How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training School near Southwest Harbor Maine
Now that you have decided to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Southwest Harbor ME, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many potential students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might want to research several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their duty is ensure that the Southwest Harbor ME hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Supplying general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Maine law, some choose 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 Training Programs
In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Southwest Harbor ME health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about 1 year to finish, some 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 option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Classes
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are an excellent option for those who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be completed in Southwest Harbor ME area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education may be the ideal option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for individuals who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a position after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Southwest Harbor ME medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to choose 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 process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Southwest Harbor ME with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to look at when evaluating schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations 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 allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Southwest Harbor ME employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to choose a program targeting that certification. Next, ask 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 lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, confirm that the schools you are looking at offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Southwest Harbor ME area medical care providers. They are a great way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Southwest Harbor medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Service Offered? Landing that initial job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Southwest Harbor ME area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a school to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the program you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Southwest Harbor ME, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Southwest Harbor Maine?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Southwest Harbor ME area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Southwest Harbor, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.69 square miles (58.77 km2), of which 13.51 square miles (34.99 km2) is land and 9.18 square miles (23.78 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,764 people, 835 households, and 483 families residing in the town. The population density was 130.6 inhabitants per square mile (50.4/km2). There were 1,484 housing units at an average density of 109.8 per square mile (42.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.3% White, 0.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 835 households of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.69.
Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant Course Southwest Harbor ME
It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will provide the right training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Where Can I Get My Medical Assistant Certification. But regardless of the type 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 provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Southwest Harbor ME.
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