All these programs will be taught at medical assistant schools or medical colleges. Medical assistant programs focus on all the skills you will require in the real world as a medical assistant rather than just the general education. This type of education makes it easier for the student to enter the field in the outside world in a relatively short time having had training in the skills needed for this specific profession.

Before making any decisions it is important to know what type of degree a medical assistant should have. Should you opt for a certificate or an associate degree and what will you learn with each of these? A certificate will allow you to update the records of patients, take care of the various insurance forms, collect specimens and so forth. With an associate degree you are also, apart from all of the above, allowed to draw blood, remove stitches, refill prescriptions, administer injections and so forth.

Medical Assisting Course Structure

Most of the medical assistant programs are divided into three sections so to speak. You have part of the program being taught in a classroom. Then you have hands-on clinical training and lastly you have the part where you as a student will apply everything you have learned in an actual clinical setting.

There are many subjects covered in these programs and include subjects such as physiology, patient care and communication, pharmacology, medical bookkeeping, laboratory proceedings, medical administrative skills and radiology to name but a few. However, before you decide on a course it is a good idea to talk to the counselors to find out exactly which subjects are covered by what course allowing you to make an informed decision on which program to choose for your training as a medical assistant.

Medical Assistant Externships

After you have completed the classroom and laboratory part of your training you will start your externships which involves working in a medical facility or a hospital for a couple of hours. You will be under the watchful eye of a nurse or a doctor while performing all the tasks a fully trained medical assistant would. Determining your final grade will depend on the reports which will be sent to your lector by the nurse or doctor under whom you performed all these tasks.

Career Placement After Graduation

Some schools do offer a career placement service which can be used after graduating. Sometimes a graduate is lucky enough to stay on at the hospital or medical facility where their externship part of the training program was completed. If your school does not have a placement service then you have to do the job hunting by yourself and keep a look out for medical assistant positions on a job board.

Medical Assistant Training

As discussed earlier, these medical assistant programs can last from a couple of months up to two years giving the student all the training and hands on experience needed when entering the medical field as a medical assistant. You will see that most of the medical assistant training courses consist of training for the clerical as well as clinical aspects of the job.

Medical Assisting Course Content

As you know by now, the course includes a classroom section, a hands-one section and an externship section. Students who have taken subjects such as typing, biology, health and bookkeeping will have an advantage over the other students as they have already develop the clerical skills needed as well as crucial information when it comes to health. Also, if any of these students were volunteer workers at hospitals or clinics while completing high school, they will definitely have a distinct advantage over the other students.

Medical Assistant Certification

Once graduated you may decide that you want to earn a professional certification which, by the way, is entirely optional. This certificate will allow you to become a Certified Medical Assistant or CMA for short. You will have to take a test that will be administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants or otherwise known as AAMA. Although this certificate is optional it will really give you a great advantage when it comes to finding employment in the medical field.

To qualify for this certificate you need to have graduated from a medical assistant program that is recognized by one of the following two organizations.

• The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, otherwise known as CAAHEP.
• The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, otherwise known as ABHES.

Choosing A Medical Assistant Program

It can be very daunting when there are so many different programs to choose from. I have decided to try to help you make your decision easier by giving you a few tips.

• Narrow down your choices
• The Certified Medical Assistant or CMA exam
• General things to consider

There are four questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on a medical assistant program. If you answer ‘no’ to any one of these questions then you know that the program you are considering will not meet your needs.

1. Will this program allow you to take the CMA exam?
If this specific medical assistant program is not recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs otherwise known as CAAHEP or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools otherwise known as ABHES you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. If a CMA certificate is what you wish to have, then you should eliminate this specific program from your list of possibilities.

2. Does it offer you the kind of degree you want?
You need to sure that this program offers you everything you need and want. My best advice to you is to speak to the counselor to find out everything about the medical assistant programs available to you.

3. Will you be able to afford it?
When you are doing your calculations make sure that you add the extra costs involved when it comes to your books, travelling expenses and so forth. Do yourself a favor and find out whether you have access to any type of financial aid.

