How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant Training School near Blue Ridge Georgia
Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Blue Ridge GA, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? Many prospective students start by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might decide to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have provided some questions that you should ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.
The Duties of Medical Assistants
The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is ensure that the Blue Ridge GA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions where they work run efficiently. Based on the type or size of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Giving basic support during exams and procedures
Although medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are authorized to under Georgia law, some prefer 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 Training Programs
Compared to most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, many Blue Ridge GA health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 choices available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical component involving an internship with a local medical facility. 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 similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Colleges
There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online too. They are an excellent 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 to work full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus alternatives. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies might be minimized as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be performed in Blue Ridge GA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the best choice for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for individuals who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Blue Ridge GA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA exam, an applicant must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Schools
Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Blue Ridge GA with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are thinking about before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the school you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete 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 one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA examination. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Blue Ridge GA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the School’s Passage Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, ask 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 school’s program. Naturally schools with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can decide to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require about 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Blue Ridge GA area medical providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They may also help students establish relationships within the Blue Ridge healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that very first job may be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Blue Ridge GA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of contacts to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classes? Class size may 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 provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to monitor a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the program you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Blue Ridge GA, make certain that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still need to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Blue Ridge Georgia?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Blue Ridge GA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge was laid out in 1886 when the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad was extended to that point.[6] It was incorporated in 1887.[7] In 1895, the seat of Fannin County was transferred to Blue Ridge from Morganton.[8]
In the late 2000s and continuing through the 2010s, the city has seen a surge in new business, particularly from the LGBT community which constitutes a larger percentage of the population than is typical for a rural community.[9]
The city of Blue Ridge is located south of the center of Fannin County at 34°52′6″N 84°19′16″W / 34.86833°N 84.32111°W / 34.86833; -84.32111 (34.868344, -84.320991).[10] The city sits on the divide between the Tennessee River watershed to the north (via the Toccoa River) and the Alabama River to the south (via Crooked Log Creek, the Ellijay River, and several downstream rivers).
Select the Best Medical Assistant College Blue Ridge GA
It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by picking a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Whether you’re planning to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you intend on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Study. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Blue Ridge GA.
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