Medical Assistant Programs NYC – There are very few careers as rewarding as one in the health care industry. You can save lives or at least help people lead longer and healthier lives. This is one of the few industries where you can make a meaningful change in someone’s life that will last for decades. Choosing to become a medical assistant is a great starting point for a future as a health care provider and you can become a medical assistant relatively quickly. New York City has plenty of opportunities to gain the skills for this profession.
What Education Or Training Do I Need Before Studying To Become A Medical Assistant?
The state of New York has simple requirements to become a medical assistant. There are no specialized educational or training prerequisites other than a high school diploma or state equivalent before enrolling in a medical assistant course. Most employers will insist on hiring a medical assistant that has been certified with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Best Medical Assistant Programs NYC (New York City)
There are several schools in New York City that offer training programs for medical assistants. Some employers cover the cost of education in exchange for working for them for a specified length of time. There are also many scholarships and grants as well as federal financial aid available to aspiring medical assistants. 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. A list of some schools in New York City that offer medical assistant training:
- Allen School
- ASA College
- Kingsborough Community College
- Mandl School- The College of Allied Health
- Willsey Institute
What Does A Medical Assistant Do?
A medical assistant performs a wide variety of tasks in both the office and the examination room. Some days a medical assistant will maintain patient records or authorize prescription refills for the pharmacy. On another day, a medical assistant might be explaining a proposed treatment plan to patients or monitoring another patient’s vitals such as pulse and respiration or even draw blood. Your exact job description will vary somewhat depending on your employer and jurisdiction but as you can see a medical assistant performs many tasks so that the physician can focus on evaluating and treating patients.
Does A Medical Assistant Have To Attend Continuing Education Classes?
Yes! In fact, the AAMA requires a medical assistant to recertify every five years. This requirement is generally satisfied with proof of completion of the appropriate continuing education courses or results from a recertification exam. The AAMA will also need to see your current CPR certification.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Certified Medical Assistant?
It generally takes about nine months to a year to complete the course. Certification requires you to fill out an application from the AAMA website along with proof of your credentials and the required fee payment.
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.
