How Accreditation Impacts Your Medical Assistant Training

The healthcare field is continuing to grow rapidly, with the demand for medical assistants increasing every day. If you want to enter the healthcare field, one of the quickest and easiest ways is by training to become a medical assistant. Many medical assistant programs can be completed in as little as a few months with a very reasonable investment in your education and will allow you to begin working as a medical assistant right away.

However, not every medical assistant training program will set you on the right path to success. When you are looking for a medical assistant training program, it is important for your future to look for an accredited program. Not only will you know that you are getting the best possible training to set you up for success, but an accredited program will also allow you to sit for the certification exam, opening many doors for you as you advance through your career.

Getting Certified as a Medical Assistant Requires an Accredited Program

While you can begin working as a medical assistant in most states without certification, skipping the certification process is a definite disadvantage. From the very beginning of your career, you will find that most employers prefer certified medical assistants, as they can easily prove that they have gone through a comprehensive training program that takes accountability for their graduates. 

Going through the certification process lets all potential employers know that you are committed to a career in healthcare, but to take the certification exam; you will need to show proof that you have completed an accredited medical assistant training program. While it can be overwhelming to think of taking a certification exam for a program you have yet to begin, choosing an accredited program allows you to choose how to proceed once you have finished your training rather than limiting your options at the start of your career.

Medical Assistant Certification

Certification requires certain skills and knowledge to pass the exam. While you can develop those skills in many different programs, you know that an accredited program is guaranteed to address anything you will need to know to pass the certification exam. Because accredited medical assistant training programs are subject to oversight and go through a rigorous process to obtain and maintain accreditation status, you know that you will get high quality and thorough training which will take place in excellent facilities with competent staff.

Accredited medical assistant training programs will offer the career-focused training employers like to see. Accredited programs know exactly what you will need to pass a certification exam and be successful in your job as a medical assistant. They will ensure that you leave the program with the necessary skills. Accredited schools typically have a better reputation among the hospitals, clinics, and medical offices looking to hire medical assistants because they know that you will have all the education necessary to be an asset to the team right from the start.

Certified Medical Assistants Sought After By Employers

Why bother choosing an accredited program and going through the certification process if certification isn’t required and you feel confident in your skills from a lower-cost training program? The reality is that while certification may not be an official job requirement, any potential employer will be more likely to choose a possible candidate who has done their training at an accredited school and passed the certification exam. Not only does going through an accredited program and taking the certification exam prove that your skills are up to par, but it also demonstrates to potential employers that you are taking your career seriously and are willing to invest in quality training.

In addition, getting your training at an accredited school will give you more and better job options from a variety of facilities. With a highly respected training program, you will benefit from their reputation and will likely have your choice of positions when you are ready to begin working.

An Accredited Education Means Better Pay and More Opportunities for the Future

In addition to having more job options, going through an accredited program will make you eligible for better pay, better choices in shifts, and more opportunities for advancement. Many more extensive medical facilities that offer the highest initial salaries, such as hospitals, will only hire certified medical assistants who have completed accredited training programs.

Additionally, while medical assisting is a great and fulfilling career, many medical assistants use their initial role as a jumping-off point to further their healthcare career, whether that means pursuing opportunities as specialty technicians, advanced medical administration roles, or supervisory roles. To maintain your certification, you will need continuing education credits (CEUs), and this continued training will prove to employers that you are dedicated to high-quality work. 

The decision to return to school and take a new career path can be exciting and overwhelming, so you want to make sure that you choose the ideal program that will give you the best training and greatest opportunities for the future. When you select an accredited program for medical assistant training, you will be on the right path to getting your certification and making yourself marketable to future employers. You’ll not only be on the path to becoming a successful medical assistant, but you will open many doors for future opportunities and advancement.

Choosing the right school matters, and knowing you have chosen an accredited program will give you the confidence you need for your new career. To learn more about how to enroll in our accredited, comprehensive medical assistant training program, contact Athena Career Academy today.