How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School Program near Oakland Maryland

Once you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Oakland MD, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Most potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You might decide to look into several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have included a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their job is to make sure that the Oakland MD clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
• Scheduling 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 examinations and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Maryland law, some prefer 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) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Education

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Oakland MD health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often 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 Courses

There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for students who might not have time to attend 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 degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized also. But remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be completed in Oakland MD area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education might be the best choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for those who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Some possible Oakland MD medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among 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 take the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Oakland MD with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should examine when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to verify that the college you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must 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 one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Oakland MD employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take about 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Oakland MD area medical providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Oakland health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Furnished? Finding that initial job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Oakland MD area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Small 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 practical, try to attend a few classes before selecting a school to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s important that the college you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Oakland MD, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still 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 may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Oakland Maryland?

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

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Oakland MD

It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, 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 Colleges. But regardless of the kind 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 supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Oakland MD.

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