How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near Johnstown Pennsylvania

Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Johnstown PA, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Most future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might choose to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have included a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their role is to make sure that the Johnstown PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible duties 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 tissue and fluid samples
• Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
• Supplying basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the options offered 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

Unlike many other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Johnstown PA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about a year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs provided at community and junior colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are often 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 Courses

There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are an excellent alternative for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many 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 also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in Johnstown PA area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the ideal choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Johnstown PA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you must decide which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Johnstown PA with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several good reasons to make certain that the program you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the training 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 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 one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Johnstown PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs 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 acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Johnstown PA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students build relationships within the Johnstown health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding that initial job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Johnstown PA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher 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 broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will get throughout 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 possible, try to sit in on a couple of classes before selecting a college to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the school you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Johnstown PA, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Johnstown Pennsylvania?

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

Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant School Johnstown PA

It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Duties. 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 supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Johnstown PA.

More Medical Locations in Pennsylvania

Medical Assistant How Long Dallas PA

Medical Assistant Registration Nanticoke PA

Medical Assistant Training Program Mercer PA

Medical Assistant Certification Online Schools Bellwood PA

Medical Assistant School Cost Dauphin PA

Certify Medical Assistant Thorndale PA

Certified Medical Assistant Duties South Canaan PA

Certified Medical Assistant Fountainville PA

Clinical Medical Assistant Schools Brockway PA

Medical Assistant Externship Waynesburg PA