How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Ashburn Georgia
Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Ashburn GA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately pick the right one? Many prospective 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, job assistance and internship programs are important issues as well. You may decide to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have provided several questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their job is ensure that the Ashburn GA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can 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
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
- Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures
Although medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Georgia law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
In contrast to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Ashburn GA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a practical element 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 similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Courses
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good choice for those who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue working full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened also. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be carried out in Ashburn GA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the best choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting employment after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Ashburn GA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. Once those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Ashburn GA with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that process, below are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make certain that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education 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 program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Ashburn GA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must learn which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Ashburn GA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Ashburn healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that initial job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Ashburn GA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller 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 practical, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a program to witness what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full time, it’s important that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Ashburn GA, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will still need to schedule any clinical training or internships that will be required. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Ashburn Georgia?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Ashburn GA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Ashburn, Georgia
The city of Ashburn is the county seat of Turner County, Georgia, United States. As of 2010, the city had a population of 3,792.[4] Ashburn's government is classified as a council/manager form of municipal government.The City Manager of Ashburn is Ben Taylor.
The town of Marion was founded in 1888, and changed its name to Ashburn when it was incorporated in 1890. Ashburn was designated seat of Turner County when it was established in 1905.[5] The community was named after W. W. Ashburn, a pioneer citizen.[6]
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,419 people, 1,624 households, and 1,117 families residing in the city. The population density was 978.6 people per square mile (377.5/km²). There were 1,846 housing units at an average density of 408.8 per square mile (157.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.22% African American, 32.59% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 1.65% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.67% of the population.
Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant College Ashburn GA
It’s imperative 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 objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges 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, verify that the program you select is accredited by a recognized agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Short Medical Assistant Programs. But regardless 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Ashburn GA.
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