Certified Medical Assistant Schools - Why Should I Enroll Here?
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
At times when doctors are busy doing other important duties and responsibilities, it will be up to the medical assistant to take care of some clinical and administrative work for them. These healthcare providers help ensure that doctor’s offices run smoothly and efficiently. Any individual looking to become a medical assistant will need to undergo training which is usually offered in community colleges, vocational schools, and certified medical assistant schools.
Certified medical assistant schools usually offer either a 1-year certificate/diploma training program or a 2-year associate’s degree program. As with any other postsecondary course, a high school diploma is usually required or its GED equivalent. You can expect to take up courses such as medical terminology, physiology, anatomy, clinical and diagnostic procedures, medicine administration, medical law and ethics, insurance processing, and laboratory techniques.
It is important to make sure that the training programs offered by certified medical assistant schools have been duly accredited by the CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) or the ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools). Enrolling in a CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited program is a must for any graduate who is looking to become registered or certified in this medical field.
Medical assistant training programs that has been accredited by the CAAHEP or ABHES means that the certified medical assistant schools offering them have high standards of education. It also ensures that the program gives sufficient emphasis on lecture, classroom and laboratory activities. Another important feature of an accredited program is internship - it immerses the student in an actual working environment, allowing him to apply the training he received.
Accreditation of a school’s training program is also among the most important factors you should consider when looking at certified medical assistant schools. A good training program must always have an internship or externship in order to provide the student with hands-on experience. Other factors you may want to consider are school and class size, tuition fees, and the success rate of the school’s graduates.
Most employers prefer hiring individuals who have graduated from certified medical assistant schools which have CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited programs, as well as those who have also previously received certification. Although certification is not a requirement to work as a medical assistant, it can significantly boost your employment opportunities. Certification is given to graduates who have successfully completed a certification exam issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).