| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | educational institutions, colleges, universities, graduate |
| ACCREDITED VOCATIONAL TRAINING | | | | schools in the United States is divided into geographical |
| PROGRAMS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER | | | | areas. There are six regional accreditation bodies: |
| EDUCATION--ON CAMPUS OR ONLINE! | | | | - Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| People interested in a medical assistant or similar | | | | (MSA) |
| related career often are unsure of what to look for in | | | | - New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| vocational training institutions and what they should | | | | (NEASC) |
| expect from the program they choose. | | | | - North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| It is highly recommended that those who seek formal | | | | (NASC) |
| training opt for accredited training programs that meet | | | | - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| the clearly defined and strictly upheld criteria of one of | | | | (SACS) |
| the regional or national accreditors. Finding out whether | | | | - Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| a school or online course and their programs are | | | | (WASC) |
| accredited is an important step in determining whether | | | | Important is that those seeking medical assistant |
| the education provided will meet all learning goals and | | | | training should not overlook that an accredited versus |
| is truly worth the time and money. | | | | a legitimate institution does not always mean the same |
| WHAT IS ACCREDITATION? | | | | thing! There is a plethora of different accreditations |
| In the United States most accreditations are granted | | | | offered in the United States covering all imaginable |
| by the government, approved state agencies, or | | | | areas of vocational and higher education. Some |
| organizations, and associations that rely on a variety of | | | | institutions claiming these accreditations are not |
| advisory groups in their continuous effort to improve | | | | necessarily always legitimate. Only fully accredited |
| the safety and quality of education and training | | | | institutions have the above listed accreditations. |
| provided to the public. In addition, most states have | | | | A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT ONLINE TRAINING! |
| some means of approving or certifying the operation | | | | Distance education over the Internet provides |
| of independent and other nonpublic schools. | | | | e-learners with the convenience, flexibility, and the |
| The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for | | | | ability to study anywhere, any time without being on |
| Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are accreditors | | | | campus. However, taking courses online doesn't |
| for postsecondary programs, the Commission on | | | | always mean that the program they have chosen is |
| Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | | | | accredited or legit and sometimes, if not careful, the |
| (CAAHEP) is the largest specialized accreditor in the | | | | diploma they receive is not even worth the paper it is |
| health sciences field, the Accrediting Bureau of Health | | | | printed on. |
| Education Schools (ABHES) accredits private | | | | Online training providers, non-traditional universities, and |
| postsecondary institutions and programs preparing | | | | colleges who offer virtual and distance learning |
| individuals for entry into the medical assisting | | | | programs have different accreditation standards and it |
| profession, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation | | | | is important to recognize the difference between |
| of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) strives to | | | | legitimate and fully accredited vs. illegitimate and |
| continuously improve the safety and quality of care | | | | non-accredited ones before signing up for such |
| provided to the public through the provision of health | | | | courses. |
| care accreditation and related services that support | | | | The Internet is known for their many different types of |
| performance improvement in health care organizations. | | | | scams. To ensure that you don't waste your time or |
| Graduates of postsecondary medical assisting | | | | money, medical assistant students should choose only |
| programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES are | | | | institutions that have full accreditation! |
| immediately eligible to take AAMA’s Certified | | | | In closing, one final word of caution: training programs, |
| Medical Assistant (CMA) certification exam. Graduates | | | | especially those offered on the Internet, that use |
| from ABHES accredited medical assisting programs | | | | words such as approved, accredited, accreditation |
| are also immediately eligible to take the RMA | | | | pending, authorized, chartered, empowered, licensed, |
| examination offered by the American Medical | | | | recognized, registered, or any other profound sounding |
| Technologists (AMT). Both CAAHEP and ABHES | | | | designation are not always legitimately accredited. Be |
| publish a list of their accredited programs. | | | | aware of these common phrases! |
| Accreditation for different level public and private | | | | |