Certified Medical Assistant Program Leonardtown MD

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Leonardtown Maryland

Leonardtown MD medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Leonardtown MD, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might want to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Leonardtown MD nursing home patientThe duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their function is to make sure that the Leonardtown MD hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. Depending 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 nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
  • Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Maryland law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices 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

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Leonardtown MD health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options offered for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about one year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics 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 community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a clinical 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 related field.

Medical Assistant Online Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Leonardtown MDThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are an excellent choice for those who may not have 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 pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized also. But remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be completed in Leonardtown MD area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the right option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting a position after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Leonardtown MD medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. 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). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Leonardtown MD medical assistant programsPrior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. After those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some prospective students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Leonardtown MD with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you should explore when researching programs. To help you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to ensure that the school you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted organizations for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Leonardtown MD employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

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

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Getting that very first job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Leonardtown MD 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 a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a college to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Leonardtown MD, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Leonardtown Maryland?

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

Leonardtown, Maryland

Leonardtown is a town in and the county seat of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States.[4] The population was 2,930 at the 2010 census. Leonardtown is perhaps most famous for the national oyster-shucking championship that occurs annually at the St. Mary's County fairgrounds.

Historic Leonardtown includes both a large public high school and a public middle school Leonardtown Middle School as well as a Catholic high school and an elementary school Leonardtown Elementary School, offices of the county government, and MedStar St. Mary's Hospital which serves the healthcare needs of the county. The College of Southern Maryland maintains a growing satellite campus within city limits, including an aquatic center. An upscale home development located in the Breton Bay area is just outside town, notable for both its country club golf course and swimming pool.

Records indicate that by 1654, county court was conducted at the house of John Hammond in the area known as "Newtown" or "Newtowne Hundred". During the late 17th century, it appears that court was held at various homes throughout Newtown, and that it wasn't until 1708 that an official town with a designated courthouse was established. It was during this same year that Phillip Lynes, then Mayor of St. Mary's City, Maryland's Colonial Capital, designated fifty acres of land at the head of "Brittons Bay" to be divided into 100 lots. He further ordered that one lot be set aside for a county courthouse to be built at an expense not to exceed 12,000 pounds of tobacco. At this time, Newtown was promptly renamed Seymour Town in honor of Governor John Seymour. Nearly 20 years later, Seymour Town was renamed again to Leonard Town in honor of Benedict Leonard Calvert, who was Maryland's Governor during this period. In the decades that followed, Leonard Town became the place where local residents conducted their official business with the colony. Farm products were regularly shipped through the port.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Course Leonardtown MD

Leonardtown MD medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the right info on available programs before making your decision. 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 covered in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Program. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure 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 rewarding career as a medical assistant in Leonardtown MD.

More Medical Locations in Maryland

  • Medical Assistant Night School Greenbelt MD
  • Medical Assistant Study Westernport MD
  • Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate Program Glen Echo MD
  • Medical Assistant Duties And Responsibilities California MD
  • Medical Assistant Prerequisites Compton MD
  • Ophthalmic Medical Assistant Brandywine MD
  • Medical Assistant Classes Online Mayo MD
  • Medical Assistant Certification Online Schools Damascus MD
  • Certified Medical Assistant Duties Towson MD
  • Clinical Medical Assistant Training Woodstock MD
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 23

    Nasr Rafik A MD
    1 Reviews
    Acupuncture, Doctors
    Phone:
    225 Town Square Dr, Lusby, MD 20657

    The Centers for Advanced ENT Care - Chesapeake Otolaryngology
    2 Reviews
    Otologists
    Phone:
    131 Main St, Ste 202, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

    Waldorf Women's Care
    32 Reviews
    Obstetricians & Gynecologists
    Phone:
    4470 Regency Pl, Ste 106, White Plains, MD 20695

    Calvert Internal Medicine Group
    6 Reviews
    Internal Medicine
    Phone:
    110 Hospital Rd, Ste 310, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

    MedStar PromptCare - Waldorf
    9 Reviews
    Urgent Care
    Phone:
    3064 Waldorf Market Pl, Waldorf, MD 20603

    Mid Atlantic Skin Surgery Institute
    8 Reviews
    Dermatologists, Body Contouring
    Phone:
    173 Saint Patricks Dr, Ste 201, Waldorf, MD 20603

    Fenwick Landing Senior Care Community
    1 Reviews
    Retirement Homes, Personal Care Services
    Phone:
    11665 Doolittle Dr, Waldorf, MD 20602

    Patient First - Waldorf
    33 Reviews
    Urgent Care, Medical Centers, Diagnostic Services
    Phone:
    2855 Crain Hwy, Waldorf, MD 20601

    HB Medical & Wellness Care
    3 Reviews
    Internal Medicine
    Phone:
    11355 Pembrooke Sq, Ste 108a, Waldorf, MD 20603

    Charles County Dermatology Associates
    1 Reviews
    Dermatologists
    Phone:
    4225 Altamont Pl, Ste 3, White Plains, MD 20695