How to Choose a Medical Assistant School Program near Oscoda Michigan
Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding field of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Oscoda MI, it’s time to choose a school that will provide the proper training. But just how do you undertake comparing and evaluating colleges so that you subsequently pick the right one? A number of potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are important issues also. You may choose to research several online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to assist you with that process, we have included some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the function of a medical assistant and the type of credentials and training that are offered.
The Function of a Medical Assistant
The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their role is ensure that the Oscoda MI hospitals, clinics and other medical care institutions where they work operate successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for providing direct support to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found working in an office or at the front desk. A few of the many duties of a medical assistant include:
- Filling out insurance forms and filing claims
- Scheduling and verifying appointments
- Taking vital signs and weighing patients
- Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
- Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
- Providing basic support during examinations and procedures
Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are authorized to under Michigan law, some elect 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) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Medical Assistant Training
Compared to most other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not mandated to become certified, licensed, or to have a college degree. However, a number of Oscoda MI health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are essentially 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs typically take about 1 year to finish, a few as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the basics of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges together with trade and vocational schools. They are more comprehensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant classes. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a four year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.
Online Medical Assistant Programs
There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs offered online also. They are a good alternative for individuals who might not have the time to attend 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 attaining their certificate or degree. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be lessened as well. Just keep in mind that all requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can often be carried out in Oscoda MI area health care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of getting your education may be the ideal option for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything necessary 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 wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it can also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Oscoda MI medical employers just will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained certification or accredited formal training. 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). In order to apply for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, for instance the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges
Before you can start examining your medical assistant school options, you need to determine which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, a number of potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Oscoda MI with the lowest tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to look at when researching programs. To assist you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are considering before making your ultimate choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many great reasons to confirm that the program you enroll in is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training 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 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 either of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not offered for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, many prospective Oscoda MI employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.
What is the Program’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must learn which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to enroll in a program targeting that certification. Next, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. Doing this is one of the means to help evaluate the quality of a college’s program. Naturally schools with lower rates are those that you will want to eliminate.
Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are basically two paths to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in 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 closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require about two years to complete in a community college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to enroll in, verify that the colleges you are reviewing offer the type of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Oscoda MI area medical providers. They are a great method to get hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Oscoda healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews too.
Is Job Placement Help Supplied? Finding that first job can be a challenging undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little help from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are evaluating offer job placement assistance in the Oscoda MI area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a wide network of contacts 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. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full time, it’s essential that the program you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Oscoda MI, verify that those times are offered. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will also need to schedule all internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Oscoda Michigan?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Oscoda MI area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Oscoda Township, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 131.1 square miles (340 km2), of which 121.8 square miles (315 km2) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km2) (7.15%) is water.
Oscoda Township is served by Oscoda Area Schools, a school district which also serves AuSable Township, as well as portions of Wilber Township and portions of Alcona County. A satellite campus of Alpena Community College also operates on the former grounds of Wurtsmith Air Force Base (now Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport).
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 7,248 people, 3,170 households, and 2,066 families residing in the township. The population density was 59.5 per square mile (23.0/km²). There were 6,071 housing units at an average density of 49.9 per square mile (19.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.28% White, 0.80% African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
Enroll in the Right Medical Assistant Program Oscoda MI
It’s important to start your new career on the right foot by enrolling in a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training these days that you can make a selection based on your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have addressed in this article, make certain that the program you decide on is accredited by a recognized organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Degree Programs. But irrespective of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an on-campus or online school, be sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Oscoda MI.
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