What Sets Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Apart?
Posted On February 11,2025
Becoming a medical assistant is a great first step toward a new career, but choosing the right program is just as important. You will have many options when looking for a medical assistant training program. As you compare them, you’ll look for basics like the program length, the overall cost, job placement opportunities, and convenient location. Still, before you start to weigh those options, applying one filter to your search is important: is this medical assistant program accredited? While focusing only on accredited programs may narrow your search, it will be the one decision that can impact your career trajectory, as a medical assistant. Accreditation is more than another item on a checklist when comparing programs – it will set your training apart.
What Does Accredited Mean?
For a medical assistant program to be accredited, an external agency, like the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), will set standards for medical education programs and then monitor these programs to make sure they are meeting them. The accrediting group will evaluate the curriculum, faculty, clinical opportunities, and educational standards to make sure the program is designed to meet the current demands of the healthcare field. These training programs cannot simply apply for accreditation once and keep it indefinitely, but they will have to continuously prove they are keeping up with the standards through regular evaluations and audits.
What is the Difference Between an Accredited and a Non-Accredited Program?
On the surface, it may look like the differences between an accredited and a non-accredited program are minimal. Both programs will likely advertise themselves as comprehensive programs that will give you all the training you need to begin your career as a medical assistant with a combination of classwork and clinical hours. Non-accredited programs often downplay accreditation, asserting that employers won’t be concerned with where you got your training if you are well-prepared for the job. While some programs appear to meet the same standards and teach the same material, the real difference lies in accountability. An accredited program needs to prove – consistently – that its program is meeting industry demands, teaching best practices, and equipping its students with the most current information and technology. They can’t just say it. To keep their accreditation, they must be able to prove it. This accountability makes all the difference.
Advantages of Choosing an Accredited Program
There are many advantages to choosing an accredited medical assisting program. The first is that choosing an accredited program is the quality of education. Medical assisting is a very accessible and achievable career when you have the proper training. If you attend a subpar program, you may quickly be unprepared and overwhelmed when beginning your first job. With an accredited program, you will know that you can trust that the training will thoroughly prepare you.
Another advantage is that local healthcare facilities trust these programs because they know they can trust the training. They know an accredited program will meet or exceed industry standards and teach the most advanced material. Because of this, they will give preference to new medical assistants who have gone through these programs. Even with medical assistants in high demand, having a competitive edge in the job market can help you get a more desirable position with a higher salary right from the beginning.
Setting Yourself Up for Success as a Medical Assistant
One of the most significant differences in choosing an accredited medical assisting program is how it can set you up for success. While certification isn’t required to work as a medical assistant, the reality is that many employers will give preference to medical assistants who have gone through the certification process, as it proves that they have both gone through a rigorous program and can prove they have a firm grasp on the best practices. You must complete an accredited training program to be eligible to take the certification exam and become a certified medical assistant. If you have gone through a non-accredited program, you can’t take the exam, which means you can’t get certified. Not just immediately following the program, but you will never be eligible to take it. While it may not limit your first role as a medical assistant, it may limit your chance for future advancement if more desirable employers make it a requirement. You don’t want to limit your potential for advancement before you begin the process.
The best thing you can do for your career as a medical assistant is to make the best decision right from the start, which means choosing an accredited medical assistant program. By working with a career academy that has taken the time to evaluate its program and curriculum to ensure that it meets the standards you’ll need, you will know that you are well set up for future success. You will be eligible for certification, stand out to future employers, and know you’ve had the best and most advanced medical assistant training available. With all the benefits that set an accredited medical assistant program apart, it is the smartest decision you can make when taking on your new career.
Ready to Get Started?
Start your medical assisting career with the confidence that comes from top-tier training. Athena Career Academy’s Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) program is fully accredited, ensuring you receive the highest quality education and the eligibility to become certified. With hands-on training, experienced instructors, and strong connections to local healthcare employers, our program prepares you for long-term success in the field. Don’t settle for less—choose a program that sets you apart. Contact Athena Career Academy today to learn more and take the first step toward your future in healthcare!