Before you can start examining your medical assistant school alternatives, you need to decide 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 process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, some potential students confine their searches to the colleges that are closest to Chino Hills California with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are not the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must explore when researching programs. To help you with that process, below are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to make sure that the program you choose is accredited. First, accreditation helps guarantee that the instruction you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you plan on becoming certified, you need to complete 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 program is not accredited by one of these agencies, you will not be eligible to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you anticipate obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are normally not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of prospective California employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited program.
What is the School's Passage Percentage? The majority of California accredited medical assistant schools design their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification examinations. First, you must learn which of the certifications the programs you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for instance, then of course you will want to choose a program focused on that certification. Next, find out what the school's passage rate is for the certification and contrast it to the national average. This is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a college's program. Obviously schools with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.
Which Programs are Offered? As we covered earlier, there are basically two paths to obtaining medical assistant training. You can choose a diploma or certificate program and obtain 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 get a broader education that will require about two years to accomplish in a community college or vocational school. Whatever program you elect to enroll in, make sure that the California colleges you are looking at offer the kind of program you have an interest in.
Are Internships Sponsored? Many medical assistant colleges sponsor internship programs with California health care providers. They are a great way to receive hands-on practical experience and training. They can also assist students develop relationships within the Chino Hills healthcare community. And as an added perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.
Is Job Placement Support Supplied? Getting that initial job can be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they receive some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in California and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has an excellent reputation within the healthcare community. It also indicates that it has a large network of employers to help place students in jobs.
How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much individual attention 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 instructors and one-on-one interaction. If practical, try to sit in on a couple of classes before enrolling in a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.
Is Class Scheduling Accommodating? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it's essential that the college you enroll in offers classes that fit your schedule. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Chino Hills California, confirm that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more easily with an online program, but you will still have to schedule all internships or clinical training that may be required. Also, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities.