6 Month Program For Medical Assistant Merchantville NJ - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School Program near Merchantville New Jersey

Merchantville NJ medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to enter the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Merchantville NJ, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best 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 most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely 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 also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have included a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Merchantville NJ nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is to make sure that the Merchantville NJ clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities 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 tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under New Jersey law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options offered 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 Education

Unlike most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Merchantville NJ health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Merchantville NJ There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for individuals who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be lessened as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be completed in Merchantville NJ area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training may be the right choice for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Merchantville NJ medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. 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). In order to apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Merchantville NJ medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you must determine which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Merchantville NJ with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to look at when evaluating programs. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many potential Merchantville NJ employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to select a program focused on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Merchantville NJ area medical care providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Merchantville medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that initial job can be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Merchantville NJ area and ask 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 signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a school to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s important that the school you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Merchantville 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 also need to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Merchantville New Jersey?

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

Merchantville, New Jersey

Merchantville is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,821,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 20 (+0.5%) from the 3,801 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 294 (−7.2%) from the 4,095 counted in the 1990 Census.[19]

While one source attributes the borough's name to a family named Merchant,[21] Francis F. Eastlack, in his History of Merchantville, tells the story of the four developers of Merchantville—Matthias Homer, John Louty, Samuel McFadden and Frederick Gerker—meeting and discussing names, when it was suggested "Gentlemen, as you are all merchants, why not call it Merchantville?"[22]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,821 people, 1,574 households, and 966.4 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,371.3 per square mile (2,460.0/km2). There were 1,688 housing units at an average density of 2,814.6 per square mile (1,086.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.58% (2,926) White, 13.01% (497) Black or African American, 0.37% (14) Native American, 2.28% (87) Asian, 0.05% (2) Pacific Islander, 4.42% (169) from other races, and 3.30% (126) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.62% (444) of the population.[8]

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant School Merchantville NJ

Merchantville NJ medical assistant student 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. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged agency, 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 6 Month Program For Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Merchantville NJ.