4. Do the classes fit into your schedule?
This is also an important factor to consider. You must make sure that you will be able to attend these classes or, if need be, attend evening classes or do them long distance. You need to be sure that you will have the self-discipline to attend evening classes or do your studies long distance otherwise you will just be wasting time and money.

The CMA Exam

You need to find out what topics are covered in a CMA exam and then determine which program and which school will give you the coverage needed to successfully complete the exam. Topics such as first aid, pharmacology, lab, clinical procedures and office practises will be covered in a CMA exam. To make sure that you have found the best school and program do a few enquiries finding out how many student who studied there passed their CMA exam, are their scores above average, how many of these students find full-time employment and so forth.

General Things To Consider

The size of the class should be an important factor. You don’t want to be stuck in a huge group where none of you will be able to ask questions and have them immediately answered by the instructor. A small class is ideal for when you or any of the other students need that individual attention you sometimes require when you have a query or a concern.

Internship is another important part of your studies as hands-on experience is extremely valuable allowing you to learn things that you are not able to get from a textbook.

Find out if any tutoring is available to you giving you the peace of mind that help is at hand when you need it.

So, as you can see, this is definitely not an easy decision and definitely not one to be taken lightly. Don’t’ make a decision without being properly informed of all the advantages and disadvantages of the medical assistant programs you are considering. The lectors will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. You can even talk to medical assistants who completed their studies and get some valuable information from them.

I hope these few tips make it a bit easier for you to eliminate certain schools and medical assistant programs and focus on the ones that are able to offer you exactly what you require.

The post Selecting Which Medical Assistant Programs Work For You appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Who Is Medical Assistant Training For?

Many people want to get into the medical field but don’t have the time, resources, or will to spend the years it requires to study medicine. For these people medical assistant training may well be the answer. If you would like to do the following, then medical assistant training is definitely the path for you:

• Work with patients to allay their fears, put them at their ease, and keep them comfortable
• Be part of a skilled medical team
• Work with health professionals
• Perform medical duties in line with your position as a medical assistant
• Make a difference

If you are interested in the above, then I suggest that you seriously consider medical assistant training. The following are the most basic things that you are likely to cover in medical assistant training:

• Accounting and other administrative skills
• Patient relations and interpersonal skills
• Office protocol and procedures
• Legal and ethical issues related to the medical field
• Clinical and diagnostic procedures
• Keeping patient and other records up to date and in good order
• First aid skills
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Anatomy
• Basic computer skills such as keyboarding
• Techniques used in laboratories
• Billing and coding (for insurance purposes)
• Terminology related to the medical field
• How to administer medication

It is very important for you to consider whether or not you have the necessary skills and patient to learn the above mentioned skills. Another important thing to consider is whether or not these subjects interest you. If you are not truly interested in what will be covered in course work, then you may want to consider an alternative career path.

Types Of Medical Assistants

When you engage in medical assistant training you need to keep in mind what you end goal is. Basically, you need to know what type of medical assistant you want to be. There are three man types of medical assistants:

Administrative Medical Assistants

When you do medical assistant training for becoming an medical administrative assistant you will be focusing more on the clerical side of things. Your tasks will include duties such as updating patient records and dealing with insurance claims. You will also be required to engage with the patients, and therefore you will need good interpersonal skills, something that will most likely be covered to a certain degree in your medical assistant training.

Clinical Medical Assistants

The tasks you will perform as a clinical medical assistant will vary according to the state in which you practice. It is therefore very important that you are aware of the state requirements that apply the area you want to work in, and that the medical assistant training that you receive covers all of the necessary skills you will need to perform your job adequately. Your tasks will still be basic, comparatively speaking, but you will have to have a certain degree of medical knowledge as at times you will have to prepare lab tests and sometimes even perform them, as well as checking vital signs of patients and taking medical histories, among other things.

Ophthalmic Medical Assistants

If you become an ophthalmic medical assistant you will basically be a specialist. Ophthalmic assistants receive specific medical assistant training that qualifies them to work in very specialized fields. You will have additional duties on top of those that other medical assistants have, and you will have to be trained to assist ophthalmologists in performing the various eye tests and exams that are necessary for assessing vision.

