How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training Program near Thornton Texas
Once you have decided to become a part of the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Thornton TX, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Many future students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You may want to research some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.
The Duties of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Thornton TX clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work run successfully. 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 providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Supplying general support during examinations and procedures
Although medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Texas law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and attain 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 Training Programs
Compared to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Thornton TX health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. 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 similar field.
Online Medical Assistant Programs
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent option for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized also. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be completed in Thornton TX area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the best option for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Thornton TX medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at 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 restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Thornton TX with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must explore when researching programs. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the program you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in 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 organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate 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 potential Thornton TX employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Next, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Thornton TX area healthcare providers. They are a great method to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the Thornton healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing that first job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Thornton TX area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Big are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s important that the program you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Thornton TX, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Thornton Texas?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Thornton TX area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Thornton, Texas
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Thornton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[4]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 525 people, 206 households, and 147 families residing in the town. The population density was 529.5 people per square mile (204.8/km²). There were 248 housing units at an average density of 250.1 per square mile (96.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.00% White, 6.48% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 2.86% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.00% of the population.
There were 206 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.
Select the Best Medical Assistant Course Thornton TX
It’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care 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 prior to making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Becoming A Medical Assistant. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan 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 provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Thornton TX.
More Medical Locations in Texas
Business Results 1 - 10 of 1
1 Reviews 