How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Terre Haute Indiana
Now that you have made a decision to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Terre Haute IN, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Many potential students start by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues also. You might choose to take a look at some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. And to assist you with that task, we have included a few questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.
The Function of a Medical Assistant
The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Primarily their role is ensure that the Terre Haute IN hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work operate efficiently. Depending 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 giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Supplying general support during exams and procedures
Although medical assistants can perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Indiana law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and attain certification. Two of the options available 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 required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, many Terre Haute IN health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at junior and community colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely 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 Colleges
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good alternative for students who might not have time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be minimized as well. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Terre Haute IN area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your education may be the right choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent idea for graduates who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing a job after graduation, but it might also enhance preliminary salary negotiations. A number of possible Terre Haute IN medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. 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 take the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Terre Haute IN with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must examine when assessing schools. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are several good reasons to verify that the school you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure 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 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 intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Terre Haute IN employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to learn which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then naturally you will need to select a program concentrating on that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can decide to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Terre Haute IN area medical providers. They are an excellent way to obtain hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students develop relationships within the Terre Haute healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Support Offered? Getting that first job can be a challenging task for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Terre Haute IN area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.
How Large are the Classes? Class size may be an indication of how much individual instruction you will get throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a few classes before enrolling in a program to witness what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the program you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Terre Haute IN, confirm that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any clinical training or internships 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 Terre Haute Indiana?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Terre Haute IN area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute (/ˌtɛrə ˈhoʊt/ TERR-ə HOHT[7]) is a city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States,[8] near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943.
Located along the Wabash River, Terre Haute is the "capital" of the Wabash Valley. The city is home to several higher education institutions, including Indiana State University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
According to the 2010 census, Terre Haute has a total area of 35.272 square miles (91.35 km2), of which 34.54 square miles (89.46 km2) (or 97.92%) is land and 0.732 square miles (1.90 km2) (or 2.08%) is water.[9]
Select the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Terre Haute IN
It’s imperative to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to obtain the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, such as 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 What Is A Certified Medical Assistant. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Terre Haute IN.
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