Each year, many people enroll in higher education programs — whether through traditional schools such as colleges and universities, or through career training programs and vocational schools. And for those looking to enroll in the latter to begin a career as a medical assistant, there’s no shortage of choices. If you’re thinking this field might be the right one for you, you’ll first want to make sure you’re choosing a school that fits your needs and sets you on your desired path. So, how do you know what’s the best medical assistant program for you? We’ve put together a guide to help you know what to look out for and what to take into consideration.
Compare course costs
The cost to receive training as a medical assistant can vary widely, and several factors such as location, specialization, and potential state-required certification exams may come into play. Though it may be in your best interest to pay more money for a school that’s the right fit, you might also be better served to opt for a less expensive one — at the end of the day, you’ll want to examine what benefits each individual program can offer, as well as how much you’re willing and able to invest in your training.
Take location into consideration
Where you are currently (and where you’d ultimately like to end up) could also be an important factor in your decision. Should you move halfway across the country, attend a program that’s a 20-minute drive from your home, or enroll in an online course? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has location-based data for multiple metrics in this field. For example, the states with the highest employment of medical assistants are California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Georgia, respectively — on the other hand, the states with the highest annual mean wage for this career are Washington ($47,320), Washington DC ($46,390), California ($44,780), and Massachusetts ($44,200).
Are the cost, program value, and proximity to potential employers worth a move? Before choosing a campus, you might be well-served to take into account where you’d like to settle, along with any other factors which could make you want to stay where you are now.
Get to know the instructors
Learning from the right teacher can have a huge impact on someone’s success, so we suggest gathering all the info you can on who will be leading your potential courses. See if they’re well-known in the industry or have produced any work that you can find, and check out what past students have said about them on review sites. By researching who’ll be running the programs, you’ll have a better idea of who has the right level of experience, whose teaching style will fit your learning style, and ultimately which one is the best medical assistant programs for you.
Read program reviews
Another helpful way to find out if a program and its instructors will be a good fit is reading reviews. Whether by searching through online lists of top programs, or reading reviews by graduates on sites like Yelp or Quora, you can check to see if a school is likely to deliver on what it’s promising.
Both official rankings, like those on GradReports.com, or user assessments like the ones written in Google reviews will give you a good picture of the value each program brings.
Visit the campus, if possible
If you’re able, you might also want to visit the school in person before committing. Both school administrators and former students emphasize the importance of seeing the classrooms and meeting the staff face-to-face before you enroll. Be on the lookout for any open houses being hosted by the school, or simply visit on your own to take a look at where you’ll be learning. In actually seeing where the course will take place, you can gain personal insights you might otherwise miss reading online reviews or hearing secondhand information.
Find out what financial aid options are available
Lastly, it’s also a good idea to look into alternative payment options such as scholarships, grants, payment plans, or loans, if you need help easing the burden of any costs. While in many cases federal student loans can’t be applied to a medical assistant program, private student loans — along payment plans, scholarships, and grant opportunities — may still be available. If you need assistance, be sure to check each school’s website to see which ones have payment methods that best fit your needs!
Found the best medical assistant program, and now need help paying for it?
