How to Select a Medical Assistant School Program near Addison Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to enter the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Addison PA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Most future students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. You might want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that task, we have included 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 role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.
The Job of a Medical Assistant
The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their function is ensure that the Addison PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Supplying general support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the options 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 Education
Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Addison PA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as trade 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 frequently have a practical component involving an internship with a local medical 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 related field.
Online Medical Assistant Colleges
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent option for individuals who may not have the 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 working full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced also. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in Addison PA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your training may be the ideal choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some potential Addison PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. Once those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Addison PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to explore when researching programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to verify that the school you select is accredited. First, 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 complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Addison PA 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 create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to find out 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 naturally you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally 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, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Addison PA area medical care providers. They are a great way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Addison medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Landing that first job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Addison PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher 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 wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Small 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 school to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and just 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 fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Addison PA, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that might 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 emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Addison Pennsylvania?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Addison PA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Addison, Pennsylvania
Addison is located at 39°44′43″N 79°19′59″W / 39.74528°N 79.33306°W / 39.74528; -79.33306 (39.7472, -79.3331),[3] about 30 miles (48 km) WNW of Cumberland, Maryland and about 30 miles (48 km) ENE of Morgantown, West Virginia. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 214 people, 87 households, and 54 families residing in the borough. The population density was 380.4 people per square mile (147.5/km²). There were 96 housing units at an average density of 170.6 per square mile (66.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White.
There were 87 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.04.
Select the Right Medical Assistant Program Addison PA
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will furnish the right 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 life long career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Ophthalmic Medical Assistant. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Addison PA.
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