Medical Assistant Degree Requirements Dublin PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School Program near Dublin Pennsylvania

Dublin PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to join the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Dublin PA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? Most future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the lowest 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 take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have provided several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Dublin PA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their role is ensure that the Dublin PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some elect 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) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Dublin PA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created 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 typically two year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Dublin PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are an excellent choice for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be lessened as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be performed in Dublin PA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for those who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it may also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Dublin PA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Dublin PA medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Dublin PA with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must examine when researching schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must 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 either of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Dublin PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, learn 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 evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Dublin PA area healthcare providers. They are a great way to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Dublin medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Getting that initial job can be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Dublin PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a college to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s important that the school you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Dublin PA, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Dublin Pennsylvania?

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

Dublin, Pennsylvania

Dublin extends along a stretch of Pennsylvania Route 313 which connects the much larger towns of Doylestown and Quakertown. Almost the entire town can be viewed from 313 with only a few streets diverging from the main road. The town is surrounded by sparse housing developments and a series of dairy farms and nurseries, all of which are part of Hilltown Township and Bedminster Township. Dublin contains a small shopping center, a Department of Motor Vehicles Center, a pharmacy and 5 restaurants. Several rows of old houses line 313, some of which date back to the late 18th century. The majority of Dublin's population lives in several developments around the main part of town. Dublin has its own municipal government and maintains a fire station. Dublin has its own local police department and relies on Pennsylvania State Police when not on duty.

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 90.5% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.0% Asian, and 2.1% were two or more races. 8.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [2].

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,083 people, 851 households, and 520 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,825.7 people per square mile (1,489.4/km²). There were 869 housing units at an average density of 1,596.0 per square mile (621.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.90% White, 1.59% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.97% of the population.

Pick the Best Medical Assistant Training Program Dublin PA

Dublin PA medical assistant student It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the right info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized 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 Medical Assistant Degree Requirements. But regardless of the kind 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 in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Dublin PA.