8/sq mi (50.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.78% White, 10.67% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.48% from other races,1.00% of households had 7 people., and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Gloucester VA

Gloucester VA medical assistant studentIt’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re planning to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges 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, confirm that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Colleges That Offer Medical Assistant Degrees. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Gloucester VA.

More Medical Locations in Virginia

  • Medical Assistant Education Lebanon VA
  • Pediatric Medical Assistant Afton VA
  • Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Online Ashburn VA
  • Medical Assistant To Medical School Sussex VA
  • 3 Month Medical Assistant Program Fieldale VA
  • Medical Assistant Associate Degree Williamsburg VA
  • Medical Assistant Training Online Bland VA
  • Good Medical Assistant Schools Falls Church VA
  • How Long Is Medical Assistant Training Isle of Wight VA
  • How Long Are Medical Assistant Courses Montross VA
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 21

    Commonwealth Senior Living at Gloucester
    3 Reviews
    Assisted Living Facilities, Retirement Homes
    Phone:
    7657 Meredith Dr, Gloucester, VA 23061

    M.D. Express Urgent Care
    17 Reviews
    Urgent Care
    Phone:
    120 Monticello Ave, Williamsburg, VA 23185

    Oyster Point Family Practice
    3 Reviews
    Family Practice
    Phone:
    704 Thimble Shoals Blvd, Ste 700, Newport News, VA 23606

    Peninsula Women's Care
    4 Reviews
    Obstetricians & Gynecologists
    Phone:
    11842 Rock Landing Dr, Ste 115, Newport News, VA 23606

    Velocity Urgent Care
    4 Reviews
    Urgent Care
    Phone:
    4374 New Town Ave, Ste 100, Williamsburg, VA 23188

    Hampton Family Practice
    5 Reviews
    Family Practice
    Phone:
    9 Manhattan Sq, # A, Hampton, VA 23666

    Coyle Cheri L MD
    2 Reviews
    Obstetricians & Gynecologists
    Phone:
    12706 McManus Blvd, Newport News, VA 23602

    Riverside Pain & Infusion Center
    2 Reviews
    Phone:
    12420 Warwick Blvd, Ste 3C, Newport News, VA 23606

    Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services
    2 Reviews
    Home Health Care, Assisted Living Facilities, Personal Care Services
    Phone:
    704 Thimble Shoals Blvd, Bldg 600, Ste B, Newport News, VA 23606

    Patient First - Denbigh
    21 Reviews
    Urgent Care
    Phone:
    611 Denbigh Blvd, Newport News, VA 23608