How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School near Sardis Georgia
Once you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Sardis GA, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the right one? A number of prospective students begin by evaluating 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 critical issues as well. You may want to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.
The Job of Medical Assistants
The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Sardis GA clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Taking blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Supplying basic support during exams and procedures
While medical assistants may perform almost any duty they are qualified to under Georgia law, some elect 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) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training Courses
Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Sardis GA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 choices offered for a formal education. The first and quickest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals 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 offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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 Colleges
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good alternative for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, many online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Supplemental costs including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized also. But remember that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be met, but they can usually be performed in Sardis GA area health care 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 right choice for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good option for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in attaining a position after graduation, but it can also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Sardis GA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and arguably 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 exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Additional certifications are offered as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you must choose which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Sardis GA with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you should examine when evaluating schools. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to confirm that the college you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many prospective Sardis GA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will want to select a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Offered? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is about 1 year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make certain that the schools you are considering offer the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Sardis GA area medical providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Sardis medical community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Support Furnished? Finding that first job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Sardis GA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classes? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual instruction you will get during 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 attend a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s important that the college you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Sardis 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 also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family issues.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Sardis Georgia?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Sardis GA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Sardis, Georgia
Sardis is located in southeastern Burke County at 32°58′28″N 81°45′31″W / 32.97444°N 81.75861°W / 32.97444; -81.75861 (32.974510, -81.758504).[5] It is 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Waynesboro, the Burke County seat.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 999 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 54.6% Black, 43.5% White, 0.3% Native American and 0.9% from two or more races. 0.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,171 people, 419 households, and 292 families residing in the town. The population density was 776.3 people per square mile (299.4/km²). There were 519 housing units at an average density of 344.1 per square mile (132.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.34% African American, 44.24% White, 0.17% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
Pick the Best Medical Assistant College Sardis GA
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate info on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Skills. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Sardis GA.
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