Responsibilities Of A Medical Assistant

Before deciding on any career path, you need to be aware of what exactly you will be doing once you are qualified. This applies to medical assistant training just as it does to everything else. What you will do depends on the type and size of institute or practice that you end up working for, but your basic role as a medical assistant will be to handle various administrative and clinical tasks that result in the smooth running of your place of work. If you work in a smaller office then your tasks are more likely to be very general. However, the larger the offices you work for, the more specialized your role as a medical assistant is likely to be.

The basic tasks of a medical assistant are:

• Collecting specimens from patients and processing them
• Educating the patients on how to keep healthy
• Do basic diagnostic exams
• Assist with medical exams
• Transcribe the patient’s medical information into the necessary charts
• Administer medications under appropriate supervision
• Maintain patients’ medical records and take patient histories
• Keep track of the scheduling, cancellation and monitoring of appointments in the practice
• Process insurance claims and keep track of insurance records
• Make sure that all accounts are paid and that all necessary payments are received

Working Conditions of a Medical Assistant:

• You will work in clean environments
• You will work in well-lighted environments
• You will be required to constantly interact with others
• You may have to handle many responsibilities at the same time
• You will work regular hours, about 40 hours a week
• You will have the opportunity to potentially work part time

With medical assistant training you will be able to work in a number of different situations, such as:

• Health clinics
• Insurance companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Laboratories
• Medical supply houses
• Doctor’s offices
• Hospital outpatient clinics

Medical Assistant Training

There are a large number of schools and programs out there that offer medical assistant training. It is very important that the medical assistant school that you choose, should you go that route, is properly certified, otherwise you will be wasting your time and your money. There are a few ways in which medical assistant training can occur:

On-The-Job Training

If you have a high school education, then you are likely to be eligible for on-the-job medical assistant training. Many people have successfully pursued this path, but it is important to remember that the job market is far more competitive these days. Employers look for people with qualifications, so while this is still an option, you may find that you will have more opportunities if you get a formal qualification.
There are a few options open to you when it comes to getting formal training:

Diplomas Or Certificates: Advantages

• You will only have to study for about one year to qualify as a medical assistant
• It is by far the cheaper option

Diplomas Or Certificates: Disadvantages

• You will not be eligible to continue on and get a degree if you only have a Diploma or Certificate.

Associate’s Degree: Advantages

• You will be held in higher esteem.
• You will be able to continue on and get a degree should you wish to go back to school.

Associate’s Degree: Disadvantages

• It is more expensive to do your medical assistant training in this way.
• It is also more time consuming, taking about two years.

Online Training: Advantages

• You will be able to study from anywhere.
• If your problem is time, and online qualification is much easier to fit into your schedule.
• Generally speaking, it takes far less time than other qualifications.
• It is the cheapest option.

Online Training: Disadvantages

• You will not b held in very high esteem with online medical assistant training.
• The school you use may not be certified.
• The quality of training may be very poor.

Becoming Certified As A Medical Assistant

Unlike other medical professions, you are not required to be certified as a medical assistant. However, it is in your best interest to become certified as this gives you more power in the job market. For certain tasks you will also be required to be certified, so if you are not certified you will be limiting your job opportunities. To become certified you will have to sit the CMA (certified medical assistant) examination which is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants, after which you will have to take continuous assessments every five years to keep your qualification current.

Future Career As A Certified Medical Assistant

There are several opportunities that will be open to you once you are certified. You will for example be able to advance to being a nurse, a medical technologist, or a medical laboratory technician, meaning that you really will able to broaden your horizons with medical assistant training. Jobs you may be able to get with medical assistant training are:

• Registered nurse
• Licensed vocational nurse
• Home health aide
• Licensed practical nurse
• Phlebotomist
• Certified nursing assistant

With certification through medical assistant training you will not only be able to find a job in these difficult times, but you will be able to advance yourself sufficiently. The career opportunities are many and good. If you are looking for a new career, then medical assistant training may be the answer for you.

