How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Marion Iowa
Once you have decided to become a part of the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Marion IA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? Most future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues also. You might want to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to assist you with that task, we have included 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 role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their role is ensure that the Marion IA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Supplying general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are authorized to under Iowa law, some elect to specialize in a specific area and earn 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 Courses
Compared to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Marion IA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics 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 offered at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Online Medical Assistant Schools
There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good choice for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be minimized as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be completed in Marion IA area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your education might be the ideal choice for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for those who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many potential Marion IA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably 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, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.
Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which kind of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. After 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 students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Marion IA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must look at when researching schools. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to verify that the school 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 plan on becoming 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 agencies, 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 frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Marion IA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the program’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 schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Marion IA area medical care providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Marion health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Finding that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Marion IA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a college to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Marion IA, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still need to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, ask what the policy 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 Marion Iowa?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Marion IA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was 34,768 at the 2010 census, an increase of 32.2%.[5] The city is located next to Cedar Rapids and part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The town was named after Francis Marion, a hero of the Revolutionary War. The site was selected in 1839 to be the first county seat of the newly organized Linn County, Iowa. After years of debate over moving the county seat to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it was put to a vote in 1919. The vote was 9,960 in favor of moving the seat and 4,823 not in favor.
Each year, the city hosts the annual "Swamp Fox Festival", a celebration of Marion's heritage named in honor of the "Swamp Fox", Francis Marion's nickname during the Revolutionary War. The event typically includes a 5K run, parade, fireworks, and many other family friendly activities.
Pick the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Marion IA
It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must get the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in What Can A Medical Assistant Do. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Marion IA.
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