Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Schools Elk Grove Village IL 60007

Medical Assistant Evening Classes Elk Grove Village IL

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School near Elk Grove Village Illinois

Elk Grove Village IL medical assistant checking pulseNow that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Elk Grove Village IL, it’s time to select a college that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Most future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You might want to research some online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have furnished several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Elk Grove Village IL nursing home patientThe responsibilities of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Primarily their role is ensure that the Elk Grove Village IL clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work operate successfully. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
  • Setting and confirming appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are authorized to under Illinois law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the choices 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 Courses

Compared to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Elk Grove Village IL 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 choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs available at community and junior colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They often have a practical component involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Elk Grove Village ILThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are a good choice for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, many online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may 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 Elk Grove Village IL area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your education may be the right option for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for individuals who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Elk Grove Village 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 possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Elk Grove Village IL medical assistant programsPrior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you must choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. After those choices have been made, you can start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Elk Grove Village IL with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should examine when evaluating programs. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to ensure that the program you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming 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 school is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Elk Grove Village IL employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course programs with low rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, make certain that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Available? Many medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Elk Grove Village IL area healthcare providers. They are a great means to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Elk Grove Village health care community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Landing that initial job may be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Elk Grove Village IL area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

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 offer increased access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to observe 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 school while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the college you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Elk Grove Village IL, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Elk Grove Village Illinois?

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

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Elk Grove Village is a village located in northeastern Illinois adjacent to O'Hare International Airport and is a near northwest suburb, touching the city of Chicago. It is one of the Chicago metropolitan area's principal villages due to its large industrial park, located on the eastern border of the village. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small portion in DuPage County. The population was 33,127 at the 2010 census.[4] As the name suggests, Elk Grove Village is home to a small herd of elk kept in a grove at the eastern edge of the Busse Woods forest preserve for which the grove is named. Elk are not native to the area but were brought by train from Montana by an early resident, William Busse, in the 1920s.[citation needed] The elk are currently maintained by the Chicago Zoological Society veterinary staff and the Busse Woods Forest Preserve wildlife biologists.[5]

Elk Grove Village is home to the largest industrial park in North America.[6] Over 3,600 businesses are located in its 5.4-square-mile (14 km2) business park adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. The community is served by several Interstate highways including I-90, I-290/I-355/Route 53 combination, and the Elgin–O'Hare Expressway.

Elk Grove Village is also home to Alexian Brothers Medical Center (ABMC) hospital, which is the largest employer in the community with over 2,200 workers. There are a number of other well-known corporations including Apple Vacations, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Tool Works (ITW), ADP, CitiGroup, Symons, and Pepsi Cola Distribution. The headquarters of United Airlines was in the unincorporated area of Elk Grove Township until it moved to downtown Chicago; the Elk Grove office is still in use as United's Operations Center.

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Elk Grove Village IL

Elk Grove Village IL medical assistant studentIt’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant college that will provide the right training. Whether you’re planning to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Evening Classes. But irrespective of the type 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 provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Elk Grove Village IL.

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