It is a very admirable decision to choose to become a medical assistant. Even better, the state of New York is a great place to pursue this goal as there are literally dozens of highly qualified schools that provide excellent training programs for an aspiring medical assistant. Most of these medical assistant programs are similar from one school to the next but it would behoove you to visit or at least contact these institutions and see if the differences are important to you and which school feels the best for you.
What Education Or Training Do I Need Before Studying To Become A Medical Assistant?
There are no specialized requirements become a medical assistant in New York. If you have a high school diploma or the equivalent certificate you can apply to enroll in the medical assistant program. You should be aware that most employers will require that you become certified before they will hire you. This certification can be obtained from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) once you have completed the medical assistant course program from an accredited school.
Enroll In one of these Top Medical Assistant Programs in NY
If you wish to work in New York you will need to enroll in a school that is accredited in this area. There are literally dozens of schools in New York that offer a medical assistant training program which provide both classroom instruction and actual experience in a qualified health care establishment. The list below shows the most renowned medical assistant programs NY has to offer:
- Allen School – This institution offers high-quality courses on multiple campuses to accommodate students in different parts of New York. Students at this school are eligible for federal financial aid and possible military benefits.
- Branford Hall Career Institute – Branford Hall provides its quality medical assistant program in six locations across New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
- ASA College – They have campuses in Brooklyn and Manhattan and are accredited by CAAHEP which is essential for working as a medical assistant.
- Everest – They offer a comprehensive medical assistant course that includes 10 hours of field training, as well as courses held at night and on weekends. A great choice for students with a heavy schedule.
Before enrolling in a school’s medical assistant program check and see if it has CAAHEP accreditation. This will satisfy both AAMA and the requirements of most employers. It is a good idea to contact as many schools as you can and see which ones have the best community for you.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Certified Medical Assistant?
In most cases, it will take approximately one year to complete the program and gain the skills required for an entry-level medical assistant position. Some schools offer an Associate’s degree program for medical assistants. Certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants can take up to 30 additional days for the required exam.
We hope that you consider a future as a medical assistant. It can be a very rewarding career and it opens doors to many other great jobs within the healthcare industry.