Medical Assistant Associate Degree Sellersburg IN - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Program near Sellersburg Indiana

Sellersburg IN medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Sellersburg IN, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You may choose to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided 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 offered.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Sellersburg IN nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Sellersburg IN hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Indiana law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Education

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Sellersburg IN health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Sellersburg IN There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good choice for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be completed in Sellersburg IN area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the ideal option for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for graduates who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some potential Sellersburg IN medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Sellersburg IN medical assistant programs Prior to examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. After those choices have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Sellersburg IN with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you should look at when assessing schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to make sure that the program you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Sellersburg IN employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to enroll in 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. Doing this is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Sellersburg IN area health care providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Sellersburg health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding that very first job may be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Sellersburg IN area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a couple of classes before selecting a college to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s imperative that the college you enroll in offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Sellersburg IN, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Sellersburg Indiana?

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

Sellersburg, Indiana

Sellersburg is a town located within Silver Creek Township, Clark County, Indiana, United States. It had a population of 6,128 at time of the 2010 census. Sellersburg is located along Interstate 65, about 15 minutes north of Louisville.

Sellersburg takes its name from its founder, Moses Sellers, who laid out the town in 1846.[7][8] Sellersburg incorporated in 1890.[1] The first post office at Sellersburg was established in 1854, at which time the name was spelled Sellersburgh.[9]

Sellersburg grew up at 38°23′13″N 85°45′27″W / 38.38694°N 85.75750°W / 38.38694; -85.75750 (38.386823, -85.757543).[10] According to the 2010 census, Sellersburg has a total area of 3.97 square miles (10.28 km2), of which 3.94 square miles (10.20 km2) (or 99.24%) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) (or 0.76%) is water.[11]

Choose the Best Medical Assistant Course Sellersburg IN

Sellersburg IN medical assistant student It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Associate Degree. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Sellersburg IN.