Medical Assistant Training School Glendora NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant School near Glendora New Jersey

Glendora NJ medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Glendora NJ, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Most future students start by researching 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 critical factors as well. You might want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have furnished a few 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 responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Glendora NJ nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Essentially their role is to make sure that the Glendora NJ clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. 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 responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may 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 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 Programs

Unlike most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Glendora NJ health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two options available for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma 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 four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Glendora NJ There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be lessened as well. Just remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be completed in Glendora NJ area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training may be the right choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for individuals who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting a position after graduation, but it may also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Glendora NJ medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. 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, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Glendora NJ medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you have to decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Glendora NJ with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to examine when researching schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to make sure that the school you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Glendora NJ employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Glendora NJ area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Glendora health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Finding that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Glendora NJ area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a college to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s imperative that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Glendora NJ, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will still need to schedule any clinical training or internships that might be required. Also, find out 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 Glendora New Jersey?

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

Glendora, New Jersey

Glendora is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Gloucester Township, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States.[7][8] As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 4,750.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 1.062 square miles (2.751 km2), including 1.040 square miles (2.695 km2) of land and 0.022 square miles (0.056 km2) of water (2.04%).[1][9]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,750 people, 1,900 households, and 1,231 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,565.1 per square mile (1,762.6/km2). There were 1,976 housing units at an average density of 1,899.1 per square mile (733.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.69% (4,498) White, 1.45% (69) Black or African American, 0.11% (5) Native American, 0.65% (31) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.66% (79) from other races, and 1.43% (68) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.65% (221) of the population.[3]

Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Glendora NJ

Glendora NJ medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re objective 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 appropriate info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Training School. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Glendora NJ.