The post Obtaining Certification With Medical Assistant Training appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Generally speaking, you would assist occupational therapists, doctors, surgeons and other professional rehabilitate patients who have been involved in accidents resulting from sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents and others as well as patients who have lost motor skills through head injury, strokes and the like. This field would be of interest to people who interested in pursuing a medical career and enjoy working with people and are practically minded. The basic aim of the therapy is to improve the quality of the patients life by assisting with the improvement of basic functions whether really practical ones such as mobility or more complex areas that involve memory loss, brain damage and other neurological problems.

Courses You Will Need To Become A Physical Therapy Assistant

You will need an associate degree obtainable through one of the hundreds of courses available in the field. It is most probably a good idea to work as a volunteer with a professional before embarking on a physical therapy assistant training program to establish if this is indeed the type of work that will suit your character. The course itself will vary from school to school but should cover the basics of medical science, the theory and practice of physical therapy as well as lots of hands on type practical training. Another thing to consider when becoming a PTA is whether you want to specialize or not. This is also something one can do as you progress and develop within the field. Specific PTA related subjects might include physiology, anatomy, sports performance and human development. One would also cover courses such as neurological development, pathology, therapeutic exercise and others.

Physical Therapy Assistant Work And Salary Prospects

PTA’s are in demand and will generally find a placement relatively easily with the right qualifications and registration. In this field there are no corporate ladders to climb, you are what you are but the physical therapy assistant salary scale will increase as experience is gained. Salaries vary from state to state and also depend on whether you work in the private or government sectors. Salaries above forty thousand dollars per annum are not uncommon and top salaries advertised are as high as ninety thousand USD per annum. The most common areas where work can be found are hospitals, home health care industries and private health care professionals.

Do PTA’s Need To Be Licensed?

Although many sates do regulate the PTA profession one does not need to be registered in order to work. However those companies and professionals who would require the services are more likely to employ a registered assistant. There are a number of reasons for this but most importantly they would want to protect themselves and their companies from possible legal implications and malpractice law suits. On completion of a two year degree candidates can write an exam, the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Courses that are accredited can be viewed on the website. Federation of State Boards Physical Therapy (www.fsbpt.org).

The requirements differ from to state to state and as such it is advisable to research what your needs are and what the minimum expectations are in your area.

Areas of Specialization with Physical Therapy Assistant Training

• Cardiopulmonary
• Geriatrics
• Neurology
• Orthopaedics
• Paediatrics

Physical Therapy Assistant – Areas Of Practice

As mentioned previously PTA’s assist physical therapists with the rehabilitation of patients and will work in places such as hospitals, sports facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, education centers, research facilities, schools, hospices, occupational environments, the military and many others. Common aids that PTA’s will work with would be things like artificial limbs, wheelchairs, various braces, crutches and canes. Very often specialized and purpose built devices will be custom made for the patient.

List of Typical PTA duties:

• Measuring the motor function of a particular patient
• Gauging balance and co-ordination
• Recording muscle strength and performance
• Finding out the range of motor function with a particular patient
• Create treatment plans
• Implement the treatment plan
• Monitor treatment plans
• Assessing to what degree a patient requires treatment and what can be done by the patient on his own.
• Writing progress reports for therapists and physicians.

A large portion of a physical assistants work revolves around documentation and note taking and as such those embarking on this career need to be focused and organised and be able to work within very structured parameters. You also need strong interpersonal skills and have the ability to communicate well with people.

An average work week for a physical therapy assistant will be in the order of forty hours but in extreme situations could be more. On the whole the work is interesting and varied and there is always a new challenge to look forward to.

Where And What To Study?

When deciding on which college or course to attend there are a number of factors that the individual needs to take into consideration.

