Certified Medical Assistant Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Juneau Alaska

Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Juneau AK, it's time to choose a college that will furnish the right training. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for medical assistant schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. Online medical assistant classes are an alternative 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 help you with that process, 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 type of credentials and training that are offered.

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Medical Assistant Training Courses

Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Juneau AK 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 choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to complete, 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 obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor's Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Certification Options

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a job after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Juneau AK medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Online Medical Assistant Colleges

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good option for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be carried out in Juneau AK area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your training might be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Juneau AK with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to examine when researching schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make certain that the program you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged agencies for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Juneau AK employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School's Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, 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 example, then of course you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, find out what the program's passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college's program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately two years to complete in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, verify that the schools you are looking at provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Juneau AK area healthcare providers. They are a great method to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Juneau health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Juneau AK area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a school to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it's imperative that the college you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Juneau AK, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Study to Become a CMA in Juneau

Choose the Best Juneau Medical Assistant School

It's imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you're goal is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the right info on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. Regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Juneau Alaska.

 

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