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How Do You Get Your Foot in the Door in the Medical Field?

Whether you are a prospective student looking to get into a medical professional school or are looking to get a feel for the medical field, it can be hard to know where to start. It may appear as if everyone working in the medical field requires years of school and degrees to get these positions but there are a variety of jobs available that require very minimal training to get started. 

 

Become Certified as an Allied Health Professional

The best way to gain a fundamental understanding of what the medical field will be like is to be working in it. As a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) you will become an integral part of the healthcare team and be able to have a unique perspective that allows you to view so many aspects of what goes into patient care. As a CCMA you will have numerous clinical responsibilities from obtaining vital signs, administering vaccines/medications, performing electrocardiograms, phlebotomy, and other procedures. This certification will allow you to immerse yourself in a significant number of clinical aspects that will help you prepare yourself for future roles you may hold in the medical field. 

In order to become eligible to be a CCMA you will need to complete high school with a diploma/GED and then either complete a certified medical assistant training program within the last 5 years or have 1 year of work experience as a medical assistant in the past 3 years. Having these requirements will make you eligible to take the National Health career Association (NHA) CCMA exam. The exam will test your knowledge of a variety of general healthcare concepts. Students are expected to have a fundamental understanding of basic science, anatomy and physiology, clinical patient care processes, patient communication, administrative assisting, and pertinent medical laws and ethics. Although the exam focuses on all of these topics, its main focus is related to the clinical patient care section that emphasizes the responsibilities that you will primarily be completed in your new role.

Having a solid foundation from which to take this test is imperative, as not only does carrying this certification resonate with medical professional schools and prospective employers, but it also allows you to obtain clinical competency and a fundamental understanding of your patients. Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) offers a comprehensive 8-week self-paced CCMA online program that will prepare you to be more than capable of passing the NHA-certified clinical medical assistant exam. Given it is self-paced it is a viable option for those engaged in other activities such as school and other jobs. This program will provide you with qualified instructors, access to learning materials, lab simulations, Basic Life Support (BLS) training through the American Heart Association, CCMA online practice tests, and the certified clinical medical assistant exam. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects that between 2019-2029 there will be a 19% increase in the jobs for Medical Assistants. (See detailed statistics and projections here). Knowing this, students can expect that there will be job availability allowing students to identify a certain discipline that they are more interested in as medical assistants can work in a variety of healthcare settings. This position will be greatly beneficial to those expanding upon their medical careers or even those looking to provide help to those in need without having to spend years in school. Either way, CCMAs offer an effective way of getting your foot in the door in the medical field and may help influence your decisions for developing your future at medical professional schools. 

Do Medical Assistants need to be certified? 

Do medical assistants need to be certified? The answer is technically no. Although being certified as a medical assistant is not a legal requirement, many employers are concerned with medical liability. By undergoing certified medical assistant training you provide the hiring physician with reassurance that you have the fundamental skills to provide safe and adequate care to the patients without posing as a significant liability. 

As essential members of the healthcare team, Medical Assistants must possess a high level of clinical competence and skill to provide quality patient care efficiently with providers. Certify and train your medical assistant staff in just 6 weeks with Advanced eClinical Training’s Clinic Solutions!

How long does your medical Assistant Certification Last? 

Once you have obtained your certification, you might ask how long does your medical assistant certification lasts. These certifications last 2 two years before needing to be renewed. To ensure that you keep up to date with training the recertification does require that you complete 10 continuing education (CE) credits before prior to recertifying. This CE is acquired through completing short courses provided by the NHA, they are free of charge if you still maintain your certification. There is a $169 fee associated with the renewal every 2 years.

Certified Medical Assistant Classes Near me 

Fortunately, to earn your CCMA there does not have to be an available option near you. Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) offers a comprehensive 8-week self-paced CCMA online program that will prepare you to be more than capable of passing the NHA-certified clinical medical assistant exam. Having this training accessible to you online allows you to study and learn in your preferred environment without having to have the hassle of travel or time constraints. 

Certified clinical medical assistant

Being a certified medical assistant is an extremely rewarding career. Not only does it offer competitive pay, but also can a way for students exploring options in the medical field to get a feel for what the environment is like. With this position, you will career a nationally accredited certification that can really give your resume the support that it needs when applying to medical professional schools. 

