Certified Medical Assistant Sloatsburg NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Sloatsburg New York

Sloatsburg NY medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Sloatsburg NY, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Most prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues also. You might want to research a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Sloatsburg NY nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their job is to make sure that the Sloatsburg NY hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible 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 fluid and tissue samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving basic support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are authorized to under New York law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and obtain 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 Courses

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Sloatsburg NY health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at junior and community 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 often have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Sloatsburg NY There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good choice for individuals who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be reduced as well. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be completed in Sloatsburg NY area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the right choice for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary 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 option for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Sloatsburg NY medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Sloatsburg NY medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which type 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, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Sloatsburg NY with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when researching schools. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to ensure that the school you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged agencies 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 one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Sloatsburg NY employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Sloatsburg NY area medical care providers. They are a great means to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Sloatsburg medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Furnished? Finding that first job can be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Sloatsburg NY area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication 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 offer greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a program to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the school you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Sloatsburg NY, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Sloatsburg New York?

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

Sloatsburg, New York

Sloatsburg is a village in the town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York, United States. Located east of Orange County, it is at the southern entrance to Harriman State Park. The population was 3,152 at the 2010 census.[2] The village is named after Stephen Sloat, an early European landowner.

The land that would become the village of Sloatsburg was part of the hunting grounds of the Minsi band of the Leni Lenape Indians, whose people occupied much of the mid-Atlantic area at the time of European encounter. The area was the site of a major Indian path through the Ramapo Mountains. The path was later improved as the New York to Albany road and, in 1800, the Orange Turnpike. It remains an important thoroughfare today as the New York State Thruway, New York State Route 17 and the Norfolk Southern Railway line run along its route.

Wynant Van Gelder, an ethnic Dutch colonist, purchased the area from the Minsi in 1738. In 1747, he gave it to his father-in-law, Isaac Van Deusen. When his daughter Marritge Van Deusen married Stephen Sloat, Isaac gave the couple the land in 1763. They built a stone house on the property and operated a tavern, which was a regular stop on the New York-to-Albany stage route. During the American Revolution, the Sloat House was headquarters for American troops stationed in the Ramapo Pass. The house is a private residence, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.There he established Sloat's Tavern, which became a regular stop on the New York to Albany stage route.

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Sloatsburg NY

Sloatsburg NY medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged agency, 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 Certified Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Sloatsburg NY.