Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Lexington IL 61753

Colleges That Offer Medical Assistant Degrees Lexington IL

How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training School near Lexington Illinois

Lexington IL medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Lexington IL, it’s time to select a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? Many prospective students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You may want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have provided a few questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But before we start 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 Duties of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Lexington IL nursing home patientThe function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their job is to make sure that the Lexington IL hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and filing claims
  • Scheduling and verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
  • Supplying general support during exams and procedures

Even though medical assistants can perform almost any task they are qualified to under Illinois law, some opt to specialize in a specific area and attain 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 Education

In contrast to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Lexington IL health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They often have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Lexington ILThere are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent option for individuals who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Lexington IL area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for individuals who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing a job after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of potential Lexington IL medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Lexington IL medical assistant programsBefore you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Lexington IL with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when evaluating schools. To assist you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 either of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Lexington IL employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools develop their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to acquiring 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 1 year. Or you can opt to earn an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you decide to pursue, verify that the colleges you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Lexington IL area medical providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Lexington medical community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Finding that very 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 colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Lexington IL area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much individual attention you will get during 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 practical, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a school to see what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full-time, it’s essential that the school you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lexington IL, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, ask 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 Lexington Illinois?

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

Lexington, Illinois

Lexington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,060 at the 2010 census. There are two theories regarding the etymology of the city name. One says it was named for the Battle of Lexington, where General Gridley's father fought.[3] and the other that it was named for the home town of James Brown, the town's co-founder.[4]

Lexington was laid out on 4 January 1836 by Asahel Gridley (1810–1881) and James Brown (c. 1802- ?). Gridley was a lawyer and banker from Bloomington who would eventually become the richest man in McLean County; Brown was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and Lexington, Illinois, seems to have been his only attempt at founding a town.[5] Its founding was part of a great real estate boom that swept across the nation. Within a few months of the founding of the town seven other new towns were laid out in McLean County: Concord (now Danvers), Hudson, Le Roy, Livingston, Lytleville, Mt. Hope and Wilksborough. In common with other towns founded during the 1836 boom, and unlike many later towns, Lexington was designed around a central public square with streets running true north-south and east-west.[6] In the case of Lexington, the original town consisted of 36 blocks, each containing six lots. Like most of the towns of the 1836 era the town was built along the line that divided woodland from prairie; the southeast corner of the town was just within the limits of timber.[7] Like most Mackinaw River towns, Lexington was laid out on higher ground some distance from the river itself.

Gridley and Brown first offered lots in the town for sale at a public auction on 30 April 1836 at 10:00 in the morning. They began their printed advertisement for the sale by telling readers that the town was on the main road from Springfield, via Bloomington, to Chicago and that their new town was a mile from the Mackinaw River. They wrote that Lexington "is located on the margin of a fine rolling prairie, near a large and inexhaustible body of the best timber the country affords, sufficient to justify the immense settlement already being made." They told potential buyers that there were two saw mills and a fulling mill nearby. Moreover, they added, building had already begun. For those with good security, one twelve months credit was available.[8]

Pick the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Lexington IL

Lexington IL medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will furnish the right training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as 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 Colleges That Offer Medical Assistant Degrees. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Lexington IL.

More Medical Locations in Illinois

  • Medical Assistant Degree Online Charleston IL
  • Certified Medical Assistant Schools Hamel IL
  • Medical Assistant Study Olney IL
  • Certified Medical Assistant Classes Momence IL
  • Medical Assistant School Cost Moweaqua IL
  • Medical Assistant Schools Farmington IL
  • Best Colleges For Medical Assistant Justice IL
  • How Long Are Medical Assistant Programs Martinsville IL
  • Evening Medical Assistant Programs Palatine IL
  • Medical Assistant Online School Manhattan IL
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 8

    Planned Parenthood - Bloomington Health Center
    5 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    1319 N Veterans Pkwy, Ste 3-A, Bloomington, IL 61704

    Carepaks Health Services
    1 Reviews
    Home Health Care, Personal Care Services
    Phone:
    209 Susan Dr, Normal, IL 61761

    Bloomington Normal Audiology
    1 Reviews
    Audiologist
    Phone:
    816 S Eldorado Rd, Sre 1 & 2A, Bloomington, IL 61704

    Bloomington Pediatrics & Allergy
    5 Reviews
    Pediatricians
    Phone:
    306 Saint Joseph Dr, Bloomington, IL 61701

    OSF Medical Group
    4 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    2200 Fort Jesse Rd, Ste 110, Normal, IL 61761

    OSF PromptCare-Fort Jesse
    3 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    2200 Fort Jesse Rd, Normal, IL 61761

    OSF Balance & Dizziness Center
    1 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    2200 Fort Jesse Rd, Normal, IL 61761

    Care Choice Home Health
    1 Reviews
    Home Health Care, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    7840 Lincoln Ave, Ste 103, Skokie, IL 60077