Certified clinical medical assistant online training

With the certified clinical medical assistant online training offered from  Advanced eClinical Training, you will be able to complete your certification from the comfort of your own home. Having this option, especially when COVID restrictions are in place, can be a huge advantage. After signing up you will be able to get started as soon as you complete your registration. Not only will you be given an 8-week online training program that you complete at your own pace, but you will have access to the content for an entire year. 

How to study for the certified medical assistant exam

Many students ask how to study for the certified medical assistant exam. Whether you benefit from instructor presentations, reviewing material, hands-on learning, or practice exams the online program offered from Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) will be able to fit your needs. For those students that require a little extra guidance, there is available office hours with the instructor to offer you personalized support.  

How to pass the medical assistant certified exam

A great way of knowing how to pass the medical assistant certified exam is to know what kind of questions you will be asked. The NHA CCMA exam has 150 test questions with 30 pretest questions that encompass a variety of topics. Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science, anatomy and physiology, clinical patient care, patient care coordination, and education, administrative assisting, communication and customer service, and medical law and ethics. Although there are 7 topics included in this exam, they note all evenly weighted with a number of questions. Clinical patient care contains the highest number of questions in the exam which includes topics like lab procedures, electrocardiogram testing, phlebotomies, and general patient care. 

Certified clinical medical assistant certification

If you are a prospective physician assistant, medical, or nursing school applicant, you should highly consider becoming a certified clinical medical assistant. These medical professional schools can be highly competitive and having an edge on your resume will look great to the interested schools. Not only does this certification look great on your application, but it will also help you establish a solid foundation from which to learn off of in your future training. 

Certified clinical medical assistant course

In order to become eligible to take the certified medical assistant exam, you must first complete a certified clinical medical assistant course. These courses must be taken with 5 years of when you plan to take the test. These courses seek to improve your understanding of basic human anatomy, healthcare regulations, medical terminology, medication administration, obtaining patient histories, lab techniques, and many more. The course offered by Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) will not only hone your understanding but will also adequately prepare you to complete the exam. 

Certified clinical medical assistant classes

Traditional style classes can be difficult for some, your learning environment is important to help you learn in a way that suits you. With the medical assistant certification classes offered by Advanced eClinical Training, you can immerse yourself in professional interactive classroom videos that allow you to learn at your own pace. These videos also allow you to check your learning along the way to ensure that you maintain an understanding of important concepts. 

Certified clinical medical assistant (ccma) online practice test

Without having taken the CCMA certification test before it can seem like a daunting task that you are not completely sure how to prepare for. By taking a certified clinical medical assistant online practice test you can get a more in-depth feel for the fundamentals of the test, what kinds of questions you will be asked, and determine how best to manage your time to optimize your potential score on the real thing. 

Certified clinical medical assistant (ccma) national examination

If you are looking to improve your ability to get a job as a clinical medical assistant, it is important to set yourself apart from other applicants. By taking the certified clinical medical assistant (ccma) national examination you will carry a nationally accredited certification that employers will recognize. In the job field today, many prescribers are excited to see health professionals that carry these certifications as it inspires confidence that you will not be seen as a significant liability. 

Certified clinical medical assistant (ccma) study guide

Study materials are important for any test but for many students, developing these can be a significant challenge. To take off some of the stress there are included certified clinical medical assistant (ccma) study guides to help you study efficiently and effectively. If you are having difficulty with a particular topic, you can always reach out to our pre-health community as well as during office hours with the professional instructor. 

 How to be medical assistant certified

When asking how to be medical assistant certified you must first consider what role you will be playing in your career. In the US there 2 major national certifications that medical assistants can hold. There is the American Association of Medical Assistants Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA CMA) certification and the National HeathCareer Association Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (NHA CCMA) certification. Although both provide national certification, they emphasize different disciplines of the medical assistants’ responsibilities. If you are focusing on completing well-rounded tasks in both clinical and administrative capacities the AAMA CMA may be a good fit for you. If you desire to gain more significant clinical expertise the NHA CCMA will be a better fit as this program focuses heavily on those responsibilities. 

Certified clinical medical assistant exam

The certified clinical medical assistant exam is offered by National HeathCareer Association (NHA) as in conjunction with passing an approved course you can gain a national certification as a medical assistant. The exam is broken down into 7 sections which are referred to as domains. Most of these domains are evenly distributed with knowledge and task-related questions, except for the 3rd domain (Clinical Patient Care). This section alone makes up ~60% of the exam and will test you heavily on general patient care, infection control, Lab procedures, phlebotomy, and electrocardiogram testing. 

