Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Round Lake IL 60073

Registered Medical Assistant Exam Round Lake IL

How to Pick a Medical Assistant School Program near Round Lake Illinois

Round Lake IL medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Round Lake IL, it’s time to select a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently pick the best one? A number of potential students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors also. You may want to look into some online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Round Lake IL nursing home patientThe function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their job is to make sure that the Round Lake IL hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions 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 tasked with giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the many duties 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 fluid and tissue samples
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
  • Providing general support during exams and procedures

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

Medical Assistant Courses

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Round Lake IL health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs offered at junior and community colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local healthcare facility. Associate Degrees are commonly 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 Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Round Lake ILThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good alternative for those who may not have the 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 certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be reduced also. But bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be completed in Round Lake IL area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the ideal option for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Round Lake IL medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will graduate within thirty 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 provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Round Lake IL medical assistant programsPrior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you must determine 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 covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Round Lake IL with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should look at when researching programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are several great reasons to confirm that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin 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 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 school is not accredited by either of these agencies, 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 normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Round Lake IL employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must learn which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Round Lake IL area healthcare providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also help students build relationships within the Round Lake healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing that initial job may be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Round Lake IL area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might be an indication of how much personal attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before enrolling in a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the college you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes at night or on weekends near Round Lake IL, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also have to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Round Lake Illinois?

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

Round Lake, Illinois

According to the 2010 census, Round Lake has a total area of 5.635 square miles (14.59 km2), of which 5.47 square miles (14.17 km2) (or 97.07%) is land and 0.165 square miles (0.43 km2) (or 2.93%) is water.[5]

As of 2010 United States Census,[7] there were 18,289 people, 6,206 households, and 5,847 families residing in the village. The population increased 310% from the 2000 US Census total of 5,492. The population density is 3,225.6 people per square mile (1,244.9/km²). There are 6,206 housing units at an average density of 1,094.5 per square mile (422.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village is 68.9% White, 4.77% African American, 0.5% Native American, 12.7% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.69% from other races, and 3.24% from two or more races. 25.3% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There 6,206 total housing units, of which 94.2% or (5,847) are occupied households. Of these occupied households 48% have children under the age of 18 living with them. 49.5% of the population was male, 50.5% female. 80% of the occupied homes were owner-occupied with the remaining 19.5% in renter-occupied. The average household size is 3.13 per home.

Select the Best Medical Assistant Training Round Lake IL

Round Lake IL medical assistant studentIt’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to get the right information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, 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 Registered Medical Assistant Exam. But regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can subsequently start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Round Lake IL.

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