How to Pick a Medical Assistant School Program near Pikesville Maryland

Once you have made a decision to join the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pikesville MD, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Most prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You may decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have included some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their function is ensure that the Pikesville MD clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct support 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 potential duties of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
• Scheduling and confirming appointments
• Taking vital signs and weighing patients
• Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
• Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
• Giving general support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Maryland law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Pikesville MD 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 options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about a year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be carried out in Pikesville MD area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Pikesville MD medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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 examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you need to determine which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Pikesville MD with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must look at when assessing programs. To help you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several great reasons to confirm that the college you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to complete 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 organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Pikesville MD employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to select a program concentrating on that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the schools you are looking at offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Pikesville MD area medical care providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students develop relationships within the Pikesville healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Furnished? Getting that initial job can be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Pikesville MD area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might 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 prone to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full time, it’s essential that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Pikesville MD, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also need to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Pikesville Maryland?

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

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant School Pikesville MD

It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many colleges providing 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, verify that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Certification. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan 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 ideal program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Pikesville MD.

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