CMA Medical Assistant Acworth GA - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Acworth Georgia

Acworth GA medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to become a part of the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Acworth GA, it’s time to choose a college that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the best one? Most prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical factors also. You might decide to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to help you with that task, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Acworth GA nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Acworth GA clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. Based on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
Setting and confirming appointments
Taking vital signs and weighing patients
Taking blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants may carry out almost any duty they are qualified to under Georgia law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered 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 healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Acworth GA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially two choices provided for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs usually take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually two year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They usually have a clinical component involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. 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 related field.

Online Medical Assistant Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Acworth GA There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent option for students who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might 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 Acworth GA area medical facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training might be the right option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good choice for graduates who wish to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting a position after graduation, but it might also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many potential Acworth GA medical employers simply 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) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Questions to ask Acworth GA medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you want 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 start the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Acworth GA with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must look at when assessing schools. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the program you select 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 enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 program 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 frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many potential Acworth GA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, 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 need to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.

Which Programs are Available? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Many medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Acworth GA area healthcare providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students build relationships within the Acworth medical community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting that initial job may be a daunting undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Acworth GA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual attention you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a few classes before selecting a program to experience what the teaching environment 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 full time, it’s essential that the school you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Acworth GA, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online school, but you will still have to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Acworth Georgia?

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

Acworth, Georgia

Acworth is a city in Cobb County Georgia, United States. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The 2016 estimate for Acworth's population is 28,502. As of the 2010 census, this city had a population of 20,425,[2] up from 13,422 in 2000. Acworth is located in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains along the southeastern banks of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona on the Etowah River. Unincorporated areas known as Acworth extend into Bartow, Cherokee and Paulding counties respectively.

The town received its current name in 1843 from Western & Atlantic Railroad engineer Joseph L. Gregg, who named it for his hometown of Acworth, New Hampshire, which was named for the former Royal Navy Surveyor Sir Jacob Acworth.[6]

A private school was opened for white students in 1852. A newer private school operated from 1899 to 1935, when they integrated with the Cobb County School District. Until 1935, high school students from Acworth paid tuition to attend. Students outside the town were subsidized by the Cobb County School Board. Black students were educated separately in a grammar school. The closest black high school was in Atlanta. Later, students were bused by the county to a segregated school in Marietta.[7]

Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Acworth GA

Acworth GA medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by picking 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 lifetime career, you must acquire the right info on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, confirm that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in CMA Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend 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 in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Acworth GA.