Accelerated Medical Assistant Programs Warwick GA

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Training Program near Warwick Georgia

Warwick GA medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Warwick GA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? A number of prospective students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues as well. You might decide to take a look at a few 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 important qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Warwick GA nursing home patientThe duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their role is to make sure that the Warwick GA clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many duties 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 tissue and fluid specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Giving basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under Georgia law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options 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

Compared to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Warwick GA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about one year to finish, 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 earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive 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 transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Warwick GAThere are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are a good option for students who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly 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 commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be reduced also. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in Warwick GA area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education may be the ideal choice for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for those who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Warwick GA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Warwick GA medical assistant programsPrior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the schools that are closest to Warwick GA with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must look at when researching schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to confirm that the college you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies 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 one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Warwick GA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out 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 of course you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, verify that the colleges you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Warwick GA area medical providers. They are a great means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also assist students build relationships within the Warwick medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting that first job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Warwick GA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indicator of how much individual attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a college to see what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the program you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Warwick GA, make certain that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Warwick Georgia?

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

Warwick, Georgia

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 430 people, 160 households, and 123 families residing in the city. The population density was 531.9 people per square mile (205.0/km²). There were 181 housing units at an average density of 223.9 per square mile (86.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 37.67% White, 61.16% African American, 0.47% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 160 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out with 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.7 males.

Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Warwick GA

Warwick GA medical assistant studentIt’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Whether you’re goal is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training these days that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized organization, such as 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 Accelerated Medical Assistant Programs. But regardless of the kind 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 supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Warwick GA.

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