How to Enroll In an Accredited Medical Assistant School Program near Castro Valley California

Now that you have decided to become a part of the rewarding profession of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Castro Valley CA, it's time to select a school that will provide the appropriate training. But just how do you undertake evaluating and comparing schools so that you ultimately enroll in the best one? Many prospective students start by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their residences 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 might choose to look into several online medical assistant programs as an alternative as well (more on that later). The bottom line is that prior to selecting a college you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. And to help you with that task, we have provided some questions that you should ask each of the schools on your "maybe" list. But before we start that review, let's briefly talk about the function of a medical assistant and the kind of credentials and training that are offered.

The Responsibilities of Medical Assistants

The function of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Basically their role is to make sure that the Castro Valley CA hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities where they work operate successfully. Depending on the size or type of facility, they can be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with providing direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other health practitioners but may also be found working at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

• Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
• Scheduling and verifying appointments
• Weighing and taking patients vital signs
• Taking blood and other fluid and tissue samples
• Preparing instruments and rooms for doctors
• Providing basic support during exams and procedures

Although medical assistants may carry out almost any task they are authorized to under California law, some prefer to specialize in a specific 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 Education

Compared to many other healthcare practitioners, medical assistants are not required to become licensed, certified, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Castro Valley CA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we'll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are essentially 2 options available for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs generally take about one year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to earn an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs provided at California junior and community colleges in addition to vocational and technical schools. They are more extensive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a practical element involving an internship with a local medical practice. Associate Degrees are commonly a pre-requisite for and credits can be transferred to a four year Bachelor's Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Programs

There are many accredited medical assistant programs available online as well. They are a good choice for those who may not have time to attend classes on campus but could work them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good option for California students who continue to work full-time while attaining their degree or certificate. As an extra benefit, some online schools have lower tuitions than the more traditional on campus options. Supplemental costs including those for commuting, textbooks and school supplies can be minimized as well. But remember that any requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can often be carried out in Castro Valley CA area healthcare facilities. If you can learn without the rigid structure of attending supervised classes on-campus, then this mode of getting your training might be the ideal choice for you. Between the online lessons and the practical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, becoming certified is not a legal mandate, but is an excellent option for graduates who wish to advance their careers. It will not only help in attaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with initial salary negotiations. A number of possible Castro Valley CA medical employers simply will not employ a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. Among the most popular and perhaps the most respected certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA examination, a candidate must be a graduate or will be graduating within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Alternative certifications are available also, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are provided by the NHA.
 

 

Questions to Ask Medical Assistant Schools

Prior to examining your medical assistant school options, you must determine which type of credential you want to earn, and if you want to attend classes on-campus or online at home. Once those choices have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some potential students restrict their searches to the schools that are nearest to Castro Valley CA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are a number of additional issues that you need to examine when evaluating programs. To assist you with that process, following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Medical Assistant Program Accredited? There are many good reasons to make sure that the school you select is accredited. To start with, accreditation helps guarantee that the training you receive will be both extensive and of the highest quality. Second, if you intend to become certified, you must 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 agencies, you will not be qualified to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial aid, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And last, as previously mentioned, a number of potential Castro Valley CA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School's Passage Percentage? Most of the California accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you must find out which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students for. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to choose a program concentrating on that certification. Next, learn what the school's passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. This is just one of the ways to help evaluate the quality of a school's program. Of course schools with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two routes to obtaining medical assistant training. You can enroll in a certificate or diploma program and obtain entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will take approximately 2 years to complete in a junior college or trade school. Whichever program you choose to pursue, make certain that the California schools you are looking at provide the type of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Castro Valley CA area health care providers. They are a great way to get hands-on practical experience and training. They may also assist students build relationships within the Castro Valley health care community. And as an added benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding that initial job can be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they have some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the schools you are interviewing offer job placement assistance in the Castro Valley CA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a high job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has a good reputation within the health care community. It also indicates that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Large are the Classrooms? Class size can be an indication of how much individual instruction you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to provide increased access to teachers and face to face interaction. If possible, try to sit in on a few classes before choosing a program to experience what the teaching environment is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Practical? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school 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 at night or on weekends near Castro Valley CA, make sure that those times are offered. You may be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will also need to schedule all clinical training or internships that may be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.

Choose the Right Castro Valley CA Medical Assistant Training

It's important to begin your new career on the right foot by choosing 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 pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you need to acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your decision. There are such a large number of colleges offering training nowadays that you can make a selection based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, make sure that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification examination. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied so you can compare programs and make an informed decision. And by choosing the ideal program you can ultimately begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Castro Valley CA.