Certified Medical Assistant Courses
How to Choose the Best One Near Juneau Alaska

It’s time to select and enroll in a medical assistant school near Juneau AK in order to receive the right training to begin a career in the rewarding field of medicine. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many potential students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. Online medical assistant classes are an alternative that you may decide is a more advantageous way to get your training (more on that later). Irrespective of your leaning toward either on campus or online scholastics, the central point is that you must do your due diligence before you select a school. And to help you with that task, 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 responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

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Medical Assistant Job Description 

The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their function is to make sure that the Juneau AK hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
• Scheduling and confirming appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
• Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
• Supplying general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are authorized to under Alaska law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Compared to many 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 program (we'll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 options available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at community and junior colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor's Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Certification Options

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Juneau AK medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good option for individuals who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be reduced also. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be performed in Juneau AK area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your education may be the right option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Juneau AK with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you should look at when evaluating programs. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to make sure that the program you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Juneau AK employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program's Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the program's passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college's program. Naturally schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are considering offer the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Juneau AK area healthcare providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students develop relationships within the Juneau healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Juneau AK area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full time, it's essential that the college you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Juneau AK, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

More Info on How to Study to Become a Medical Assistant in Juneau

Choose the Best Juneau Medical Assistant Program

It's important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you're goal is to launch 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 information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. Irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Juneau Alaska.

 

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