Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Rangeley ME 04970

Medical Assistant Course Requirements Rangeley ME

How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Rangeley Maine

Rangeley ME medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have decided to join the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Rangeley ME, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? A number of future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You may choose to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have furnished several questions that you should ask all of the schools 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 training and credentials that are offered.

The Job of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Rangeley ME nursing home patientThe role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is ensure that the Rangeley ME clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and filing claims
  • Scheduling and confirming appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
  • Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Maine law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the options offered 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

Unlike most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Rangeley ME health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest way 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 six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often 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 Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Rangeley METhere are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good choice for those who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue working full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. But bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be completed in Rangeley ME area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the best choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Rangeley ME medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received 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). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Rangeley ME medical assistant programsPrior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Rangeley ME with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should look at when assessing programs. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training 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 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 either of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, 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 Rangeley ME employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest 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 receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Rangeley ME area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Rangeley health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing that very first job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Rangeley ME area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might 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 increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a school to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Rangeley ME, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Rangeley Maine?

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

Rangeley, Maine

Rangeley is a town in Franklin County, Maine, USA. The population was 1,168 at the 2010 census. Rangeley is the center of the Rangeley Lakes Region, a resort area. The town includes the villages of Oquossoc, Haines Landing and South Rangeley.

It is named after an Englishman, Squire James Rangeley, who inherited a 31,000-acre (130 km2) tract bought from Massachusetts in 1796 by his father. He arrived in 1825 to establish an estate based on the English system of landlord and tenants, also giving extensive land to settlers. He built a sawmill, a gristmill, a two-story mansion, and a ten-mile (16 km) road to connect his property with the rest of the world.[4] Rangeley resided here for 15 years, then sold the property and moved to Portland.[5]

Farms produced hay, wheat, oats, barley and potatoes, with cattle grazing the hills. Logging became a principal industry, with booms of logs towed by steamboat across the Rangeley lakes, then guided down rivers in log drives. On March 29, 1855, the town of Rangeley was set off and incorporated from a portion of Rangeley Plantation. By 1870, the population was 313. In 1886, it had twenty dwellings, two hotels, two stores and a post office. Industries included a carriage shop, two blacksmith shops, a boat builder's shop, a sawmill and a shoe shop.[6]

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Rangeley ME

Rangeley ME medical assistant studentIt’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you pick 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 Course Requirements. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Rangeley ME.

More Medical Locations in Maine

  • How To Be A Medical Assistant Burnham ME
  • Certify Medical Assistant Solon ME
  • Certified Medical Assistant Career Islesboro ME
  • Medical Assistant To Rn Minot ME
  • Medical Assistant To Rn Wytopitlock ME
  • Medical Assistant Technical School Sabattus ME
  • Medical Assistant To Medical School Island Falls ME
  • Clinical Medical Assistant Schools Hollis Center ME
  • How Long Does It Take To Be A Medical Assistant Windham ME
  • Medical Assistant Near Me Caribou ME
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 0