How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near Pembroke Virginia
Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pembroke VA, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? Most potential students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues also. You may choose to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. 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 prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.
The Role of a Medical Assistant
The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their job is to make sure that the Pembroke VA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Providing basic support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Virginia law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Courses
Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Pembroke VA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 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 often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are an excellent option for students who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Pembroke VA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the right option for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Some potential Pembroke VA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Pembroke VA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to explore when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Pembroke VA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain 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 obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are considering offer the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Pembroke VA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students develop relationships within the Pembroke healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Service Offered? Getting that first job can be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Pembroke VA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a college to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full time, it’s imperative that the college you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Pembroke VA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Pembroke Virginia?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Pembroke VA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Pembroke, Virginia
Pembroke ( /ˈpɪmbrʊk/ PIM-bruuk) is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,128 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,134 people, 491 households, and 317 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,027.6 people per square mile (398.0/km²). There were 520 housing units at an average density of 471.2 per square mile (182.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.59% White, 6.79% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 491 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.
Choose the Right Medical Assistant Course Pembroke VA
It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many 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, make sure that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Short Medical Assistant Programs. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can 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 Pembroke VA.
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