Certified Medical Assistant Training Ann Arbor MI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near Ann Arbor Michigan

Ann Arbor MI medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to join the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Ann Arbor MI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the appropriate training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of prospective students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors also. You might decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are assessing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided some questions that you should ask each 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 type of credentials and training that are available.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Ann Arbor MI nursing home patient The job of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their job is ensure that the Ann Arbor MI clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Setting and verifying appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
Supplying general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Michigan law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn 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 Training

Unlike most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to earn a college degree. However, many Ann Arbor MI health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about a year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed 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 usually two year programs provided at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Ann Arbor MI There are many accredited medical assistant programs accessible online as well. They are an excellent 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 alternative for students who continue to work full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. Just keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be completed in Ann Arbor MI area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the best choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve 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 a good option for individuals who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in getting employment after graduation, but it can also help with initial salary negotiations. Many possible Ann Arbor MI medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. 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 graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we discussed earlier which are provided by the NHA.

Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Ann Arbor MI medical assistant programs Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Ann Arbor MI with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you need to examine when researching schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to confirm that the school you enroll in is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the education 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 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 school is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Also, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Ann Arbor MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to learn which of the certifications the programs 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 enroll in 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 means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, although the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, make sure that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with Ann Arbor MI area healthcare providers. They are a great means to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Ann Arbor medical community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing that first job can be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Ann Arbor MI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a college to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and just how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the school you choose offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Ann Arbor MI, make sure that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also have to schedule any internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Ann Arbor Michigan?

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

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan. The university significantly shapes Ann Arbor's economy as it employs about 30,000 workers, including about 12,000 in the medical center. The city's economy is also centered on high technology, with several companies drawn to the area by the university's research and development infrastructure.[7]

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824, named for wives of the village's founders, both named Ann, and the stands of bur oak trees.[8] The University of Michigan moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837, and the city grew at a rapid rate in the early to mid-20th century. During the 1960s and 1970s, the city gained a reputation as a center for left-wing politics. Ann Arbor became a focal point for political activism, such as opposition to the Vietnam War and support for the legalization of cannabis.

Ann Arbor was founded in 1824 by land speculators John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey. On May 25, 1824, the town plat was registered with Wayne County as "Annarbour", the earliest known use of the town's name.[10] Allen and Rumsey decided to name it for their wives, both named Ann, and for the stands of bur oak in the 640 acres (260 ha) of land they purchased for $800 from the federal government at $1.25 per acre.[8] The local Ojibwa named the settlement kaw-goosh-kaw-nick, after the sound of Allen's sawmill.[11]

Choose the Best Medical Assistant Program Ann Arbor MI

Ann Arbor MI medical assistant student It’s imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the proper training. Whether you’re goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is particularly critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Certified Medical Assistant Training. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the best program you can ultimately begin a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Ann Arbor MI.