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It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Medical Assistant Career Below!
Medical Assistant Training Courses
Compared to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Alaska health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we'll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally two options available for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs provided at community and junior 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 courses. They frequently have a practical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor's Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Certification Options
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for individuals who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Alaska medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of 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 be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Medical Assistant Online Courses
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. But bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be performed in Alaska healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.