Clinical Medical Assistant Schools Feasterville Trevose PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training Program near Feasterville Trevose Pennsylvania

Feasterville Trevose PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Feasterville Trevose PA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might choose to take a look at 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 need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have provided several questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Feasterville Trevose PA nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Primarily their job is ensure that the Feasterville Trevose PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Scheduling and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices 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 Programs

In contrast to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Feasterville Trevose PA health care employers would rather 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 route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Feasterville Trevose PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good option for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Feasterville Trevose PA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the best choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for graduates who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a job after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Feasterville Trevose PA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Feasterville Trevose PA medical assistant programs Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school options, you must decide which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Feasterville Trevose PA with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to make sure that the college you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Feasterville Trevose 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 develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Feasterville Trevose PA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Feasterville Trevose health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Finding that first job can be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Feasterville Trevose PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before selecting a program to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s important that the college you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Feasterville Trevose PA, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, ask 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 Feasterville Trevose Pennsylvania?

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

Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania

Feasterville-Trevose is a former census-designated place (CDP) in Lower Southampton Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 6,525 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 19053. The area has been separated into two CDPs in the 2010 census, Feasterville and Trevose.

The Feasterville-Trevose CDP referred to by the U.S. Census Bureau encompasses a portion of Lower Southampton Township, but other sections of the township to the west and south are commonly considered parts of Feasterville, while the community of Trevose extends into Bensalem Township. Lower Southampton to the north is part of the Langhorne Post Office. (19047) The CDP is actually a relatively densely populated residential area between the two communities' central business districts.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 6,525 people, 2,578 households, and 1,776 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,909.4 people per square mile (1,894.2/km²). There were 2,649 housing units at an average density of 1,993.8/sq mi (769.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.39% White, 2.13% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.99% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.28% of the population.

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant School Feasterville Trevose PA

Feasterville Trevose PA medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Clinical Medical Assistant Schools. But regardless 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 evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Feasterville Trevose PA.