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Medical Assistant Courses
Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Pennsylvania health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about a year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. 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 Options
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Pennsylvania medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.
Online Medical Assistant Training
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good option for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized as well. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be completed in Pennsylvania health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your training may be the right choice for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.