Medical Assistant Colleges Near Me Mount Vernon VA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near Mount Vernon Virginia

Mount Vernon VA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Mount Vernon VA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? A number of future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You might decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have furnished several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Mount Vernon VA nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Mount Vernon VA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers 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 practices both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

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

While medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Virginia law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the choices 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 Training

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Mount Vernon 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 basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, some 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 alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at junior and community colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Mount Vernon VA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good alternative for individuals who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue working full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in Mount Vernon VA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your education may be the right option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Mount Vernon VA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Mount Vernon VA medical assistant programs Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Mount Vernon VA with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to explore when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete 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 organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Mount Vernon VA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn 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 evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Mount Vernon VA area medical care providers. They are an excellent way to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Mount Vernon healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting that initial job can be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Mount Vernon VA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and one-on-one 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 just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s important that the college you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Mount Vernon VA, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that will be required. Additionally, ask what the policy 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 Mount Vernon Virginia?

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

Mount Vernon, Virginia

Mount Vernon is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 12,416 at the 2010 census.[1] Primarily due to its historical significance and natural recreation and beauty, the Mount Vernon area receives over one million touring visitors each year.

While the name "Mount Vernon"—drawn from the Mount Vernon Estate, the home of George Washington located south of Alexandria—is often used locally to refer to the entire unincorporated area between Old Town Alexandria and Fort Belvoir, Mount Vernon as defined by the Census Bureau encompasses only the portion bounded by the Potomac River to the south, Fort Belvoir to the west, U.S. Route 1 to the north, and Little Hunting Creek to the east.[2]

The Mount Vernon area is all land which was once a part of the farms of George and Martha Washington's expansive Mount Vernon Estate. Much of the land was gradually donated through the dying wishes of George and Martha Washington to the public and others who are affiliated with the Washington family. The Neighboring/incorporated Woodlawn Plantation and area which was given to Washington's grand-daughter, Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis. The Gum Springs portion was established by slaves and blacks which were generally escaped or freed slaves from the Mount Vernon Estate and area.

Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Mount Vernon VA

Mount Vernon VA medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. 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 discussed in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example 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 Colleges Near Me. 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 choosing the right program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Mount Vernon VA.