How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Pentwater Michigan
Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pentwater MI, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? Many potential students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest 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 important issues as well. You may want to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.
The Function of a Medical Assistant
The job of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Primarily their role is to make sure that the Pentwater MI hospitals, clinics and other medical care centers where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Supplying basic support during exams and procedures
Although medical assistants may carry out almost any duty they are authorized to under Michigan law, some opt 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) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training Courses
In contrast to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Pentwater MI health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often 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 Courses
There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are an excellent choice for individuals who may not have the 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 working full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced also. Just keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can typically be performed in Pentwater MI area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your training might 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 provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for graduates who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in attaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Pentwater MI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which type of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. Once those selections have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students confine their searches to the schools that are closest to Pentwater MI with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to look at when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to confirm that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become 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 either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Pentwater MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School’s Passage Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools 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 focused on that certification. Second, ask what the program’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. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Pentwater MI area healthcare providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Pentwater medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Landing that first job can be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Pentwater MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the college you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Pentwater MI, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, ask 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 Pentwater Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Pentwater MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Pentwater, Michigan
Pentwater is a village in Oceana County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 857 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Pentwater Township. Pentwater is home to Mears State Park. The name Pentwater comes from Pent or Penned up waters.[citation needed] The entrance to the channel is notoriously shallow and for many years dictated the size of vessels that the village was able to accommodate.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the hamlet has a total area of 1.62 square miles (4.20 km2), of which, 1.28 square miles (3.32 km2) of it is land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 857 people, 450 households, and 269 families residing in the village. The population density was 669.5 inhabitants per square mile (258.5/km2). There were 997 housing units at an average density of 778.9 per square mile (300.7/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.3% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
Choose the Best Medical Assistant Training Pentwater MI
It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm 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 examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Career. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan 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 ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Pentwater MI.
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