Certify Medical Assistant Cave Spring GA

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near Cave Spring Georgia

Cave Spring GA medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Cave Spring GA, it’s time to select a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? A number of future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences 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 issues also. You might want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Job of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Cave Spring GA nursing home patientThe function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their role is ensure that the Cave Spring GA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
  • Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Georgia law, some choose to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices offered 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

Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Cave Spring GA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about a year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare 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 together with trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Cave Spring GAThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized also. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be completed in Cave Spring GA area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of getting your education might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Cave Spring GA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Cave Spring GA medical assistant programsPrior to examining your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing 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 nearest to Cave Spring GA with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you should look at when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the college you select is accredited. First, 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 approved organizations 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 one of these organizations, you will not be allowed 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 finally, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Cave Spring GA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will want to select a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’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 basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make certain that the schools you are looking at offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Cave Spring GA area health care providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Cave Spring health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Getting that initial job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Cave Spring GA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the program you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Cave Spring GA, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still need to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Cave Spring Georgia?

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

Cave Spring, Georgia

Cave Spring is a city in Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is located 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Rome, the county seat. The population of Cave Spring was 1,200 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 975 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town was named after the cave and water spring located in Rolater Park.[5] The cave has impressive stalagmites and the legendary "Devil's Stool" formation. The spring water has won awards for purity and taste. Many visitors bring jugs to fill at the spring and take home for drinking.

Cave Spring is located in southwestern Floyd County at 34°6′32″N 85°20′10″W / 34.10889°N 85.33611°W / 34.10889; -85.33611 (34.108912, -85.336018).[6]U.S. Route 411 passes through the city, leading northeast to Rome and west 46 miles (74 km) to Gadsden, Alabama. The Alabama border is 5 miles (8 km) west of Cave Spring. Georgia State Route 100 leads north from Cave Spring 12 miles (19 km) to Coosa and southeast 11 miles (18 km) to Cedartown.

Select the Best Medical Assistant Course Cave Spring GA

Cave Spring GA medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certify Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Cave Spring GA.

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