National Certified Medical Assistant Weatherly PA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training School near Weatherly Pennsylvania

Weatherly PA medical assistant checking pulse Once you have made a decision to join the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Weatherly PA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? Many prospective students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences 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 issues as well. You may choose to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Weatherly PA nursing home patient The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their job is ensure that the Weatherly PA hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work run successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Pennsylvania law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options 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 Programs

In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Weatherly PA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, some as little as six to nine 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 offered at junior and community colleges in addition to trade 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 training. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Weatherly PA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are an excellent option for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be minimized also. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Weatherly PA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the right choice for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Weatherly PA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. 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 apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Weatherly PA medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from 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 confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Weatherly PA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when researching programs. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several great reasons to confirm that the program you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved organizations 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 either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Weatherly PA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Second, find out 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 assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Weatherly PA area medical care providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the Weatherly health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing that first job can be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Weatherly PA area and find out 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 health care community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? 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 increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the school you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Weatherly PA, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Weatherly Pennsylvania?

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

Weatherly, Pennsylvania

Weatherly is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States, located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Jim Thorpe and 28 miles (45 km) south of Wilkes Barre. Early in the twentieth century, there were silk mills, foundries, a candy factory, a fabricating plant, and a cigar factory. In 1900 2,471 people lived there, and in 1910, the population was 2,501. The population was 2,525 at the 2010 census.[3]

Originally called "Black Creek", it received a name change to "Weatherly" in 1848. Clock-maker David Weatherly, also an executive of the Beaver Meadow Railroad, made an agreement with the town that he would build them a clock if they would rename the town "Weatherly". They changed the name of the town to Weatherly, however David Weatherly skipped town without the promised clock. Charles and Eurana Schwab funded the clock that was built into the clock tower on top of the town's school, but the town kept the name Weatherly.

Weatherly is located in northwestern Carbon County at 40°56′25″N 75°49′36″W / 40.94028°N 75.82667°W / 40.94028; -75.82667 (40.940257, -75.826722).[4] It is situated at an elevation of 1,100 feet (340 m) above sea level in the Ridge-and-Valley Province of the Appalachian Mountains, between Spring Mountain and Round Head Mountain to the north and Broad Mountain to the south.

Select the Best Medical Assistant Training Program Weatherly PA

Weatherly PA medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in National Certified Medical Assistant. 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, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Weatherly PA.