Medical Assistant Major Alpharetta GA

How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School Program near Alpharetta Georgia

Alpharetta GA medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Alpharetta GA, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many future students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes 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 issues as well. You might want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have included several questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.

The Function of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Alpharetta GA nursing home patientThe job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is ensure that the Alpharetta GA clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work run 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 responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and verifying appointments
  • Weighing and taking patients vital signs
  • Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
  • Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
  • Supplying basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Georgia law, some opt to specialize in a specific 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 Programs

Unlike most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, many Alpharetta GA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about one year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to trade 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 classes. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Medical Assistant Online Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Alpharetta GAThere are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent choice for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good alternative for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be reduced as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can often be carried out in Alpharetta GA area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training may be the best option for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for individuals who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in getting a job after graduation, but it may also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some potential Alpharetta GA medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. 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). In order to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Alpharetta GA medical assistant programsBefore you can start reviewing your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to choose which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the schools that are nearest to Alpharetta GA with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional considerations that you should look at when researching schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many great reasons to make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction 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 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 one of these organizations, 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 often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many potential Alpharetta GA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and receive 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 take about two years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Many medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Alpharetta GA area medical providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students establish relationships within the Alpharetta health care community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Service Furnished? Landing that initial job may be a challenging task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Alpharetta GA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal attention you will receive throughout your training. Smaller 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 convenient, try to monitor a few classes before selecting a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the school you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Alpharetta GA, make sure that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that might be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Alpharetta Georgia?

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

Alpharetta, Georgia

Alpharetta is a city located in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States and is a suburb of Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, Alpharetta's population was 57,551.[3] The estimated population in 2017 was 65,799.[1]

In the 1830s, the Cherokee people in Georgia and elsewhere in the South were forcibly relocated to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) under the Indian Removal Act. Pioneers and farmers later settled on the newly vacated land, situated along a former Cherokee trail stretching from the North Georgia mountains to the Chattahoochee River.[4]

One of the first permanent landmarks in the area was the New Prospect Camp Ground (also known as the Methodist Camp Ground), located beside a natural spring near what is now downtown Alpharetta.[4] It later served as a trading post for the exchanging of goods among settlers.[4]

Select the Best Medical Assistant Training Program Alpharetta GA

Alpharetta GA medical assistant studentIt’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper 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 obtain the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, verify that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Major. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the best program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Alpharetta GA.

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