How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training School near Lake Odessa Michigan

Now that you have decided to enter the gratifying profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Lake Odessa MI, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the ideal one? Most prospective students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are extremely important such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical factors as well. You might want to take a look at a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (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 qualifications of the schools you are assessing. And to assist you with that process, we have provided some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your short 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 offered.

The Duties of a Medical Assistant

The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Basically their function is to make sure that the Lake Odessa MI clinics, hospitals and other medical care institutions where they work run efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
• Setting and confirming appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
• Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
• Supplying basic support during examinations and procedures

Although medical assistants can perform almost any task they are qualified to under Michigan law, some opt to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options offered 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

Unlike most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Lake Odessa MI health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to attain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at junior and community colleges in addition to trade and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They usually have a practical component involving 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 similar field.

Medical Assistant Online Courses

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online as well. They are a good alternative for individuals who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue working full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on-campus alternatives. Ancillary costs such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be lessened also. But bear in mind that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be performed in Lake Odessa MI area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of going to supervised classes on campus, then this approach to getting your training may be the best choice for you. Between the online courses and the practical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is a good choice for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in attaining a job after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Some possible Lake Odessa MI medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To qualify to take the CMA examination, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available as well, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you need to choose which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those choices have been made, you can begin the process of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of prospective students confine their searches to the schools that are nearest to Lake Odessa MI with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to examine when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are many great reasons to ensure that the program you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you must enroll in 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 anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Lake Odessa MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to find out which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Next, ask what the school’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to avoid.

Which Programs are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two paths to acquiring 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 about 1 year. Or you can elect to acquire an Associate Degree and get a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you decide to pursue, confirm that the schools you are considering provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant programs sponsor internship programs with Lake Odessa MI area health care providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on practical training and experience. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Lake Odessa health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding that very first job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Lake Odessa 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 health care community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in positions.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size may be an indication of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to monitor a couple of classes before enrolling in a school to experience what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you anticipate attending a medical assistant school while you continue to work on a full time basis, it’s essential that the school you enroll in provides classes that fit your schedule. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Lake Odessa MI, confirm that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Lake Odessa Michigan?

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

Enroll in the Ideal Medical Assistant Program Lake Odessa MI

It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant college that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re planning to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the appropriate info on available programs before making your decision. There are so many colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you decide on is accredited by an acknowledged agency, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you intend on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Pediatric Medical Assistant. But irrespective of the kind of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently start a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Lake Odessa MI.

More Medical Locations in Michigan

Business Results 1 - 10 of 1

AFC Urgent Care & Family Care - Grand Rapids

3 Reviews

Doctors, Urgent Care, Walk-in Clinics

Phone:

1740 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508