Certified Medical Assistant Training
How to Select the Right One Near Juneau Alaska
Once you have decided to enter the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Juneau AK, it's time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? When looking for medical assistant schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. You may want to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the schools on your "maybe" list. But prior to starting that review, let's talk a little bit about the kind of training and credentials that are offered.
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Medical Assistant Training
Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have 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 have earned certification. There are essentially two options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one 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 obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at junior and community colleges as well as technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive 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 involving an internship with a local medical practice. 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 similar field.
Medical Assistant Certification Programs
As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Juneau AK medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.
Medical Assistant Online Training
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are an excellent choice for students who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized as well. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Juneau AK area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training might be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning 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 considerations that you must look at when assessing schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to make sure that the college you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to complete 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Juneau AK employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School's Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the school's passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college's program. Of course schools with low rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about two years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Juneau AK area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Juneau healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that very first job may be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Juneau AK area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full-time, it's imperative that the school you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Juneau AK, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Learn More on How to Train to Become a CMA in Juneau
Enroll in the Right Juneau Medical Assistant Program
It's imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you're planning to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. Irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Juneau Alaska.
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