Medical Assistant Degree Online Glen Head NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School near Glen Head New York

Glen Head NY medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Glen Head NY, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You might want to look into several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have included a few questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Glen Head NY nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their role is to make sure that the Glen Head NY clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under New York law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered 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

In contrast to many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Glen Head NY 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 two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to complete, some 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 alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs offered at junior and community colleges as well as technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Glen Head NY There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good alternative for those who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Glen Head NY 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 best 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 option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a position after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Glen Head NY medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Glen Head NY medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. After those choices have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Glen Head NY with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when assessing schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to confirm that the college you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to 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 program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Glen Head NY 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 colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to obtaining 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 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to complete in a junior 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 are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Glen Head NY area health care providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students build relationships within the Glen Head medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Landing that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Glen Head NY area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a college to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s essential that the school you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Glen Head NY, make certain that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, 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 Glen Head New York?

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

Glen Head, New York

It is essential to note that with the exception of the Incorporated Villages of Old Westbury and Mill Neck; the villages of Brookville, Old Brookville, Upper Brookville, Muttontown and Roslyn Harbor do not have post offices or zip codes of their own. Consequently, areas within these communities are served by the Glen Head post office and thereby use this hamlet merely for mailing addresses, despite the physical address being within the limits of an incorporated village.

As of the 2010 census[2] the population of the Census designated place was 4,697. The population was 91.8% White 86.2% Non-Hispanic white, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.1% of the population.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,625 people, 1,681 households, and 1,314 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,870.7 per square mile (1,109.1/km2). There were 1,717 housing units at an average density of 1,065.7/sq mi (411.8/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.29% White, 0.50% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.

Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Glen Head NY

Glen Head NY medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal 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 information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Degree Online. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan 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 so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Glen Head NY.