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What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to determine which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Las Cruces NM with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must explore when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to verify that the school you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to 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 school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Las Cruces NM employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the School's Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the school's passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school's program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can choose to acquire 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 decide to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Las Cruces NM area medical providers. They are a great way to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Las Cruces healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Getting that first job can be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Las Cruces NM area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a program to witness what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full time, it's important that the program you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Las Cruces NM, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will still have to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities.