Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Schools Silver Lake KS 66539

How Long Is Medical Assistant School Silver Lake KS

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training School near Silver Lake Kansas

Silver Lake KS medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have decided to enter the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Silver Lake KS, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? A number of future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You might choose to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have included a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Silver Lake KS nursing home patientThe duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their job is to make sure that the Silver Lake KS clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Supplying general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under Kansas law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Courses

Compared to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Silver Lake KS health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn 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 earn an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical 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 Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Silver Lake KSThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are a good choice for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be completed in Silver Lake KS area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the right option for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for those who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Silver Lake KS medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

What to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Silver Lake KS medical assistant programsBefore you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the process of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Silver Lake KS with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to explore when researching schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to ensure that the program you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction 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 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 school is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Silver Lake KS employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, confirm that the colleges you are considering offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Silver Lake KS area healthcare providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students develop relationships within the Silver Lake health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Supplied? Finding that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Silver Lake KS area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication 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 greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a college to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the school you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Silver Lake KS, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Silver Lake Kansas?

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

Silver Lake, Kansas

In 1911, a new six room brick school building replaced the original two room structure and the first high school class was organized. In 1928, that building became the elementary school. In 1952, the high school burned and a new high school was completed in 1953. In 1961, a new elementary school was completed.[1]

Silver Lake is located at 39°6′9″N 95°51′33″W / 39.10250°N 95.85917°W / 39.10250; -95.85917 (39.102431, -95.859047).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.60 square miles (1.55 km2), of which, 0.58 square miles (1.50 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[2]

Silver Lake is the nearest city to Topeka to the west, along U.S. Route 24. Recently Silver Lake has had a higher proportion of its citizens commuting into Topeka. The next city west along US 24 is Rossville.

Pick the Right Medical Assistant School Silver Lake KS

Silver Lake KS medical assistant studentIt’s important to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in How Long Is Medical Assistant School. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Silver Lake KS.

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