Train As A Medical Assistant At Liberty Career College
Multi-specialty clinics, podiatrists, physician and chiropractic offices are some of the many healthcare facilities that graduates from one of the medical assistant programs in Bakersfield Ca work from. Liberty Career College offers both 10 and 20 week medical assistant programs. The cost for the certified medical assistant course is $3,000. Liberty Career College’s program is a total of 240 clock hours. 80 of the clocked hours are spent on an externship. An externship allows for the student to take a hands-on approach to the clinical skills and procedures they have learned. These skills are essential in order to meet the demands of working as a medical assistant. As medicine becomes more technologically advanced, qualified medical assistants are needed to perform a broad array of clinically related tasks including the following:
- Obtaining and recording vital illness signs
- Explaining treatment procedures to patients
- Preparation of the patients for clinical examinations
- Assisting physicians during the examinations
- Gathering medical history
- Arranging exam room equipment and instruments
- Maintaining equipment and supplies
- Sterilizing medical instruments
- Maintaining exam rooms
- Disposing of any contaminated supplies
- Collecting, preparing and transporting laboratory specimens
Liberty Career College Program Objectives:
The primary goal of the Medical Assistant Program at Liberty Career College is to prepare graduates to conduct all the necessary clinical procedures correctly. These include collecting and recording vital signs after obtaining patient history, explaining the whole treatment procedure to the patient, preparing them for examinations as well as collecting, processing and transporting laboratory specimens. The graduates should also be able to perform EKGs, do venipunctures and punctures, remove sutures, sterilize medical equipment, dispose of the contaminated supplies appropriately, change dressings, administer patient medication, maintain supplies and equipment as well as medical and surgical asepsis as per the policy of the office.
The program targets individuals who wish to execute back office clinical duties done by a medical assistant under the direct supervision of a physician. The potential students must undertake and pass all the modules of the program for them to be successful. They must also attain an overall course average score of over 70 percent in all their quizzes, assignments, and examinations. After this program, successful graduates will be eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam by the National Healthcare Association.
Liberty Career College Medical Assistant Program 661-322-3030 906 19th St Bakersfield, CA 93301
Being a Registered Medical Assistant
The two primary entry level career positions in the medical industry are Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). These individuals are normally responsible for answering phones, coordinating appointments, and handling every patient’s personal information on a daily basis. CMA’s and RMA’s also function in similar fashion in that they are responsible for administrative and clinical tasks such as filling out insurance forms for patients and taking their vital signs.
Differences between a CMA and RMA
The Certified Medical Assistant and Registered Medical Assistant are basically the same jobs. Both have pursued the same curriculum while pursuing their education and are eligible to be ranked as certified or registered. The key difference between the two is the types of exams they have both taken in order to enhance their credentials.
Educational requirements for medical assistants
You have to graduate from a medical assisting focused program in order to achieve CMA or RMA status. Additionally, the program must be Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) certified. Depending on the program, an individual can earn an Associate’s (2-year) Degree, certificate, or diploma.
Certified or Registered Medical Assistant formal education can be pursued in different post-secondary institutions including the following:
- Community colleges
- Junior colleges
- Online educational programs
- Proprietary colleges
- Technical InstitutesVocational schools
Currently, there are more than 200 programs that are ABHES accredited and over 500 institutions offering 600 programs that are CAAHEP accredited. It is imperative that any institution’s medical assistant curriculum receive accreditation from the ABHES, the CAAHEP, or some other accreditation association. Additionally, CMA or RMA programs must provide sufficient time in classrooms, laboratories, and lectures so that they meet the specific educational standards called for by these different accreditation entities.
Number of employed medical assistants
As of 2015, the number of Certified or Registered Medical Assistant positions in the US was approaching the half million mark according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to this, it was estimated back in 2006 that in the 10-year period ending in 2016, the number of CMA’s and RMA’s in the US would increase to roughly 565,000. Approximately 23% of these individuals are considered as part-time employees or underemployed.
Salary Ranges for CMA’s and RMA’s
The following Certified or Registered Medical Assistant salaries are according to the statistics of the PayScale-powered Salary Center based on what level of experience and type of employer the individual is working for:
Entry level – The median salary for a CMA or RMA entering the workforce at this position is $27,000 per year.Mid-career – With 10 to 20 years of experience, individuals can expect an annual salary of $24,000.Experienced – Individuals with significant experience are currently averaging $40,000 per year.Top paying employer – If you work for a private company as a CMA or RMA, you can expect to earn approximately $35,000 per year.Lowest paying employer – School districts are typically the lowest paying employers of a Certified or Registered Medical Assistant and pay roughly $22,500 annually at the entry level position.