How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Macomb Michigan

Once you have decided to enter the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Macomb MI, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the ideal one? Most future students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important factors as well. You might choose to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that before you select a college you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. And to help you with that process, we have provided some questions that you need to ask all of the schools on your “maybe” list. But prior to starting that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are available.

The Duties of Medical Assistants

The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as challenging. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Macomb MI clinics, hospitals and other healthcare institutions where they work operate successfully. Based 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 tasked with providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health professionals but can also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the potential functions of a medical assistant include:

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

While medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are authorized to under Michigan law, some opt 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) made available by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Education

Unlike many other healthcare professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Macomb MI health care employers choose to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally 2 options available for a formal education. The first and fastest route to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about a year to finish, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at junior and community colleges together with vocational and technical schools. They are more comprehensive in nature than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical 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 related field.

Medical Assistant Online Colleges

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online too. They are a good option for individuals who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly 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 traditional on campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be carried out in Macomb MI area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online classes and the practical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for those who want to boost their careers. Not only will it help in securing a position after graduation, but it may also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Macomb MI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided 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 offered also, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you must decide which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online from home. As soon as those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the beginning of this article, many students limit their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Macomb MI with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you need to examine when researching schools. To help you with that task, below are a few questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of great reasons to make certain that the program you enroll in is accredited. First, accreditation helps ensure that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged 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 organizations, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you plan on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as mentioned previously, many potential Macomb MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to choose a program focused on that certification. Second, ask what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the means to help assess the quality of a college’s program. Obviously programs with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is about one year. Or you can choose to obtain an Associate Degree and get a broader education that will require approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or vocational school. Whichever program you elect to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are considering provide the kind of program you are interested in.

Are Internships Sponsored? A large number of medical assistant programs offer internship programs with Macomb MI area medical care providers. They are a great means to obtain hands-on practical experience and training. They can also help students establish relationships within the Macomb healthcare community. And as an added benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding that first job can be a difficult task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Macomb MI area and find out what their placement rate is. If a school has a high job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classes? Class size might 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 likely to furnish greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to attend a couple of classes before selecting a school to experience 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 essential that the college you select offers classes that fit your schedule. If you have to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Macomb MI, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in easier with an online program, but you will also need to schedule any internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, find out what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Macomb Michigan?

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

Select the Right Medical Assistant Program Macomb MI

It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant program that will furnish the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the right information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are so many schools providing training these days that you can make a selection based upon your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in How To Be A Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, make sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Macomb MI.

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