Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Classes Brookdale CA 95007

Certified Medical Assistant Schools Near Me Brookdale CA

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Brookdale California

Brookdale CA medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Brookdale CA, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You might want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask each of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Brookdale CA nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their role is to make sure that the Brookdale CA hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run successfully. 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 giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Providing general support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are qualified to under California law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and earn 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 Training Courses

In contrast to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Brookdale CA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about 1 year to finish, some as little as six to nine 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 normally two year programs offered at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Brookdale CAThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent alternative for individuals who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue working full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized as well. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be completed in Brookdale CA area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your education might be the best option for you. With the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for graduates who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Brookdale CA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and arguably 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, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Brookdale CA medical assistant programsPrior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must determine which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Brookdale CA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you should explore when evaluating programs. To help you with that process, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Second, 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 program is not accredited by one 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 normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Brookdale CA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the program’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 college’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to finish 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 Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Brookdale CA area medical providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the Brookdale medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Furnished? Finding that initial job may be a difficult undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Brookdale CA area and ask 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 indicates that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a college to experience 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 program while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the college you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Brookdale CA, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Brookdale California?

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

Brookdale, California

Brookdale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California.[2] Brookdale sits at an elevation of 405 feet (123 m).[2] It is located in the San Lorenzo Valley between Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond on Highway 9. The 2010 United States census reported Brookdale's population was 1,991.

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Brookdale has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[4]

The Brookdale Inn & Spa, formerly known as the Brookdale Lodge, is known for the stream running through its primary restaurant, the Brook Room. The original lodge was built in 1890 at the site of the Grover Lumber Mill by James Harvey Logan a botanist and Judge (also responsible for the cultivation of the Logan berry). Before Judge Logan's development, the area was known as Clear Creek and Brookville.[5] The inn was built around the river after 1922 while it was owned by Dr. Camp.[6] The lodge was purchased by a new owner in 2007[7] and the name was changed to Brookdale Inn and Spa. The lodge underwent many structural changes followed by neglect and eventual abandonment. The lodge appeared on the paranormal show Ghost Adventures in 2012.[8] The property has once again been sold and is undergoing intensive renovations.[9]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant Program Brookdale CA

Brookdale CA medical assistant studentIt’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly 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 Schools Near Me. But irrespective 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, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Brookdale CA.

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