Clinical Medical Assistant Clarkston MI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Program near Clarkston Michigan

Clarkston MI medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Clarkston MI, it’s time to choose 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 researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might choose to research several 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 carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have included some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Clarkston MI nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their role is ensure that the Clarkston MI hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work operate successfully. Depending 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 tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Michigan law, some prefer 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) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Courses

In contrast to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Clarkston MI health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Clarkston MI There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good alternative for those who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can typically be performed in Clarkston MI area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training may be the right option for you. With the online lessons 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, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in getting a job after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Clarkston MI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Clarkston MI medical assistant programs Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you would like 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 researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Clarkston MI with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to look at when researching programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to confirm that the school you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your school is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective Clarkston MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get 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 colleges you are considering provide the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Clarkston MI area medical providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Clarkston health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Landing that very first job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Clarkston MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a college to witness 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 school you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Clarkston MI, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still need to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Clarkston Michigan?

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

Clarkston, Michigan

The City of the Village of Clarkston, or Clarkston, is a small city located in Oakland County, Michigan. It is completely surrounded by Independence Township. The city is approximately one half square mile in size. Its population in 2010 was 882.[5]

Squatter Linux Jacox from New York built the first house, a Shanty, in Clarkston in 1830. In 1832, Butler Holcomb built the second house and a sawmill. On December 12, 1840, the Independence post office was transferred to the community and assumed its name.[6] In 1842, the Clark brothers platted a tract of land for a village and gave it the name Clarkston.[7] Clarkston was incorporated in 1884 as a village.[6]

Enroll in the Best Medical Assistant Program Clarkston MI

Clarkston MI medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting 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 must get the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Clinical Medical Assistant. 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, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Clarkston MI.