How Long Is Medical Assistant School Pleasant Prairie WI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin

Pleasant Prairie WI medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have made a decision to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Pleasant Prairie WI, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? Many future students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might decide to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short 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 available.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Pleasant Prairie WI nursing home patient The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Pleasant Prairie WI clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where they work run efficiently. Based 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 tasked with providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:

Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any task they are authorized to under Wisconsin law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

In contrast to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Pleasant Prairie WI health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally two options provided for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about one year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed 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 two year programs available at junior and community colleges as well as 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 courses. They usually have a practical component requiring 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 Colleges

woman attending medical assistant school online in Pleasant Prairie WI There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are an excellent alternative for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced also. But bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Pleasant Prairie WI area medical 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 best choice for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for individuals who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Pleasant Prairie WI medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Pleasant Prairie WI medical assistant programs Prior to assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to determine which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Pleasant Prairie WI with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must look at when assessing schools. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the college you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 school is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of prospective Pleasant Prairie WI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you need to find out which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to choose 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 just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, verify that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Pleasant Prairie WI area healthcare providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Pleasant Prairie health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding that very first job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Pleasant Prairie WI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to instructors and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the college you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Pleasant Prairie WI, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also have to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin?

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

Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Pleasant Prairie is a village in Kenosha County, Wisconsin situated between Milwaukee and Chicago. The population was 19,719 at the 2010 census. The neighborhoods of Carol Beach, Dexter's Corner, Ranney, and Tobin are located within the village.

The Pleasant Prairie area was the center of Native American activity in pre-pioneer Wisconsin.[6] Some of the earliest traces of Native American life in Wisconsin have been found along State Highway 32 and State Highway 165, Barnes Creek, and in the Carol Beach area.[7] These early Native American campsites were located along what was once the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Pleasant Prairie also saw pioneers arrive in Wisconsin on the Jambeau Trail (now known as Green Bay Road). In addition, several natural historic sites such as the Chiwaukee Prairie and the Kenosha Sand Dunes lie undisturbed in Pleasant Prairie.

The area's first white settler was Horace Woodbridge, who arrived on June 4, 1833; Henry Miller arrived later that same month. Pleasant Prairie had its beginnings as a political entity in April 1842 when the first town meeting was held and the first election of town officials took place. The early town officials met in the Williams Congregational Church located at 93rd Street and Green Bay Road. Later the old church became the town hall.[8] Pleasant Prairie originally was a town nearly 42 square miles (110 km2) in size.

Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Pleasant Prairie WI

Pleasant Prairie WI medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make sure 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 How Long Is Medical Assistant School. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Pleasant Prairie WI.