How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training School near Orland Maine
Once you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Orland ME, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Most prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest 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 might choose to research several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.
The Duties of Medical Assistants
The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their role is ensure that the Orland ME hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities 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 facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
- Supplying general support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Maine law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options 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 Courses
Compared to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Orland ME health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two choices provided for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about one year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are a good choice 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 option for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Orland ME area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the ideal option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for graduates who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some potential Orland ME medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which type of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. Once 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 Orland ME with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to make certain that the school 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. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 one of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Orland ME employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must learn which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.
Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, verify that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Orland ME area healthcare providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students build relationships within the Orland medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Service Provided? Landing that very first job can be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Orland ME area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the school you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Orland ME, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Orland Maine?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Orland ME area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Orland, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.87 square miles (136.93 km2), of which 47.04 square miles (121.83 km2) is land and 5.83 square miles (15.10 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,225 people, 976 households, and 627 families residing in the town. The population density was 47.3 inhabitants per square mile (18.3/km2). There were 1,470 housing units at an average density of 31.3 per square mile (12.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.3% White, 0.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.
There were 976 households of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.8% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.70.
Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Training Orland ME
It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Trade School. But regardless of the type 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 provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Orland ME.
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