How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Bellaire Michigan

Once you have decided to join the gratifying field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bellaire MI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many potential students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You might choose to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have included some questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Bellaire MI hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work operate efficiently. Depending 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 providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

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

While medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are qualified to under Michigan law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the choices 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

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Bellaire MI health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two options provided for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are typically 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. 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 similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Courses

There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good alternative for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Bellaire MI area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your education may be the ideal option for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some potential Bellaire MI medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained 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 examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which type 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 evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Bellaire MI with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should explore when assessing schools. To assist you with that process, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, 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 program 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 normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Bellaire MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Bellaire MI area medical providers. They are an excellent means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students develop relationships within the Bellaire health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Provided? Getting that first job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Bellaire MI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Small 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 attend a few classes before choosing a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the program you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Bellaire MI, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still need to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bellaire Michigan?

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

Pick the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Bellaire MI

It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must acquire the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. 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 exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Night Classes. But irrespective 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 compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Bellaire MI.

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