Certified clinical medical assistant psi exam

Given this is a national certification process, it is expected that when you take this exam there will be proctoring of some fashion. Taking the certified clinical medical assistant psi exam will be completed at a chosen PSI location. These psi centers are equipped to proctor a variety of exams and will be one of the options available for testing. 

Study guide for certified clinical medical assistant

In order to maintain your certification, you are required to complete 10 continuing education credits every 2 years to maintain your certification. It is always a good idea to utilize these as opportunities to expand your knowledge and refresh your study guide for certified clinical medical assistant education topics. Although 10 are required, you can always do more than 10 especially if you want to explore the reaches of your profession. 

Certified clinical medical assistant study guide

One of the factors that make Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) such an impressive program is that it can provide you with a remote learning option that still maintains the hands-on elements of an in-class program. You will have access to an interactive ECG simulator and even the option to have a venipuncture practice kit. Having a certified clinical medical assistant study guide may be helpful but having the hands-on experience will solidify your understanding that much more. 

How to hire a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

Many medical offices are now asking how to hire competent and credentialed certified clinical medical assistants. The job demand for these positions is projected to increase by 19% in the next 10 years. Recommending that current employees seek certification can open new doors for medical offices by distributing workload without having the larger concern of having significant liability. 

Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) offers clinic solutions to medical offices with various services. Our Clinic Solutions Works With Physician Offices And Hospitals To Ensure The Medical Assistant Staff Is Adequately Trained, Competent, Credentialed, And Compliant In Accordance With The Highest Standards Of Patient Care. ACT clinic solutions offer accelerated credentialing to medical offices; In just 6 weeks the medical assistant staff is fully trained and credentialed with nationally accredited certifications. Furthermore, ACT matches competent and certified clinical medical assistants to CCMA openings in all medical specialties all over the country.

Contact Advanced eClinical Training’s Clinic Solution Director, Shabnam Safarzadeh, to get more information on how ACT can help your healthcare organization!

  • P: 904-607-5090

Certified clinical medical assistant online

Since the pandemic, online instructional options have become increasingly more prevalent. For students exploring their futures as a certified clinical medical assistant, online training offers a flexible option for those with busy schedules. In 8 weeks, you can complete all the required coursework and take your certification exam. Despite the online presentation, there are options for learning that goes beyond your computer such as a venipuncture practice. 

Certified clinical medical assistant program

After completing your certified clinical medical assistant program with  Advanced eClinical Training and taking your NHA exam you will be a certified clinical medical assistant. Becoming certified through NHA comes with significant benefits as well. You will be required to complete 10 continuing education (CE) credits every two years to maintain your certification. NHA offers a complete CE library that is constantly updated to contain the latest protocols and techniques free of charge. 

Certified clinical medical assistant training

A majority of professions within the medical field require extensive training and schooling in order to get a job. However, getting certified clinical medical assistant training only requires about 8 weeks of course week and an exam. Once certified you are able to get positions in almost any discipline of medicine you are interested in. This is a great option for those looking to get some exposure to reinforce applications to medical school as well as those looking to provide help to those in need. 

NHA certified clinical medical assistant practice test

The National Healthcareer Association is the accrediting organization for the certified clinical medical assistant certification. If you want the ability to improve your chances of passing the certification test, exploring the NHA-certified clinical medical assistant practice test is highly recommended. These tests are offered through NHA and will give you further insight on what to expect when you take the real thing. 

The certified clinical medical assistant

The certified clinical medical assistant is one of the fundamental jobs in medicine. These professionals provide much-needed assistance to nurses, pa’s, doctors, and various other medical supervisors. Now more than ever, the medical community needs these hard-working individuals to help to provide more substantial care to those in need. If you are looking to lend a helping hand or to explore your potential future as a medical professional starting as a certified clinical medical assistant can get you there. 

Reference: 

  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Advanced eClinical Training. https://advclinical.org/med-assistant/. Accessed July 20, 2021.
  • Medical Assistant Certification: CCMA. AscendBase. https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/certified-clinical-medical-assistant-(ccma). Accessed July 20, 2021.
  • Medical Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm. Published April 9, 2021. Accessed July 20, 2021.
  • Stauffer B. AAMA CMA vs NHA CCMA: What’s the Difference? Digital Curriculum for CTE & Elective Teachers. https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/aama-cma-vs-nha-ccma. Accessed July 20, 2021.

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