Medical Assistant Training Bergenfield NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Bergenfield New Jersey

Bergenfield NJ medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bergenfield NJ, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of potential students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes 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 critical factors also. You might want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have provided several questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Bergenfield NJ nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their function is ensure that the Bergenfield NJ hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are qualified to under New Jersey law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Programs

Unlike most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Bergenfield NJ health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally two options available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to complete, a few 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 alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Bergenfield NJ There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good option for those who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be completed in Bergenfield NJ area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the best choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Bergenfield NJ medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Bergenfield NJ medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you must choose which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Bergenfield NJ with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several good reasons to make sure that the school you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted organizations 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 qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Bergenfield NJ employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out 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 college’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select 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 decide to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make certain 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 schools sponsor internship programs with Bergenfield NJ area medical care providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Bergenfield healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Finding that first job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Bergenfield NJ area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Bergenfield NJ, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bergenfield New Jersey?

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

Bergenfield, New Jersey

Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 26,764,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 517 (+2.0%) from the 26,247 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,789 (+7.3%) from the 24,458 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Bergenfield was formed on the basis of a referendum held on June 25, 1894, from portions of Englewood Township and Palisades Township.[21][22][23] The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[24] The borough was named for its location in Bergen County.[25]

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 211th best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[26] The magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 231st best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live".[27]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant School Bergenfield NJ

Bergenfield NJ medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Bergenfield NJ.