How to Enroll In a Medical Assistant School near Clinton Township Michigan

Once you have decided to enter the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Clinton Township MI, it’s time to choose a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Most future students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors also. You may want to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the colleges you are reviewing. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask each of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type 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. Primarily their function is ensure that the Clinton Township MI hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work operate successfully. Based on the size or type of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the physicians, nurses and other health professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential duties of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and filing claims
• Setting and verifying appointments
• Taking vital signs and weighing patients
• Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue samples
• Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
• Giving basic support during exams and procedures

While medical assistants may perform almost any activity they are qualified to under Michigan law, some opt 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 most other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Clinton Township 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 two choices available for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about 1 year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs offered at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good alternative for those who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is an especially good solution for students who continue to work full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online programs have lower tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies may be minimized also. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can usually be performed in Clinton Township MI area health care facilities. If you can learn without the formal structure of going to supervised classes on-campus, then this method of getting your training may be the ideal choice for you. Between the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As stated previously, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent choice for individuals who wish to boost their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. A number of potential Clinton Township MI medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to apply for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are offered also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school options, you have to decide which type of credential you would like to attain, and if you would prefer attending 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 students confine their searches to the schools that are closest to Clinton Township MI with the cheapest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional considerations that you must look at when assessing schools. To assist you with that process, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are thinking about before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to ensure that the college you choose is accredited. To begin 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 need to complete an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 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 often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many prospective Clinton Township MI employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you need to find out which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, learn what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are ones that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and get 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 earn an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, verify that the colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Sponsored? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Clinton Township MI area healthcare providers. They are a great method to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students build relationships within the Clinton Township healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Help Furnished? Landing that very first job can be a challenging undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Clinton Township MI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also suggests that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal 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 possible, try to attend a few classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue working full-time, it’s essential that the college you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Clinton Township MI, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online school, but you will also have to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Clinton Township Michigan?

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

Select the Best Medical Assistant Training Clinton Township MI

It’s important to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the appropriate training. Whether you’re objective is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Online. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the right program you can ultimately start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Clinton Township MI.

More Medical Locations in Michigan

Medical Assistant Education Davison MI

What Does A Medical Assistant Do Pleasant Ridge MI

Top Medical Assistant Programs Parma MI

Medical Assistant Training School Grosse Pointe MI

Medical Assistant Graduation Harbor Beach MI

How To Become A Medical Assistant Iron Mountain MI

Medical Assistant Responsibilities Leland MI

Medical Assistant Job Description Indian River MI

Where Can I Get My Medical Assistant Certification Paris MI

Becoming A Medical Assistant Custer MI