Certified Medical Assistant School Programs
How to Find the Right One Near Bensalem Pennsylvania

Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bensalem PA, it's time to choose a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? When looking for medical assistant programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. Online medical assistant classes are another option that you may decide is a more convenient way to access training (more on that topic later). Irrespective of your leaning toward either online or on campus scholastics, the central point is that you must do your due diligence prior to selecting a program. And to assist you with that process, we have provided a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your "maybe" 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 offered.

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Medical Assistant Job Description 

The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Bensalem PA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and filing claims
• Setting and verifying appointments
• Taking vital signs and weighing patients
• Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
• Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
• Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are authorized to under Pennsylvania law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and attain 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 Programs

Unlike most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Bensalem 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 generally two options available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option 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 diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. 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.

Medical Assistant Certification Options

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for individuals who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Bensalem PA medical employers just will not hire 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 examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for students who might not have time to attend 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 pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Bensalem PA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training may be the ideal option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to determine which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Bensalem PA with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should look at when evaluating programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to verify that the college you select 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 must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many potential Bensalem PA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School's Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to select a program focused 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 just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college's program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Bensalem PA area medical providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also help students develop relationships within the Bensalem healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Getting that first job can be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Bensalem PA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? 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 prone to provide greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere 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 imperative that the program you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Bensalem PA, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will also need to schedule any clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

More Info on How to Become a Medical Assistant in Bensalem

Enroll in the Best Bensalem Medical Assistant School

It's imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Whether you're goal is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. 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, don't forget to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Bensalem Pennsylvania.

 

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