How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training School near Jenkintown Pennsylvania

Now that you have decided to become a part of the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Jenkintown PA, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Most future students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You may choose to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have provided a few questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Job of Medical Assistants

The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their function is ensure that the Jenkintown PA hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
• Setting and verifying appointments
• Taking vital signs and weighing patients
• Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
• Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
• Giving general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Jenkintown PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about 1 year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature 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 healthcare practice. 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 related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good choice for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced as well. But remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Jenkintown PA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the ideal choice for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Jenkintown PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among 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 sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Jenkintown PA with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should look at when assessing schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the college you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 school is not accredited by one 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 available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Jenkintown PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to learn 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 of course you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to obtaining 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, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Jenkintown PA area medical providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Jenkintown health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Landing that first job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Jenkintown PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the college you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Jenkintown PA, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also need to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Jenkintown Pennsylvania?

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

Select the Best Medical Assistant Course Jenkintown PA

It’s essential to start 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 launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Degree Requirements. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Jenkintown PA.

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