How to Select a Medical Assistant School near Cascade Wisconsin
Now that you have decided to enter the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Cascade WI, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you subsequently pick the best one? Many prospective students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues as well. You might want to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the colleges you are assessing. And to help you with that task, we have included a few questions that you need to ask all 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 Role of a Medical Assistant
The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their role is ensure that the Cascade WI clinics, hospitals and other medical care 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 practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Giving basic support during examinations and procedures
Although medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Wisconsin law, some choose to specialize in a particular 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 Training Courses
Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Cascade WI health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created 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 typically two year programs provided at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare 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 related field.
Medical Assistant Online Schools
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good alternative for those who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just keep in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be completed in Cascade WI area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training might be the ideal option for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for those who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a position after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Cascade WI medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Before you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Cascade WI with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to look at when assessing programs. To assist you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the college you select is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Cascade WI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.
Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest 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 receive a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make sure that the colleges you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Cascade WI area healthcare providers. They are an excellent means to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students establish relationships within the Cascade medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Getting that very first job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Cascade WI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the program you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Cascade WI, verify that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently 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 policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Cascade Wisconsin?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Cascade WI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Cascade, Wisconsin
Cascade is a village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 709 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. Wisconsin Highway 28 passes through Cascade.
With the construction of two 100-kilowatt wind turbines in June 2010, Cascade became the first community in Wisconsin to use locally produced wind energy to power its municipal wastewater treatment plant.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.82 square miles (2.12 km2), of which, 0.81 square miles (2.10 km2) of it is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]
Choose the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Cascade WI
It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the right info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools providing 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, verify that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Accreditation. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Cascade WI.
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