How to Choose a Medical Assistant School Program near Queen City Texas
Now that you have made a decision to join the rewarding profession of health care and enroll in a medical assistant school near Queen City TX, it’s time to select a college that will provide the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you ultimately pick the best one? A number of potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are closest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You may want to take a look at several online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. And to assist you with that task, we have provided several 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 function of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are offered.
The Function of Medical Assistants
The duties of a medical assistant can be varied as well as demanding. Basically their duty is ensure that the Queen City TX hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities where they work operate efficiently. Depending on the type or size of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct support to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but can also be found working 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 tissue and fluid samples
- Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
- Giving general support during exams and procedures
While medical assistants may perform almost any task they are authorized to under Texas law, some prefer to specialize in a specific area and earn certification. Two of the options 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 Programs
Unlike many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to earn a college degree. However, a number of Queen City TX health care employers would rather hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (we’ll cover accreditation later ) that are certified. There are generally 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and shortest path to becoming a medical assistant is to obtain a diploma or a certificate. These programs normally take about a year to complete, a few as little as 6 to 9 months. They are created to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and prepare graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally 2 year programs available at community and junior colleges as well as vocational and technical schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant training. They often have a practical component requiring an internship with a local medical facility. 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.
Online Medical Assistant Schools
There are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent option for those who might not have the time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good choice for students who continue working full-time while attaining their certificate or degree. As an added benefit, a number of online schools have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on-campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be reduced as well. But keep in mind that any requirements for clinical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be carried out in Queen City TX area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training 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 earlier stated, becoming certified is not a legal requirement, but is an excellent idea for graduates who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in getting a position after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some potential Queen City TX medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and arguably the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, an applicant must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, such as the CCMA and the CMAA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
What to Ask Medical Assistant Programs
Before you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you must determine which kind of credential you would like to earn, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online from home. After those selections have been made, you can start the procedure of evaluating medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some prospective students limit their searches to the schools that are closest to Queen City TX with the most affordable tuition. Although cost and location are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional issues that you need to look at when evaluating schools. To assist you with that task, following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final choice.
Is the Medical Assistant Course Accredited? There are several great reasons to verify that the program you choose is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete an accredited program. Two of the approved 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 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 previously mentioned, many potential Queen City TX employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.
What is the School’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant colleges create their programs to prepare students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you must find out which of the certifications the programs you are looking at are preparing their students to take. If you are planning on taking the CMA for example, then obviously you will need to select 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 ways to help evaluate the quality of a school’s program. Of course schools with lower rates are those that you will want to avoid.
Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to acquiring medical assistant training. You can enroll in 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 acquire an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will require about 2 years to finish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, confirm that the colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you are interested in.
Are Internships Provided? A large number of medical assistant schools offer internship programs with Queen City TX area medical care providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on clinical experience and training. They can also help students establish relationships within the Queen City health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing that initial job may be a difficult undertaking for graduating medical assistant students unless they obtain a little assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are evaluating provide job placement assistance in the Queen City TX 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 broad network of employers to help place students in positions.
How Large are the Classes? Class size can be an indicator of how much personal instruction you will receive during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to instructors and face to face interaction. If practical, try to monitor a couple of classes before choosing a college to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students receive.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant college while you continue to work full time, it’s important that the program you choose provides classes that accommodate your schedule. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Queen City TX, make certain that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still need to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Additionally, ask what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.
Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Queen City Texas?
If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Queen City TX area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.
Queen City, Texas
Queen City is located in northeastern Cass County at 33°9′11″N 94°9′19″W / 33.15306°N 94.15528°W / 33.15306; -94.15528 (33.153186, -94.155343).[4] It is bordered to the south by the city of Atlanta. U.S. Route 59 passes through Queen City, leading north 22 miles (35 km) to Texarkana and south into Atlanta.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,613 people, 660 households, and 440 families residing in the city. The population density was 451.1 people per square mile (174.0/km²). There were 763 housing units at an average density of 213.4 per square mile (82.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.27% White, 14.45% African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.68% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.
There were 660 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.
Choose the Best Medical Assistant Training Queen City TX
It’s essential to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant program that will provide the appropriate training. Regardless if you’re goal is to begin a career in health care starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you must obtain the right information on available programs before making your selection. There are so many colleges 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, verify that the program you select is accredited by an acknowledged organization, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Credentials. But regardless of the type of credential that you plan to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an on-campus or online school, don’t forget to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately begin a rewarding career as a medical assistant in Queen City TX.
More Medical Locations in Texas
Business Results 1 - 10 of 2
7 Reviews 
2 Reviews 