How to Pick a Medical Assistant Training Program near Fife Lake Michigan
Once you have decided to join the gratifying profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Fife Lake MI, it’s time to select a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the best one? Most potential students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important issues as well. You may want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a program you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to assist you with that process, we have provided several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.
The Role of a Medical Assistant
The duties of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their job is to make sure that the Fife Lake MI hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work run successfully. Depending on the type or size of facility, they can be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible 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 fluid and tissue samples
- Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
- Giving general support during examinations and procedures
Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Michigan law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the choices offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Courses
Compared to most other medical practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Fife Lake MI health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially two options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest way to becoming a medical assistant is to attain a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about one year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are designed 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 together with trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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.
Online Medical Assistant Schools
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are a good choice for students who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended 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, a number of online programs have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary expenses such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened also. But remember that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be performed in Fife Lake MI area medical facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your education might be the right choice for you. Between the online courses and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.
Certification Options for Medical Assistants
As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent option for graduates who want to boost their careers. It will not only help in securing employment after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Many possible Fife Lake MI medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received certification or accredited formal training. Among the most popular and possibly the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start assessing your medical assistant school alternatives, you must decide which type of credential you want to attain, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can begin the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, many potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Fife Lake MI with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must look at when assessing schools. To help you with that task, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are thinking about before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to confirm that the program you choose 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 intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted 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 school is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many potential Fife Lake MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School’s Passage Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To begin with, you need to learn which of the certifications the schools you are looking at are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then naturally you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Second, learn what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about 1 year. Or you can elect to obtain an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Fife Lake MI area healthcare providers. They are a great way to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Fife Lake medical community. And as an added perk, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Finding that initial job may be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Confirm that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Fife Lake MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a program has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the medical community. It also suggests that it has a large network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might 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 prone to furnish increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before enrolling in a program to observe what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the program you enroll in offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Fife Lake MI, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that might be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you might have to miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Fife Lake Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Fife Lake MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Fife Lake, Michigan
In 1872, J.L. Shaw and others built two small settlements on a lake on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. These were known as North Fife Lake and Fyfe Lane, which were on the north and west sides of Fife Lake, respectively. Later, in 1867, these villages united. Today on maps, the divide between the former villages is still clearly visible. The lake was named after William H. Fife of nearby Yuba. Later that year, Fife Lake Township was created.[6] The first church in the village was established in 1884.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.20 square miles (3.11 km2), of which 0.75 square miles (1.94 km2) is land and 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) is water.[1]
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 443 people, 189 households, and 110 families residing in the village. The population density was 590.7 inhabitants per square mile (228.1/km2). There were 265 housing units at an average density of 353.3 per square mile (136.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 95.7% White, 0.7% African American, 1.6% Native American, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.
Pick the Right Medical Assistant Course Fife Lake MI
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the proper 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 lifetime career, you need to obtain the appropriate information on available programs before making your decision. There are such a large number of schools offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you select is accredited by a recognized organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Become A Certified Medical Assistant. But regardless of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to compare programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can subsequently start a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Fife Lake MI.
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