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Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Oceanside CA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to look at when researching programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to ensure that the school you choose is accredited. To start 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 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 one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Oceanside CA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program's Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must determine which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Second, ask what the program's passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a school's program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, verify that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Oceanside CA area medical care providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Oceanside healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding that very first job can be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Oceanside CA 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 contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a few classes before selecting a program to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it's essential that the college you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Oceanside CA, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.