Certified Medical Assistant Certification Bethel AK

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Bethel Alaska

Bethel AK medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bethel AK, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? A number of future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You may decide to research some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have included some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Bethel AK nursing home patientThe role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their job is ensure that the Bethel AK clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Scheduling and confirming appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Supplying general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Alaska law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Courses

Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Bethel AK health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at community and junior 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 often have a practical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Bethel AKThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good option for students who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced also. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be performed in Bethel AK area health care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the right option for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for individuals who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Bethel AK medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Bethel AK medical assistant programsPrior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Bethel AK with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you should explore when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the program you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Bethel AK employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

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. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, verify that the schools you are looking at offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Bethel AK area medical providers. They are a great way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students build relationships within the Bethel health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that initial job may be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Bethel AK area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before selecting a college to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the college you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Bethel AK, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bethel Alaska?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Bethel AK area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Bethel, Alaska

Bethel (Mamterilleq in Central Alaskan Yup'ik) is the largest community on the Kuskokwim River, located approximately 50 mi (80 km) upriver from where the river flows into Kuskokwim Bay. Bethel is the largest community in western Alaska and in the Unorganized Borough, as well as the 9th largest in the state, with a population of 6,080 as of the 2010 Census.[7] Bethel is home to the lone detention center in southwestern Alaska, the Yukon Kuskokwim Correction Center.[8]

Southwestern Alaska was the traditional place of Yup'ik people and their ancestors for thousands of years. They called their village Mamterillermiut, meaning "Smokehouse People", after their nearby fish smokehouse.[10] It was an Alaska Commercial Company trading post during the late 19th century, and had a population of 41 people in the 1880 U.S. Census.[citation needed]

In 1885, the Moravian Church established a mission in the area under the leadership of Rev. William Weinland and Caroline (born Yost) [11] and John Henry Kilbuck, Jr., a Lenape, and his wife Edith, a daughter and granddaughter of Moravian missionaries in Kansas.[citation needed] They both learned Yup'ik, which greatly enhanced their effectiveness as missionaries.[citation needed] He made Yup'ik the language of the Moravian Church in the community and region, and helped translate scripture into the people's language.[citation needed] The missionaries moved Bethel from Mamterillermiut to its present location on the west side of the Kuskokwim River. A United States post office was opened in 1905.[citation needed]

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Training Bethel AK

Bethel AK medical assistant studentIt’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Certification. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Bethel AK.

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