National Certified Medical Assistant Horn Lake MS - Find Medical Assistant Programs Near You

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Program near Horn Lake Mississippi

Horn Lake MS medical assistant checking pulse Once you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Horn Lake MS, it’s time to choose a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you approach comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? A number of potential students begin by checking out the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then gravitate toward those that have the cheapest tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, internship programs and job assistance are critical issues also. You may decide to look into some online medical assistant programs as an option as well (more on that later). The main point is that prior to selecting a college you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the colleges you are examining. And to help you with that process, we have included several questions that you need to ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” 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 Job of Medical Assistants

medical assistant with Horn Lake MS nursing home patient The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their role is to make sure that the Horn Lake MS clinics, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where they work operate successfully. Based 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 tasked with providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the possible functions 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 tissue and fluid samples
Preparing rooms and instruments for physicians
Providing general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may perform almost any task they are qualified to under Mississippi law, some elect to specialize in a particular area and obtain certification. Two of the choices offered 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

In contrast to most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not mandated to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Horn Lake MS health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (more on accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are generally two choices offered for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to finish, some 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 attain an Associate Degree, which are usually 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges in addition to technical 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 classes. They usually have a clinical element requiring an internship with a local healthcare 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 Classes

woman attending medical assistant school online in Horn Lake MS There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs accessible online also. They are an excellent choice for students who may not have time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good option for students who continue working full time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus alternatives. Supplemental expenses such as for commuting, textbooks and school supplies may be reduced as well. Just bear in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be performed in Horn Lake MS area medical care facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the ideal option for you. With the online lessons and the clinical training, everything necessary to attain proficiency to perform as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Programs for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good idea for those who wish to boost their careers. It will not only help in obtaining employment after graduation, but it can also enhance initial salary negotiations. Many possible Horn Lake MS medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to apply for the CMA exam, a candidate must have graduated or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered as well, including the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Horn Lake MS medical assistant programs Prior to evaluating your medical assistant school alternatives, you have to determine which type of credential you would like to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on-campus or online at home. After those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some students restrict their searches to the colleges that are closest to Horn Lake MS with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifications, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional factors that you must explore when assessing programs. To assist you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are thinking about before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to make certain that the program you enroll in 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 plan on becoming certified, you must complete an accredited program. Two of the acknowledged agencies 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 one of these organizations, you will not be qualified to take the CMA examination. Also, if you intend on applying for a student loan or financial assistance, they are frequently not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, many potential Horn Lake MS employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program’s Passing Rate? Most of the accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification exams. First, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will want to select a program concentrating on that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with lower rates are ones that you will want to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we previously covered, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can choose a certificate or diploma program and receive entry level training in the fastest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, although the average is closer to one year. Or you can elect to earn an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take about 2 years to accomplish in a junior college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to pursue, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

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

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting that very first job may be a daunting undertaking for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are interviewing provide job placement assistance in the Horn Lake MS area and find out what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its students, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the medical community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of contacts to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive throughout your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to furnish greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before enrolling in a program to see what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Convenient? If you plan on attending a medical assistant program while you continue to work full time, it’s essential that the college you enroll in provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Horn Lake MS, make sure that those times are available. You may be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online college, but you will still have to schedule any internships or practical training that may be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to illness, work or family issues.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Horn Lake Mississippi?

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

Horn Lake, Mississippi

Horn Lake is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States which is located south of Memphis, Tennessee. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Horn Lake was 26,066,[3] up from 14,099 in 2000.

Horn Lake is bordered to the north, east, and southeast by the city of Southaven. U.S. Route 51 forms a large portion of Horn Lake's eastern border; it leads north 15 miles (24 km) to downtown Memphis, and south 9 miles (14 km) to Hernando, the DeSoto County seat. Interstate 55 passes just east of Horn Lake, with access from Exits 287,289 and 901.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Horn Lake has an area of 16.3 square miles (42.3 km2), of which 16.0 square miles (41.5 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2), or 1.98%, is water.[3]

Pick the Right Medical Assistant Training Program Horn Lake MS

Horn Lake MS medical assistant student It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re goal is to launch a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to obtain the right info on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a decision based upon your personal preferences and individual circumstances. And as we have covered in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged 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 National Certified Medical Assistant. But regardless of the type 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 provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the right program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Horn Lake MS.