Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Greensboro GA

How to Pick a Medical Assistant School near Greensboro Georgia

Greensboro GA medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Greensboro GA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Most 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, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You may decide to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Greensboro GA nursing home patientThe function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their duty is ensure that the Greensboro GA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

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

Even though medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Georgia law, some opt 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) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Greensboro GA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about a year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the diploma or certificate 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 practice. 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.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Greensboro GAThere are many accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good alternative for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be completed in Greensboro GA area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the ideal option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to achieve 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 graduates who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Some potential Greensboro GA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Greensboro GA medical assistant programsPrior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to 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 decisions have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Greensboro GA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you should examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Greensboro GA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to acquiring 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, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Greensboro GA area medical care providers. They are a great way to get hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Greensboro health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Finding that first job can be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Greensboro GA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Greensboro GA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Greensboro Georgia?

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

Greensboro, Georgia

Greensboro is located at the center of Greene County at 33°34′18″N 83°10′51″W / 33.57167°N 83.18083°W / 33.57167; -83.18083 (33.571528, -83.180921).[6]U.S. Route 278 passes through the city center as Broad Street, leading east 7 miles (11 km) to Union Point and west 19 miles (31 km) to Madison. Georgia State Route 44 leads southwest from Greensboro 22 miles (35 km) to Eatonton. State Route 15 leads north 34 miles (55 km) to Athens and southeast 27 miles (43 km) to Sparta. The city limits extend southwest along SR 44 for 4 miles (6 km) so as to include Exit 130 on Interstate 20. I-20 leads east 70 miles (110 km) to Augusta and west 73 miles (117 km) to Atlanta.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greensboro has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km2), of which 6.7 square miles (17.4 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.99%, is water.[4] The city is in the Oconee River watershed and is located 5 miles (8 km) east of Lake Oconee and 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Oconee National Forest.

As of the census[2] of the year 2000, there were 3,238 people, 1,184 households, and 806 families residing in this town. The population density was 556.5 people per square mile (214.8/km²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 217.2 per square mile (83.9/km²). The racial makeup of this town was 33.45% White, 62.01% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 2.66% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.

Choose the Right Medical Assistant Training Greensboro GA

Greensboro GA medical assistant studentIt’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re planning to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Accredited Medical Assistant Programs. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Greensboro GA.

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