Medical Assistant Associate Degree Glenmoore PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant School near Glenmoore Pennsylvania

Glenmoore PA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Glenmoore PA, it’s time to select a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? Most future students start 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, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might decide to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select 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 furnished some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Glenmoore PA nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their job is to make sure that the Glenmoore PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
Giving basic support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options 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 Education

Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Glenmoore PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices available for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain 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 designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are often 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 Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Glenmoore PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced also. But bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be carried out in Glenmoore PA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the ideal option for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting a position after graduation, but it may also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Glenmoore PA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly 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 examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Glenmoore PA medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you need to determine which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Glenmoore PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you should examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to ensure that the college you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Glenmoore PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, make certain that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Glenmoore PA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Glenmoore health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that initial job can be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Glenmoore PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare 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 can be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s important that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Glenmoore PA, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that might be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Glenmoore Pennsylvania?

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

Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

Glenmoore is an unincorporated community in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States.[2] It is notable for being the location of the Upattinas School and Resource Center (1971-2014). The area is within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. The historic township is within Wallace Township. Glenmoore is located on Pennsylvania Route 282. It was the birthplace of William Moore McClure, a Union Army colonel in the American Civil War.[3] According to DeLeon, Glenmoore is home of "... the smallest church in the world..." where the downtown is so small that it "... consists of an intersection with no traffic and one antiques shop next to a convenience store...."[4]

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant School Glenmoore PA

Glenmoore PA medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the right training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools 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 select is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Associate Degree. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Glenmoore PA.