How to Find the Right Medical Assistant School Program near Clare Michigan
Once you have made a decision to join the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Clare MI, it’s time to select a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the ideal one? Many potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues as well. You might want to research a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more about that later). The main point is that before you select a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that task, we have furnished a few questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s briefly talk about the role of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.
The Function of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Clare MI clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they may 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 in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many functions of a medical assistant include:
- Completing insurance forms and submitting claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Weighing and taking patients vital signs
- Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
- Giving general support during exams and procedures
Even though medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified 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) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Education
Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Clare MI health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and quickest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about a year to complete, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges as well as trade and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They frequently have a practical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.
Medical Assistant Online Programs
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are an excellent choice for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue working full-time while pursuing their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be completed in Clare MI area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of receiving your training might be the right choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything necessary to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.
Certification Programs for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for those who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Clare MI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not obtained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered 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 thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school options, you must decide which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students restrict their searches to the schools that are closest to Clare MI with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you must examine when researching programs. To assist you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to make sure that the school you select is accredited. To start with, 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 must enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved agencies for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA examination. Also, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Clare MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School’s Passage Rate? 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 determine which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is one of the ways to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Of course programs with lower rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.
Which Programs are Offered? As we previously covered, there are basically 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, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can choose to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about two years to finish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, verify that the colleges you are considering offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Clare MI area health care providers. They are an excellent method to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Clare healthcare community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Finding that very first job can be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Clare MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its students, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts 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. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more likely to furnish greater access to teachers and face to face interaction. If convenient, try to attend a few classes before enrolling in a school to witness what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s imperative that the program you select provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Clare MI, make certain that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also have to schedule all internships or clinical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Clare Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Clare MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Clare, Michigan
Clare is a city in Clare and Isabella counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located primarily in Clare County, the population was 3,118 at the 2010 census. North-south U.S. Highway 127 (US 127) forms the eastern boundary for much of the city and has a junction with east-west US 10 on the east side of the city. US 10 connects with Midland, 33 miles (53 km) to the southeast, and with US 131 at Reed City, 44 miles (71 km) to the west. US 127 connects with Mount Pleasant, 13 miles (21 km) to the south, and with Harrison, 14 miles (23 km) to the north. The southern terminus of M-115 is in downtown Clare.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $67,299, and the median income for a family was $86,194. Males had a median income of $88,365 versus $59,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $68,006. About 10.6% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,118 people, 1,354 households, and 764 families residing in the city. The population density was 919.8 inhabitants per square mile (355.1/km2). There were 1,534 housing units at an average density of 452.5 per square mile (174.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.0% White, 4.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 6.1% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.5% of the population.
Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Training Clare MI
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is 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 appropriate info on available programs before making your selection. There are such a large number of schools providing training nowadays that you can make a selection based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, verify 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 How To Become A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind 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 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 Clare MI.
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