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To know which schools offer the best certified MA programs in Arkansas, you’ve to focus on the institutes accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Search for the top MA programs in your zip code using this widget.
The state of Arkansas would see a 31% anticipated rise in the demand for medical assistants in the coming years. Though the state does not make formal training necessary, most workplaces prefer candidates with formal training as it displays their commitment to the job and proficiency in it. Having proper training also makes it easier for students to qualify for national certification or licensing examinations, making their chances of employability better.
In Arkansas, most MA students can procure a diploma or an associate in applied sciences in medical assisting. The associate degree program is between 2 to 4 years, and the diploma can be completed in less than a year. Other universities also offer certificate courses for medical assisting, which can be completed within a year.
Like the duration differs on the nature of the program the school offers, the cost of programs see a similar difference. In community college, medical assistant diplomas can be procured for $3,000-$8,000, and in private schools, they can be procured for $14,000-$25,000. These are tuition fees for resident students. For non-resident students, the fees are considerably higher, and international students have to apply within a different tuition fee bracket, preferably with accommodation on campus locations, for most programs.
All schools encourage students to apply for grants, financial aids, and scholarships in an effort to make things easier for them financially.
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Medical assisting is one of the professions that is fast gaining pace in the real world, and it is no doubt that more and more schools are offering this program to its students. Having formal training only aids medical assistants in gaining the skills they later require. However, picking a course on a whim might be a bad idea, which has consequences later. While selecting a course, one has to be mindful of a few elements.
The college you’re opting for must be accredited. It is only the certified courses that give you eligibility to take medical assisting licensure examinations. Moreover, good lab facilities, advanced infrastructure, and time taken to complete the course, along with tuition fees, must be considered and compared to arrive at a decision.
Arkansas Tech University offers several programs across its different campus locations. It offers an Associate of Applied Sciences degree to medical assistants. The total credit hours are 60, and the course is divided into 5 semesters. The first is the summer session, which is for 6 credits, followed by 2 fall semesters and spring semesters. The program ends with a Practicum, which is compulsory to complete the degree. The Practicum must be done for 4 weeks or 160 credit hours, and all expenses have to be borne by the candidate.
Moreover, it would be assessed via different examinations if the student is ready to take the CMA examination later and apply for national licensure. Arkansas Tech University has also been featured in the 33rd position on Washington Monthly’s in 2019. Among Arkansas colleges, it ranks 1st, and that is no surprise! It has state-of-the-art lab facilities, distinguished faculty, and a good student-teacher ratio at all its campus locations. Also, it has good tie-ups with medical organizations around for students to get their practicum experience.
| Number of Courses | Associate's Degree |
|---|---|
| Campus | Ozark, AR |
North Arkansas College offers 2 MA programs. The first one is a certificate of proficiency program in clinical medical assisting, which comprises of 16-21 credits in total. Another one is a 1-year technical certificate program in medical assisting (clinical and administrative). This program offers a good foundation in acquiring medical assisting skills that require a happy blend of theory and practical experience. A mandatory practicum is also provided to the students at the end of the course so that students gain experience on the job under the direct supervision of the college program director and clinic supervisor.
This training program is usually divided into 2 semesters and invites applications in the fall semester. The first semester has 16-21 credits, and the second has 13 credits, making it a total of 29-34 credits program. The second semester mainly covers the administrative courses that train the students in medical informatics, billing and coding, etc.
| Number of Courses | Certificate |
|---|---|
| Campus | Harrison, AR |
Founded in 1940, Bryan University offers an associate degree in medical assisting, as well as a diploma. The AAS degree must be completed in 70 weeks, which is roughly estimated to be 7 quarters. These courses have affiliations with American Medical Technologists (AMT) and are among the most preferred accredited MA programs in the state. A practicum or medical externship has to be done at a medical organization at the end of the semester. This course requires 1,205 total credit hours, and 90 total credits have to be earned.
