Medical Assistant Major Jeannette PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant School Program near Jeannette Pennsylvania

Jeannette PA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Jeannette PA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Most prospective students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors also. You may decide to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have provided several questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Jeannette PA nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their role is ensure that the Jeannette PA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run 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 tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential duties 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 tissue and fluid samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some prefer 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) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Jeannette PA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about one year to finish, 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 alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational 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 clinical component involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Jeannette PA There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good choice for those who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. But remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be completed in Jeannette PA area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the best choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a job after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many potential Jeannette PA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained 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 examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Jeannette PA medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those choices have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Jeannette PA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when researching schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the college you enroll in 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 need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Jeannette PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make sure that the schools you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Jeannette PA area medical care providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Jeannette medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Finding that initial job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Jeannette PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the program you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Jeannette PA, make certain that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Jeannette Pennsylvania?

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

Jeannette, Pennsylvania

Jeannette is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Jeannette was founded in 1888.[3] The city got its name from one of the original city fathers, who wished to honor his wife by giving the new town her first name: Jeannette.[3] The city celebrated its 125th anniversary in July 2013.[3] The population was 9,654 according to the 2010 census.

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 9,654 people, 4,630 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,414.3 people per square mile (1,706.9/km²). There were 5,139 housing units at an average density of 2,129.3 per square mile (823.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.81% white, 20.19% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 4,630 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.89.

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant School Jeannette PA

Jeannette PA medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re planning to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right 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 individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example 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 Major. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied 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 Jeannette PA.