• LOCATION: Where you live will affect your ability to attend classes and also affect the cost of studying. Studying closer to home will cost far less than studying thousands of mile away.
• FINANCIAL COSTS: This is a basic consideration and will generally speaking affect the quality of the physical therapy assistant degree course you attend. It is also valuable to find out what aids are available and if certain companies or hospitals are offering scholarships.
• FLEXIBILITY: For many students it is important that they are able to work while studying and to this end may need a course that offers some degree of flexibility in terms of course times.
• COURSES AND CURRICULUM: Not all schools offer the same courses and it is obviously important that you cover all areas in the field that you believe to be of value to your future as a PTA.
• RECOGNISED COURSES: It is important that you enrol with a school that is recognized by the regulatory bodies and that you will be eligible for certification in your preferred state of employment.

The courses are offered as part time and also as distant learning subjects but as a rule a full time physical therapy assistant training program in this field will be more useful and the graduate more employable. The following are common physical therapy assistant programs that students participate in:

Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assistance:
This is a good all round platform course that usually requires about two years of study and covers all the general areas of interest in the field such as general academics and physical therapy. Subjects such as pain management, working with disease recovery, motor skills, mobility, accident recovery and neurological basics and the use of mobility and other physical equipment are covered.

Associate of Applied Science in Applied Health:
This course also offers a strong foundation on general health and physical assistant subjects and can also take about two years to complete.

Associate of Science in Occupational Assistant Therapy:
To enrol in this course the student will need to have completed a basic course in the applied field and is a popular choice for those ensuing a career as a physical assistant therapist.

Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Care:
This is course that would be undertaken by a person already qualified as a physical therapists assistant who wants to specialize in this particular area of expertise. In America there are over two hundred and fifty courses available and many specialist courses to compliment them with and can be studied at university and colleges throughout the country.

There are numerous specialist courses available and with time and experience the individual has the opportunity to expand their areas of expertise and to specialize.

With over two hundred thousand patients seeking assistance from physical therapists on a daily basis across the United States of America you can be assured of a career filled with promise and growth prospects. This not a career choice for everyone and requires a high degree of commitment and interest to the care of others. It is however a well-paid and rewarding career for those dedicated to it. Besides growth and relatively good earning potential the individual is able to pursue specific areas of interest and can continually grow and learn new and specialized forms of treatment. This career also allows the graduate the opportunity to study and work abroad with job openings all over the world. Place like The United Arab Emirates for example are often advertising for these positions with the promise of extremely good salaries and attractive packages.

In conclusion whether you choose physical therapy assistant training or physical therapy aide training, it is an attractive career prospect which allows for individuality in terms of personal areas of interest and also the prospects for growth and further study. A natural follow on from an assistant would be to become a fully qualified physical therapist with large numbers of graduates doing just that every year.

The post Facts About Physical Therapy Assistant Training appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Pharmacy technicians are employed in nursing homes, hospitals, medical stores, health and personal care stores, retail or mail-order pharmacies, and assisted living facilities. Pharmacy techs need to be dedicated, detail orientated, able to multi-task, possess excellent interpersonal skills and be team players. They may be employed on a full-time basis or part-time, and may have to work evenings, public holidays and weekends, depending on where they are employed.

Requirements For Becoming A Certified Pharmacy Technician Online

Certification is not compulsory but it is recommended. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is a national certification program. It enables a pharmacy technician to work more efficaciously with pharmacists to extend safe and effective service and patient care. Although the certification is not compulsory, it has been proven that CPhTs earn a higher income and are offered more promotion opportunities. Employers usually prefer to employ pharmacy technicians who have been certified as they are then assured that the CPhT has met the predetermined qualifications by a passing the PTCE.

In order to become a certified pharmacy technician you will have to be in possession of a qualification from an accredited institution, and may not have been convicted of a felony or have any pharmacy or drug conviction. You may apply to sit for and must pass one of two exams; you can either take the National Certification Exam administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians exam. Once you have passed one of these exams you will receive and may use the designation Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

In order to maintain this certification, which must be renewed every two years, you will need to incur 20 hours of continuing education. Ten of these hours may be accorded to hours incurred at work under the direct supervision of a qualified, licensed pharmacist.

