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Medical Assistant Courses
Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Kansas 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 basically two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about a year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually 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 related field.
Medical Assistant Certification Programs
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Kansas medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.
Medical Assistant Online Schools
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent alternative for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full time while earning their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be performed in Kansas medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your training might be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.