Certified Medical Assistant Schools Near Me Yorba Linda CA

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near Yorba Linda California

Yorba Linda CA medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Yorba Linda CA, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Most potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You may decide to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have provided several questions that you should ask each of the schools on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are available.

The Role of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Yorba Linda CA nursing home patientThe duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Essentially their duty is ensure that the Yorba Linda CA clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. Based 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 tasked with giving direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

  • Completing insurance forms and filing claims
  • Scheduling and confirming appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
  • Providing basic support during exams and procedures

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

Medical Assistant Programs

In contrast to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Yorba Linda CA health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 choices provided for a formal education. The first and quickest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about one year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed 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 in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are often a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Yorba Linda CAThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good choice for those who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good choice for students who continue working full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be reduced as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be performed in Yorba Linda CA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this method of receiving your education may be the best choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing a position after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Yorba Linda CA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Yorba Linda CA medical assistant programsPrior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to decide which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Yorba Linda CA with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when researching schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several good reasons to ensure that the college you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you must 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 organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Yorba Linda CA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the programs you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to choose a program targeting that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Yorba Linda CA area health care providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Yorba Linda healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Offered? Finding that first job can be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Yorba Linda CA area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal attention you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to offer greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before choosing a college to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the college you select provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Yorba Linda CA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, ask 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 Yorba Linda California?

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

Yorba Linda, California

Yorba Linda ("Beautiful Yorba", in English) is a suburban city in Orange County, California, approximately 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Its most notable resident was Richard Nixon. A National Historic Landmark where Nixon was born, is within it along with the presidential library and museum in his honor. It is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area according to the US Census. As of the 2010 census, its population was 64,234.

In 1834, Jose Antonio Yorba's most successful son, Bernardo Yorba (after whom the city would later be named), was granted the 13,328-acre (53.94 km2) Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana by Mexican governor José Figueroa. Most of this original land was retained after the Mexican–American War in 1848 by descendants of the Yorba family. A portion of the city's land is still owned and developed by descendants of Samuel Kraemer, who acquired it through his marriage to Angelina Yorba, the great-granddaughter of Bernardo Yorba. The site of the Bernardo Yorba Hacienda, referred to as the Don Bernardo Yorba Ranch House Site, is listed as a California Historical Landmark.[7]

Near that same site sits the second oldest private cemetery in the county, the historic Yorba Cemetery.[8] The land was given to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Bernardo Yorba[8] in 1858[9] since Orange County was not established out of Los Angeles County as a separate county until 1889.[10] The cemetery closed in 1939 and was subsequently vandalized; however, in the 1960s, the Orange County Board of Supervisors took possession of the property to repair the damage, and tours are now available one day per month.[8]

Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Yorba Linda CA

Yorba Linda CA medical assistant studentIt’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering 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 select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Schools Near Me. But regardless 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 supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Yorba Linda CA.

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