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How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Olyphant Pennsylvania

Olyphant PA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to enter the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Olyphant PA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? Most prospective students begin 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, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors as well. You may decide to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided several questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Olyphant PA nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Olyphant PA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate efficiently. 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 providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain 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

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Olyphant PA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about 1 year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at community and junior colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical component involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. 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.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Olyphant PA There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for those who may not have the time to attend 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 extra benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be reduced as well. Just bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be carried out in Olyphant PA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your education may be the ideal option for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary 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 requirement, but is an excellent option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Olyphant PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. Among 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). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Olyphant PA medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you must choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Olyphant PA with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when researching programs. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Olyphant PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Olyphant PA area medical providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students develop relationships within the Olyphant healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Finding that initial job may be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Olyphant PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a few classes before selecting a program to witness what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the school you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Olyphant PA, make sure that those times are offered. 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 may be required. Additionally, find out what the policy 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 Olyphant Pennsylvania?

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

Olyphant, Pennsylvania

Olyphant is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, approximately five miles (8 km) northeast of Scranton on the Lackawanna River in the heart of the anthracite region of the State. Its main source of employment was the mining and shipping of coal. Other industries of the past were the manufacturing of blasting powder, iron and steel goods, cigars, silks, etc. Olyphant experienced a severe downturn in the 1950s. There was once a thriving garment industry with numerous dress factories in the downtown area. There was also a slaughter house. Until recently, the biggest industry was the manufacture of Compact Discs (CD) and Digital Video Discs (DVD). The population was 5,151 at the 2010 census.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14 km2), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.82%) is water.

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 5,151 people, 2,324 households, and 1,357 families residing in the borough. The population density was 953.9 people per square mile (368.3/km²). There were 2,521 housing units at an average density of 466.9 per square mile (182.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.2% White, 1.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant School Olyphant PA

Olyphant PA medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Weekend Classes. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Olyphant PA.