Like most careers these days, continuing education units are required for medical assistants to keep their certification and particularly designated credentials current (such as the Registered Medical Assistant Certification). If a medical assistant fails to take continuing education units, she will find herself falling behind in current techniques and advances related to the medical field, although in most states she will still be able to practice her profession.
Be sure to keep your training and certification current, while gaining valuable skills in the medical assistant field.
Details on Continuing Education
Some of the primary advantages for continuing education in the medical assistant field are that you will learn of new developments in your field, you will show you are serious about your position, and you will have the possibility of increasing your current salary.
If you, as a medical assistant, are planning on recertifying in your area of credential, you must complete 60 recertification points. You will have 5 years to do this. You must have 10 general, 10 clinical and 10 administrative points, and 30 points from any combination of those categories. At least 30 of the points must be from American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) approved continuing education units.
As a medical assistant, it is important to be constantly planning which continuing education courses you wish to take and to plan ahead and schedule when you can take the courses. Do not be left behind by others in your field.
Courses and Costs for Medical Assistant Continuing Education
Some courses that medical assistants are able to take for continuing education may include Procedures in a Clinical Setting (patient assessment, examination and treatment); or Administrative Procedures (appointment scheduling, medical coding and billing and patient charting). Obviously, medical assistants perform a large range of tasks, so it is important to get continuing education in all of these areas.
The cost per credit hour for medical assistant continuing education points/courses will vary by state and by college. Check out the training options in your local area to compare prices. Also, many times, your employer provides money for training expenses and reimbursement. Be sure to take advantage of this if possible.
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Julie Maria Anderson is an author and website designer from Pennsylvania. She has written for over 5 years for different websites including Associated Content, ghostwriting projects, and her own website on a variety of subjects including health, family and child issues, and education. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Baptist Bible College of PA with an education and journalism emphasis.