Being A Medical Assistant West Nyack NY - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Training Program near West Nyack New York

West Nyack NY medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to join the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near West Nyack NY, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? A number of prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues also. You may choose to research some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with West Nyack NY nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their job is ensure that the West Nyack NY hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under New York law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the choices available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Programs

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of West Nyack NY 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 choices available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in West Nyack NY There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent option for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. But remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be completed in West Nyack NY area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education may be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for individuals who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential West Nyack NY medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask West Nyack NY medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you must determine which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. After those choices have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to West Nyack NY with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when researching schools. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to ensure that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged agencies 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 either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective West Nyack NY employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out 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 evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, verify that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with West Nyack NY area medical care providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students develop relationships within the West Nyack healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that first job can be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the West Nyack 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 a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big 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 furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s imperative that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near West Nyack NY, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near West Nyack New York?

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

West Nyack, New York

West Nyack is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Clarkstown, Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of Blauvelt, east of Nanuet, southwest of Valley Cottage, southeast of Bardonia, and west of Central Nyack. It is approximately 18 miles (29 km) north of New York City. The population was 3,439 at the 2010 census.[3]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,282 people, 1,107 households, and 892 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,125.9 per square mile (435.5/km²). There were 1,132 housing units at an average density of 388.3/sq mi (150.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.03% White, 1.98% African American, 0.03% Native American, 7.59% Asian, 0.98% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.58% of the population.

There were 1,107 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.27.

Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Program West Nyack NY

West Nyack NY medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the right info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Being A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can 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 West Nyack NY.