The medical assistant diploma program is a 50-week long course, divided in 5 quarters. This is a shorter course and will make you certification-ready in less than a year. Moreover, students must have a minimum of 2 GPA or Grade C to procure their degree, or they would not be eligible to graduate. Numerous financial aid programs, grants, and scholarships are available.
| Number of Courses | Diploma, Associate's Degree |
|---|---|
| Campus | Rogers, AR |
Known especially for trades training, Blue Cliff College offers a clinical medical assisting diploma program to its MA aspirants. It is a 53 quarter credit hour program that trains its MAs in medical codings, like CPT and ICD-10. It offers day as well as night classes to provide comfort and convenience to its students. The day classes go on for 9 months, and the night classes program lasts for 15 months. Both programs need to invest in supplies that come for another $1,850, and financial aid is available to qualified students. Their classes enroll every 6 weeks, so no worries if you’ve missed a batch of admission.
They offer their students a medical assisting kit containing a uniform and a stethoscope, with other necessary items. The college also offers a Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting (CAMA) online program to the MA candidates. This program is available only to students who have completed the first half of the program on campus. This course is specifically made for working adults who can complete their training without hindering their work or source of livelihood. Graduates of the online CAMA program are awarded an Associate of Occupational Studies degree, making them eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination.
| Number of Courses | Diploma |
|---|---|
| Campus | Fayetteville, AR |
Picking out a right college is quite a task in itself, but it is not enough if you’re an ambitious soul who believes in your dreams. In other words, the most crucial fact is choosing a degree that suits you best.
Find the best medical assistant degrees in Arkansas here:
Under the legislation passed by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2009, the Arkansas State Medical Board has laid down specific rules that define the scope of practice for medical assistants in Arkansas. As the state does not mandate the necessity of formal training or national license to be eligible to be a medical assistant in Arkansas, MAs are supposed to function within the direct supervision of physicians. They can administer medicines, but there’s a detailed list for the same. Medical assistants in AR are required as employees of physicians who are generally unlicensed.
However, if you enter the field of medical assisting with formal training, you have an advantage over your contemporaries. Formal training may imply you procuring an associate in applied sciences degree, diploma, or a certificate course. Arkansas does not need its medical assistants to be licensed. However, employees either make it a criterion for preference or make it mandatory for specific recruitments. In both cases, it is best just to have a national certification, as that adds credibility to your stellar cover letter, gives you the flexibility to work anywhere in the future, and also displays your commitment to your profession.
There are numerous national certification options available. The two most widely accepted ones include the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) by the American Medical Technologists. For CMA licensing, you can take an examination at any of the Prometric centers across Arkansas. You’ll be required to answer 200 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) about your field of occupation in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
For RMA, you need to fulfill the eligibility criteria to procure the license. You’re eligible for RMA if you have work experience as a medical assistant for a minimum of 5 years or served in the US Military. You can also be qualified to be an RMA if you have enrolled and completed a course in medical assisting that needed you to spend 720 total credit hours, with 160 hours of compulsory externship duties. Preference is given to accredited MA degrees from schools and colleges having Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accreditation for both CMA and RMA licensure.
Other national certification options include Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) by the National Healthcare Association (NHA), National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) by the National Center for Competency Testing, and National Association of Health Professionals (NAHP)’s Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA). They have a list of criteria you need to fulfill to procure the respective licensure for medical assistants.
Being a chapter of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), this society oversees the interests of all present and former medical assistants in Arkansas. From job-related information to the latest news updates on medical assisting education, to improving the standards of patient healthcare, this is a valuable resource for medical assistants.
The American Association of Medical Assistants lays down particular laws that define the scope of practice for MAs in Arkansas. Besides being the governing body that overlooks interests, duties, and opportunities for medical assistants across the country, they have all essential medical assistance information. Medical assistants can only perform specific functions and administer particular medicines under the direct supervision of licensed physicians.
This state organization ascertains that all medical facilities have adequate infrastructure and are committed wholly towards delivering better primary healthcare. Besides, they are also responsible for ensuring the good well-being of the people of Arkansas. All medicine-related news and job opportunities can be obtained here.
A state-level society that brings together all healthcare workers of the state, they are also responsible for hosting conferences that improve and advance the skills of medical health professionals besides contributing to research via their peer-reviewed journal. They let healthcare professionals take a more active role in legislating laws that have a direct impact on the general well-being and standard of living in Arkansas.
Written by : Casey Gardner
Casey Gardner is both a healthcare support professional and an accomplished content creator. She has been working as a certified health care professional with marketable skills as a physician assistant, and a qualified medical assistant for last two decades. She has dedicated her nursing career to produce over hundreds of content pieces since 2001, and her work has been published both online as well as offline.
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