Certified Medical Assistant School Programs
How to Select the Right One Near Juneau Alaska

Once you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Juneau AK, it's time to select a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. Medical assistant online classes are another option that you may decide is a more beneficial way to get your training (more on that later). Irrespective of your leaning toward either online or on campus schooling, the central point is that you must perform your due diligence before you select a school. And to assist you with that task, we have included some questions that you should ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let's briefly talk about the type of training and credentials that are offered.

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Medical Assistant Education

Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, 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 available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at junior and community 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 classes. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor's Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Certification Programs

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Juneau AK medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier 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 those who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution 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 alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Juneau AK area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your training might be the right choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. After those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Juneau AK with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must examine when researching programs. To assist you with that process, following are some 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 several great reasons to verify 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 intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies 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 either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Juneau AK employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School's Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the school's passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college's program. Naturally programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Juneau AK area medical care providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Juneau medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Landing that initial job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer 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 health care community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it's important that the school you select provides 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 might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will still need to schedule any clinical training or internships that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Learn More on How 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 picking a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you're objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must get the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many colleges offering training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. Regardless 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, don't forget 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 fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Juneau Alaska.

 

Juneau Medical Assistant Programs Near Me | Juneau Medical Assistant Schools Near Me