Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Schools Frankfort ME 04438

Medical Assistant Student Frankfort ME

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training Program near Frankfort Maine

Frankfort ME medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have decided to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Frankfort ME, it’s time to select a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? A number of future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You may decide to research several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Frankfort ME nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their duty is ensure that the Frankfort ME clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing 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 potential duties of a medical assistant include:

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

Although medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Maine law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and earn 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 Programs

Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Frankfort ME health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. 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.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Frankfort METhere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent choice for individuals who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be lessened as well. But bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be completed in Frankfort ME area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education might be the right choice for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Frankfort ME medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Frankfort ME medical assistant programsBefore you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Frankfort ME with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you should explore when assessing schools. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Frankfort ME employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to select a program focused on that certification. Second, find out 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 evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Frankfort ME area health care providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Frankfort healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Getting that first job may be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Frankfort ME area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the school you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Frankfort ME, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, find out what the protocol 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 Frankfort Maine?

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

Frankfort, Maine

Frankfort is the oldest town on the Penobscot River, first settled in the 1760s by Massachusetts soldiers from nearby Fort Pownall. With the end of the French and Indian War, the Penobscot Valley became part of New England, and more specifically Massachusetts, leading to the first cautious encroachments by English-speaking settlers on the lands of the Penobscot Indians. This process, which would begin in Frankfort, would end with the founding of Bangor, Brewer, Orono, Old Town and other inland settlements, and the eventual restriction of the Penobscot people to their major village at "Indian Old Town", or the present Penobscot Indian Reservation.

Today's Frankfort is just a small portion of the original town, which contained the present-day towns of Frankfort, Winterport, Stockton Springs, and Prospect. Ft. Pownall was thus in Frankfort, and the town's major village was what is now Winterport. Frankfort was a logical place for settlement not only because Verona Island commanded the approach up the river, but because the river above the town froze during the winter, making this the last ice-free port as one ascended — hence the name "Winterport".

A British fleet anchored off Frankfort in 1814 on its way to sack Bangor and Hampden. The British confiscated provisions from the town and took one ship. The town suffered greatly during the War of 1812 as the British blockade destroyed the coasting trade on which it depended.

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant Program Frankfort ME

Frankfort ME medical assistant studentIt’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate 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 need to acquire the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Student. 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 provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Frankfort ME.

More Medical Locations in Maine

  • Medical Assistant Colleges Near Me Oakfield ME
  • Medical Assistant School Time Gouldsboro ME
  • Certified Medical Assistant Schools Near Me Denmark ME
  • Evening Medical Assistant Programs Scarborough ME
  • Medical Assistant Certification Online Schools Eliot ME
  • Medical Assistant Prerequisites Peru ME
  • Medical Assistant Training Cost East Baldwin ME
  • How Long To Get Medical Assistant Certification Gray ME
  • Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Mount Desert ME
  • Best School For Medical Assistant Cushing ME
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 3

    Home Instead Senior Care
    3 Reviews
    Home Health Care
    Phone:
    442 Pleasant St, Blue Hill, ME 04614

    Acadia Foot & Ankle PA
    1 Reviews
    Podiatrists
    Phone:
    700 Mt Hope Ave, Ste 620, Bangor, ME 04401

    Helen Hunt Health Center
    2 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    242 Brunswick St, Old Town, ME 04468