Medical Assistant Training in Arkansas
The recommended first step toward a career in medical assisting is to find an accredited medical assistant training program in Arkansas and secondly, become a certified medical assistant (CMA). The state of Arkansas does not require a certification in order to work as a medical assistant, however more and more employees are looking for this training. Becoming certified would provide you with a huge competitive edge and reduce the necessary on-the-job training. Employers are finding it to be much more cost-effective and efficient to hire medical assistants who are formally trained and have been certified. There are several vocational schools as well as junior and community colleges in Arkansas that offer medical assistant training. If you would like to become certified, it is a wise idea to choose a medical assisting program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Online Medical Assistant Programs in Arkansas
There are also online medical assistant programs in Arkansas that are accredited by the CAAHEP and ABHES. These programs are listed below along with the campus based medical assistant programs. Medical assistant training typically takes about a year, unless you choose to take your education a step further and earn an associate degree, which takes two years. Once you’ve completed the training, you need to pass the medical assistant certification exam, given by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Training in the medical assistant programs covers a lot of ground in the field. Administrative and clerical training are a must so that you can learn to expertly handle things like billing and record keeping, as well as communicating with patients, physicians, and insurance companies. You will also gain some basic clinical training, ranging from patient assessment, vital signs, phlebotomy, medical terminology, and some anatomy.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the outlook for this profession is good throughout the country, and this certainly includes Arkansas. The popularity of Arkansas with retirees makes it especially prone to healthcare shortages. Rural Arkansas in particular, will need qualified medical assistants to work in clinics and physicians’ offices. These positions usually provide good health coverage and benefits as well. Per salary.com, the mean salary for a medical assistant in Arkansas is generally in the mid twenties, but will rise with increased experience and will be higher in urban areas. The healthcare industry is booming and will provide job opportunity as the state struggles to meet the healthcare needs of its population. Take advantage of this by pursuing your certification to become a medical assistant.
Medical billing and coding programs in Arkansas have gained interest recently with the presentation of the health care reform bill and the growing complexities in the health care system. People interested in medical assistant programs also explored opportunities tin the medical billing and coding field.
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