CMA Medical Assistant Atkinson NH - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Training School near Atkinson New Hampshire

Atkinson NH medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Atkinson NH, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Many future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might choose 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 program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided a few questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting 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 a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Atkinson NH nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Atkinson NH hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support 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 responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Supplying basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under New Hampshire law, some opt 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 Programs

Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Atkinson NH health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics 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 provided at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. 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 similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Atkinson NH There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good choice for those who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Atkinson NH area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for those who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Atkinson NH medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and perhaps 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 examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Atkinson NH medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Atkinson NH with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should look at when assessing programs. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training 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 approved 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Atkinson NH employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, verify that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Atkinson NH area healthcare providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Atkinson healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Atkinson NH area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a program to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s important that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Atkinson NH, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still need to schedule any internships or practical training that might 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 responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Atkinson New Hampshire?

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

Atkinson, New Hampshire

Atkinson has a rich history, dating back to the American Revolution. The community was incorporated 3 September[3][4] 1767,[1][5] and was named after Colonel Theodore Atkinson,[3] a local landowner.[6]

Atkinson Academy, the second-oldest co-educational school in the country,[7] was founded as a boys' school in 1787 by Reverend Stephen Peabody, General Nathaniel Peabody and Doctor William Cogswell; it began admitting girls in 1791. The school building burnt to the ground in 1802, and was rebuilt in 1803 at a cost of $2,500. That building remains a part of the Academy, which has since been expanded, with only four classrooms. Other historic buildings, such the Atkinson Historical Society, the Kimball Public Library, Rockwell School (current police station), and many more, grace this southern New Hampshire town with their rich historical value and education of the history of the area.

Relatives of former President John Quincy Adams live in Atkinson, along with famous politicians and businessmen. Atkinson's history can be read about in depth in the book Atkinson Then and Now, which can be purchased at the Atkinson Public Library on Academy Avenue.

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Atkinson NH

Atkinson NH medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper 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 obtain 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 decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in CMA Medical Assistant. But regardless 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, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Atkinson NH.