Medical Assistant Qualifications Newark MD

How to Choose a Medical Assistant School near Newark Maryland

Newark MD medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have decided to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Newark MD, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Many future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors as well. You may decide to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges 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 kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Newark MD nursing home patientThe job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Newark MD hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Supplying basic support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can perform almost any task they are qualified to under Maryland law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Newark MD health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Newark MDThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced also. But remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be carried out in Newark MD area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education may be the right choice for you. With the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Newark MD medical employers simply 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) provided 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 thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Newark MD medical assistant programsPrior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. After 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 potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Newark MD with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you must look at when assessing programs. To help you with that process, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to ensure that the school you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Newark MD employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? 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 find out which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask 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 assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to getting 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, however the average is about one year. Or you can decide to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Newark MD area medical care providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Newark medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Getting that initial job may be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Newark MD area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies 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 during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before choosing a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s important that the program you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Newark MD, make certain that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Newark Maryland?

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

Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR, ICAO: KEWR, FAA LID: EWR), originally Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is the primary airport serving the U.S. state of New Jersey. The airport straddles the boundary between the cities of Newark and Elizabeth, the former of which is the most populous city in the state.[2] The airport is owned jointly by the cities of Elizabeth and Newark and leased to and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.[3]

Newark Airport is located 75 miles (121 km) northeast of Philadelphia, 12 miles (19 km) southwest of New York City, and 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Downtown Newark. It is one of three major airports serving the New York Metropolitan Area, the others being John F. Kennedy and La Guardia in Queens, New York, both of which are also operated by the Port Authority. It also attracts a significant passenger base from the Philadelphia metropolitan area.[a]

Newark serves 50 carriers and is the third-largest hub (after Chicago–O'Hare and Houston–Intercontinental) for United Airlines, which is the airport's largest tenant (operating in all three of Newark's terminals).[5] Newark's second-largest tenant is FedEx Express, whose third-largest cargo hub uses three buildings on two million square feet of airport property.[6] During the 12-month period ending in July 2014, over 68% of all passengers at the airport were carried by United Airlines.[7]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant Training Newark MD

Newark MD medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Qualifications. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the best program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Newark MD.

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