Medical Assistant Night School Dayton KY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School near Dayton Kentucky

Dayton KY medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Dayton KY, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many potential students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might decide to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Dayton KY nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Dayton KY hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under Kentucky law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options 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 Training

In contrast to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Dayton KY health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about one year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a clinical component involving an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Dayton KY There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are a good option for those who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. But bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in Dayton KY area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training may be the ideal option for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Dayton KY medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Dayton KY medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Dayton KY with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should look at when researching schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Dayton KY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the colleges 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 enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, verify that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Dayton KY area healthcare providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Dayton medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Getting that very first job can be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Dayton KY area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? 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 choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Dayton KY, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Dayton Kentucky?

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

Dayton, Kentucky

Dayton is a home rule-class city[3] along a bend of the Ohio River in Campbell County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 5,338 at the 2010 census.[4] It is less than 3 miles (5 km) from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dayton is located in the northernmost part of Campbell County at 39°6′42″N 84°28′13″W / 39.11167°N 84.47028°W / 39.11167; -84.47028 (39.111781, −84.470401),[5] on the inside of a bend in the Ohio River. It is the most northernmost community in Kentucky as well. Dayton is bordered by Bellevue to the southwest and Fort Thomas to the southeast. To the north, across the Ohio River, is Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio. The closest bridge across the Ohio is the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge on Interstate 471, connecting Newport with Cincinnati.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Dayton has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2) is land and 0.66 square miles (1.7 km2), or 33.61%, is water.[4] Dayton is located within Kentucky's Outer Bluegrass region in the Upper South.

Pick the Right Medical Assistant Training Dayton KY

Dayton KY medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re planning to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, 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 Night School. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan 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 in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Dayton KY.