How to Select a Medical Assistant School Program near Bentley Michigan
Once you have made a decision to enter the rewarding field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Bentley MI, it’s time to select a college that will provide the proper training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? A number of prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You may decide to research a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have furnished some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.
The Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant
The function of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Primarily their duty is ensure that the Bentley MI clinics, hospitals and other healthcare centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Setting and confirming appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
- Providing general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants can perform almost any duty they are authorized to under Michigan law, some prefer 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) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Programs
Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Bentley MI health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs generally take about one year to finish, some as little as six to nine months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to acquire an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a clinical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Medical Assistant Online Classes
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs accessible online too. They are a good choice for students who might not have the time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue working full time while earning their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Supplemental costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. Just keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be performed in Bentley MI area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your education might be the ideal option for you. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As stated previously, certification is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining employment after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. Many potential Bentley MI medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. One of the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, such as the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.
Topics to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you need 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 choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Bentley MI with the cheapest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you must explore when researching programs. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to make certain that the college you select is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 either of these agencies, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Bentley MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School’s Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the schools you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will need to select a program targeting that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Programs are Available? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can decide to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are considering offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Bentley MI area healthcare providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on practical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Bentley healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Assistance Furnished? Getting that first job may be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive some help from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Bentley MI area and find out 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 health care community. It also signifies that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indicator of how much individual attention you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to provide greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before selecting a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the school you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Bentley MI, verify that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Bentley Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Bentley MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Gibson Township, Michigan
Gibson Township is a civil township of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township's population was 1,210 as of the 2010 census.[3] It is included in the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area.
A post office was opened on Feb 26, 1887, called Bently.[6] A post office was opened on Stevenson Road just east of Standish Road on March 15, 1900, called Glover and operated for exactly five years.[7] On June 30, 1909, the Bently post office was renamed Bentley.[6]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,245 people, 398 households, and 312 families residing in the township. The population density was 34.9 per square mile (13.5/km²). There were 431 housing units at an average density of 12.1 per square mile (4.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.80% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.96% of the population.
Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant College Bentley MI
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant college 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 must obtain the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many schools offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Certification Online Schools. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can subsequently begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Bentley MI.
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