Certified Medical Assistant Courses
How to Find the Right One Near Juneau Alaska

Once you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Juneau AK, it's time to select a college that will furnish the proper training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for medical assistant programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. You might want to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask all of the schools on your "maybe" list. But before we start that review, let's briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

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Medical Assistant Job Duties 

The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their role is ensure that the Juneau AK clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work operate successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
• Setting and confirming appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
• Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
• Providing basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Alaska law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Courses

In contrast to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Juneau AK health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about 1 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 obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a practical component requiring 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 similar field.

Medical Assistant Certification Programs

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for graduates who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting employment after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Juneau AK medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Medical Assistant Online Programs

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good alternative for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized as well. Just remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be carried out in Juneau AK area medical facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training might be the right option for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Juneau AK with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must look at when assessing schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted organizations for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Juneau AK employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School's Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create 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 to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the school's passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school's program. Of course schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Juneau AK area medical care providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Juneau medical community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that very first job can be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Juneau AK area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a college to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it's essential that the school you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Juneau AK, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More on How to Train to Become a Medical Assistant in Juneau

Enroll in the Best Juneau Medical Assistant School

It's essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you're goal is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make certain that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. Regardless of the type 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Juneau Alaska.

 

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