Medical Assistant Education Requirements Concordville PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Training School near Concordville Pennsylvania

Concordville PA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Concordville PA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Most prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You might choose to look into some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have provided a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Concordville PA nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is to make sure that the Concordville PA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions 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 facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Supplying general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain 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 Courses

In contrast to many other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Concordville PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about one year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Concordville PA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good option for students who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized as well. But keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be performed in Concordville PA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for graduates who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many potential Concordville PA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably 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 exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Concordville PA medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which type of credential you would like to earn, 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 beginning of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Concordville PA with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to explore when assessing programs. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several great reasons to verify that the program you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Concordville PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Concordville PA area medical providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also help students develop relationships within the Concordville health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Getting that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Concordville 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 a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Concordville PA, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Concordville Pennsylvania?

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

Concordville, Pennsylvania

Concordville is an unincorporated community in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 20 miles west-southwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of U.S. Routes 1 and 322. This intersection can be traced back to two of the earliest roads in Pennsylvania, Baltimore Pike which became U.S. 1, and Concord Pike, which connected Pennsylvania with Delaware.[3]

The first European settlement in the area occurred about 1700, after Quakers bought land from William Penn. Two Friends Meetinghouses (formerly Orthodox and Hicksite) are located in the village. The Orthodox meetinghouse was built in the first half of the nineteenth century, while the Hicksites retained the original meetinghouse (built 1728, reconstructed and expanded 1788). The two factions have since merged and now meet in the original meetinghouse. Part of the village was added to the National Register in 1973.[4]

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant Training Concordville PA

Concordville PA medical assistant student It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper 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 acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Education Requirements. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Concordville PA.