Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Franklin Park IL 60131

Medical Assistant Online Franklin Park IL

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training Program near Franklin Park Illinois

Franklin Park IL medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Franklin Park IL, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Most prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You may want to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished several questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Franklin Park IL nursing home patientThe role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Primarily their role is ensure that the Franklin Park IL clinics, hospitals and other healthcare 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 practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can 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 verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Supplying basic support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Illinois law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the choices 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

Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Franklin Park IL 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 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to finish, a few 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 option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical component involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Franklin Park ILThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are an excellent choice for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be performed in Franklin Park IL area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for individuals who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Franklin Park IL medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained 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 exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Franklin Park IL medical assistant programsPrior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Franklin Park IL with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many good reasons to confirm that the college you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Franklin Park IL employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are generally two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Franklin Park IL area medical providers. They are an excellent way to get hands-on practical training and experience. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Franklin Park medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Franklin Park IL area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a program to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s important 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 Franklin Park IL, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online college, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that will 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 responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Franklin Park Illinois?

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

Franklin Park, Illinois

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,333 people, 6,178 households, and 4,486 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,843.4 people per square mile (1,483.9/km²). There were 6,569 housing units at an average density of 1,377.1 per square mile (529.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 74.7% White, 1.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 18.0% some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 43.1% of the population.[3]

There were 6,178 households, out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were headed by married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96, and the average family size was 3.51.[3]

In the village, the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.[3]

Choose the Right Medical Assistant Course Franklin Park IL

Franklin Park IL medical assistant studentIt’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the proper training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Online. But irrespective 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 supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Franklin Park IL.

More Medical Locations in Illinois

  • Medical Assistant Trade Schools Near Me Irvington IL
  • Medical Assistant Programs Biggsville IL
  • What Is A Medical Assistant Princeton IL
  • Medical Assistant Community College Sublette IL
  • Medical Assistant Bachelor Degree Henry IL
  • Certified Medical Assistant Career Bethany IL
  • Medical Assistant Duties And Responsibilities Colfax IL
  • Medical Assistant Evening Classes Barnhill IL
  • National Certified Medical Assistant Roscoe IL
  • How Long To Become A Medical Assistant Clarendon Hills IL
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 1100

    UI Health O'Hare Clinic
    6 Reviews
    Walk-in Clinics
    Phone:
    O'hare International Airport, Terminal 2, Chicago, IL 60666

    West Suburban Family Practice Associates
    2 Reviews
    Family Practice
    Phone:
    7632 W North Ave, Elmwood Park, IL 60707

    Illinois School of Health Careers
    4 Reviews
    Adult Education, Colleges & Universities
    Phone:
    8750 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60631

    Loyola Center for Health at Elmwood Park
    1 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    7255 W Grand Ave, Elmwood Park, IL 60707

    Lincoln Technical Institute
    5 Reviews
    Vocational & Technical School, Adult Education, Colleges & Universities
    Phone:
    8317 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160

    Broadway Medical Clinic, S.C.
    3 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    4009 Warren Ave, Bellwood, IL 60104

    Mits
    2 Reviews
    Vocational & Technical School, IT Services & Computer Repair
    Phone:
    1701 E Woodfield Rd, Ste 750, Schaumburg, IL 60173

    Ava Women's Health Associates
    7 Reviews
    Obstetricians & Gynecologists
    Phone:
    675 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160

    Sheba Chiplunkar, MD
    3 Reviews
    Internal Medicine
    Phone:
    7411 Lake St, Bldg A, Ste 1120, Chicago Health Medical Group, River Forest, IL 60305

    Jason Primer, MD
    8 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    676 N Saint Clair St, Chicago, IL 60611