9 Month Medical Assistant Program Berrien Springs MI - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Select a Medical Assistant Training School near Berrien Springs Michigan

Berrien Springs MI medical assistant checking pulse Now that you have decided to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Berrien Springs MI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the proper training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you ultimately enroll in the ideal one? Many future students begin by researching the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues as well. You may choose to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that before you select 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 furnished some questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your short list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are offered.

The Function of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Berrien Springs MI nursing home patient The responsibilities of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is to make sure that the Berrien Springs MI clinics, hospitals and other medical care centers where they work operate successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the physicians, nurses and other health practitioners but may also be found performing duties in an office or at the front desk. Some of the many duties of a medical assistant include:

Completing insurance forms and filing claims
Scheduling and confirming appointments
Weighing and taking patients vital signs
Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
Providing general support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants can carry out almost any task they are authorized to under Michigan law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and attain certification. Two of the options 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 Training

In contrast to many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Berrien Springs MI 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 provided for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about one year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They usually have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely 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 Courses

woman attending medical assistant school online in Berrien Springs MI There are many accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are an excellent option for students who may not have the time to attend classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good option for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, a number of online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be carried out in Berrien Springs MI area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the best choice for you. With the online classes and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Berrien Springs MI medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not obtained certification or accredited formal training. The most popular and possibly 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 exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Questions to ask Berrien Springs MI medical assistant programs Prior to reviewing your medical assistant school options, you must decide which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. Once those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, a number of potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Berrien Springs MI with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are important qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations 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 ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are many great reasons to ensure that the school you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete 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 program is not accredited by either of these agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Berrien Springs MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will want to enroll in a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the ways to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is about one year. Or you can choose to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately two years to finish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you choose to pursue, make sure that the schools you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Provided? Numerous medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Berrien Springs MI area medical providers. They are an excellent means to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They may also help students build relationships within the Berrien Springs healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Service Supplied? Finding that first job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Berrien Springs MI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will get throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to monitor a few classes before choosing a college to experience what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue working on a full time basis, it’s essential that the program you choose provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Berrien Springs MI, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Additionally, 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 Berrien Springs Michigan?

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

Berrien Springs, Michigan

Berrien Springs is a village in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,800 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township. Berrien Springs is best known for its Seventh-day Adventist community and Andrews University. Reflecting the community's population, many of the businesses in the village are closed on Saturdays.

Berrien Springs, like Berrien County, is named for John M. Berrien; "Springs" was added after mineral springs were discovered in the area.[6] The village is the site of the earliest settlement in Oronoko Township, and was first known as "Wolf's Prairie" in reference to the 1,000-acre prairie in which it was situated. The site had been a village under the leadership of a Potawatamie man named Wolf.[7] The first permanent settlers, John Pike and his family, arrived in 1829.[8]

The village of Berrien was platted in 1831,[8] and the village of Berrien Springs was incorporated in 1863.[9] Berrien Springs was the county seat from 1837 until 1894, when St. Joseph became county seat.[10] The Berrien Springs post office opened with the name Berrien on December 4, 1832 and changed to Berrien Springs on April 18, 1836.[11]

Select the Ideal Medical Assistant Course Berrien Springs MI

Berrien Springs MI medical assistant student It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the proper training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to acquire the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are so many schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, confirm that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in 9 Month Medical Assistant Program. 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, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the right program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Berrien Springs MI.