How to Select a Medical Assistant Program near Rupert West Virginia
Once you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Rupert WV, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? A number of potential students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues also. You might want to look into some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that task, we have included some questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.
The Function of a Medical Assistant
The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Rupert WV hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under West Virginia law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the choices 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 Training Programs
Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Rupert WV health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, 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 option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Schools
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good alternative for those who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be completed in Rupert WV area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a job after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Rupert WV medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which type of credential you would like 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 begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Rupert WV with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should explore when assessing schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations 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 organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many potential Rupert WV employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on 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 methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take about two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Rupert WV area healthcare providers. They are a great means to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students develop relationships within the Rupert healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing that very first job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Rupert WV area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before selecting a program to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the college you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Rupert WV, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Rupert West Virginia?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Rupert WV area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Rupert, West Virginia
Rupert is a town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 942 at the 2010 census. Cyrus A. Rupert first came to Greenbrier County, West Virginia (Virginia) about 1829 when he was seventeen years old. Cyrus, the seventh of eleven children, was born at Point Pleasant, Virginia on October 7, 1812. His parents were Henry Rupert and Naomi Henkle Rupert. Apparently, Cyrus chose to go to Greenbrier County to be with his brothers, Gideon and Paul, who were running a general store at Clintonville. Cyrus' father, Henry, died in 1835 and most of the family, including Gideon, then migrated westward to Pekin, Illinois. Paul moved to Louisville, Kentucky, but Cyrus chose to stay in Greenbrier County. Why Cyrus and his brothers came to Greenbrier County is not known. However, there were Henkles in the area and were possibly related to their mother.[citation needed]
Cyrus became friends with Andrew McClung and it is probably through him that Cyrus began to acquire property near the mouth of Big Clear Creek. This property became the basis for a settlement that would later become Rupert, West Virginia.[citation needed][6]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 942 people, 431 households, and 243 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,223.4 inhabitants per square mile (472.4/km2). There were 509 housing units at an average density of 661.0 per square mile (255.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
Pick the Right Medical Assistant College Rupert WV
It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if 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 information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools offering training nowadays 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 an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Night School. But regardless of the type 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Rupert WV.
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