Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Schools Arlington WA 98223

How Long Is Medical Assistant School Arlington WA

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant Training Program near Arlington Washington

Arlington WA medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have decided to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Arlington WA, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the right one? A number of potential 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 important factors also. You may choose to research some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Arlington WA nursing home patientThe role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their job is ensure that the Arlington WA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

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

While medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Washington law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the options available 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

Unlike many other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Arlington WA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 options available for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about one year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to attain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical component requiring 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.

Medical Assistant Online Programs

woman attending medical assistant school online in Arlington WAThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are an excellent choice for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full-time while earning their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be reduced as well. But bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be performed in Arlington WA area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the right choice for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for individuals who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it may also help with initial salary negotiations. Some possible Arlington WA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of 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). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are available also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Arlington WA medical assistant programsBefore you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, some prospective students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Arlington WA with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to verify that the school you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies 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 one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Arlington WA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must learn 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 naturally you will need to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and receive entry level training in the shortest 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 approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Arlington WA area health care providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical experience and training. They may also help students establish relationships within the Arlington healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting that initial job may be a daunting task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Arlington WA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s imperative that the school you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Arlington WA, confirm that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still need to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, find out what the policy 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 Arlington Washington?

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

Arlington, Washington

Arlington is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington, United States, part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The city lies on the Stillaguamish River in the western foothills of the Cascade Range, adjacent to the city of Marysville. It is approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Everett, the county seat, and 40 miles (64 km) north of Seattle, the region's largest city. As of the 2010 U.S. census, Arlington has a population of 17,926.

Arlington was established in the 1880s by settlers and the area was platted as two towns, Arlington and Haller City. Haller City was absorbed by the larger Arlington, which was incorporated as a city in 1903. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Arlington area was the site of major projects undertaken for employment under the direction of federal relief agencies, including construction of a municipal airport that would serve as a naval air station during World War II. Beginning in the 1980s, Arlington was affected by suburbanization due to the expansion of Seattle, growing by more than 450 percent by 2000 and annexing the unincorporated area of Smokey Point to the southwest.

The economy of the Arlington area historically relied on timber and agriculture. In the early 21st century, it has transitioned to a service economy, with some aviation industry jobs near the municipal airport. The city is governed by a mayor–council government, electing a mayor and seven city councilmembers. The municipal government maintains the city's parks system and water and wastewater utilities. Other services, including public utilities, public transportation, and schools, are contracted to regional or county-level agencies and companies.

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Arlington WA

Arlington WA medical assistant studentIt’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection 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 a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you intend 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 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 so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Arlington WA.

More Medical Locations in Washington

  • Medical Assistant Schools With Financial Aid Spokane WA
  • Medical Assistant Job Description Keller WA
  • Certify Medical Assistant South Bend WA
  • Medical Assistant Vocational Schools Ridgefield WA
  • 3 Month Medical Assistant Program Snohomish WA
  • Medical Assistant Colleges Bainbridge Island WA
  • Online Medical Assistant Programs Kenmore WA
  • What Can A Certified Medical Assistant Do Federal Way WA
  • How Long Are Medical Assistant Programs Woodland WA
  • Medical Assistant Degree Programs Gig Harbor WA
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 88

    Emergency Medical Education
    1 Reviews
    First Aid Classes, Educational Services, CPR Classes
    Phone:
    Arlington, WA 98223

    MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care
    4 Reviews
    Urgent Care, Walk-in Clinics
    Phone:
    3822 116th St NE, Marysville, WA 98271

    Cascade In-Home Care
    3 Reviews
    Home Health Care
    Phone:
    16710 Smokey Point Blvd, Ste 304, Arlington, WA 98223

    Providence Express Care at Walgreens Everett Broadway
    2 Reviews
    Urgent Care, Walk-in Clinics
    Phone:
    2205 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201

    MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care
    12 Reviews
    Urgent Care, Walk-in Clinics
    Phone:
    911 Frontier Cir E, Lake Stevens, WA 98258

    The Everett Clinic
    22 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    4420 76th St NE, Marysville, WA 98270

    The Everett Clinic
    1 Reviews
    Doctors
    Phone:
    401 2nd St, Snohomish, WA 98290

    EvergreenHealth Urgent Care - Mill Creek
    11 Reviews
    Urgent Care
    Phone:
    4220 132nd St SE, Ste 103, Mill Creek, WA 98012

    Providence Medical Group Mill Creek Commons
    15 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    16708 Bothell Everett Hwy, Mill Creek, WA 98012

    Ankle & Foot Clinic Of Everett
    8 Reviews
    Sports Medicine, Podiatrists
    Phone:
    3131 Nassau St, Ste 101, Everett, WA 98201