Medical Assistant Registration Kenner LA

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Kenner Louisiana

Kenner LA medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have decided to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Kenner LA, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? Many prospective students begin by researching 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 very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You might decide to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that task, we have included a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Kenner LA nursing home patientThe function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Kenner LA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work operate efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Louisiana law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options available 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 Education

In contrast to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Kenner LA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. 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 Kenner LAThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good choice for individuals who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be lessened as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be completed in Kenner LA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the right choice 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 earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for those who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Kenner LA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Kenner LA medical assistant programsBefore you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many prospective students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Kenner LA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to look at when researching programs. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to make sure that the school you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Kenner LA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must determine which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing 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 avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Kenner LA area health care providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students develop relationships within the Kenner healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding that very first job may be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Kenner LA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a couple of classes before choosing a school to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the school you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Kenner LA, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any 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 due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Kenner Louisiana?

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

Kenner, Louisiana

Kenner (historically French: Cannes-Brûlées)[4] is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. State of Louisiana. It is the largest city in Jefferson Parish, United States and a suburb of New Orleans. The population was 66,702 at the 2010 census.

Originally inhabited by the Tchoupitoulas Indians,[5] the area along the Mississippi River was the first land in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area on which Europeans set foot. René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle landed there in 1682. In 1855, Kenner was founded by Minor Kenner on land that consisted of three plantation properties that had been purchased by the Kenner family. At the time, all land north of what is now Airline Highway was swampland.

During 1915–1931, a New Orleans streetcar line operated between New Orleans and Kenner. The line ran between the intersection of Rampart and Canal in New Orleans and the intersection of Williams Blvd and Jefferson Hwy in Kenner.

Choose the Best Medical Assistant Course Kenner LA

Kenner LA medical assistant studentIt’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the proper training. Regardless if you’re goal 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 need to get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training these days 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 decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Registration. But regardless of the type 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 evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Kenner LA.

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