Types Of Pharmacy Technician Programs And Degrees

There are various pharmacy technician programs and degrees which are applicable to the career Pharmacy technician:

• Associate Degree of Science in Pharmacy Technology (ASPT) – This is a two-year associate’s degree in pharmacy technology. Students will be taught how to be successful pharmacy technicians via a variety of courses.
• Pharmacy Technician Diploma (PTD) – This is a formal pharmacy technology diploma program which is offered in a classroom scenario.
• Pharmacy Technician Certificate (CPhT) – This is a certificate which is given to students who have sat for and passed the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians.

Pros And Cons Of Online Pharmacy Technician Schools

• Studying online is very popular as it allows you to study at your own pace and to still work whilst you are obtaining your degree. Being able to do pharmacy technician online courses greatly helps those who have financial problems, as they may otherwise not had the opportunity to improve their job outlook.
• Pharmacy technician certification online allows one to move at your own pace, which means that if you get a subject quickly you can move on with the next portion of the pharmacy technician training and, by the same token, if you find a certain section rather difficult you can take your time over it and make sure that you understand it fully before moving on.
• Reputable online pharmacy technician schools should offer exactly the same quality learning that traditional pharmacy technician schools offer and have the same qualified instructors. Most of these online pharmacy technician schools offer what is also known as “distance learning” which means that they have instructors who are available to assist their students and answer questions by phone and e-mail.
• Something that could be a drawback when doing a pharmacy technician online course is the lack of an internship or externship as they are also known. Internships are very important as they allow the student to get hands-on experience in a work scenario under the direction and supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
• Generally, online pharmacy technician schools offer programs which are divided into modules with an exam at the end of each module. The next module is only made available to you once you have passed the exam.

Choosing Your Pharmacy Technician Online School

Doing your studying online is a great idea as it frees you up to continue working and lets you study at your own pace, but there are various things to consider before choosing where to do your pharmacy technician certification online.

• Firstly, do your research and find out what the requirements in your state are regarding qualifications and certification.
• Only consider schools which are established and have national accreditation.
• Make sure that the pharmacy technician online course that you are interested in offers the right courses.
• Make sure that you know exactly what it will take for you to finish the course successfully and commit to it.
• Be positive that you have the self-discipline to attend the online classes and take the tests when required to do so.

Accessing Financial Help For Online Pharmacy Technician Schools

Even if you are saving money by doing your pharmacy technician certification online, it may still be stretching your budget. Fortunately there are federal government grants available. Some of the online schools offer financial aid or will assist you to apply for financial aid, but you can apply yourself as well.

You will need to get all your paperwork together and complete a FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to apply for a grant from the federal government and the school. Make sure that you check for early-priority deadlines, and do your research so that you are sure that you are applying to the most appropriate online pharmacy technician schools. Send in more than one application as soon as possible, as this will give you more of a chance of getting in.

Top Pharmacy Technician Online Schools

There are many online pharmacy technician schools springing up all over the internet, and with so many online courses to choose from it becomes very difficult to choose the best school. Unfortunately, as with any kind of online business, there are those fly-by-night institutions which are only interested in ripping you off for the tuition and when the time comes for you to receive your degree they are nowhere to be found.

With that in mind, here follows a list of reputable online pharmacy technician schools:

Ashworth College

• Ashworth College offers a Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma which is a comprehensive pharmacy technician online course.
• The college offers its students the opportunity to pay monthly installments for tuition, which includes books and materials.
• The program consists of 20 modules which are comprehensive yet easy to follow.
• The course includes side effects, indications, dosage calculations, and administration methods of the major classes of pharmaceuticals.

Penn Foster Career School

• Penn Foster Career School is one of the top online pharmacy technician schools which is internationally renowned.
• It offers an online Pharmacy Technician Certificate course.
• This pharmacy technician online course offers all the necessary practical training and includes all learning aids and textbooks.

The curriculum includes how to:

• Receive prescriptions from doctors and hospitals
• Verify insurance and prescription information
• Prepare prescriptions for patients
• Assist the pharmacist with everyday duties
• Penn Foster Career School offers various financial aid options

CDI College

• CDI offers two courses, a Pharmacy Technician – Retail diploma program and a Pharmacy Technician program.
• CDI teaches students all the practical knowledge and skills required.

The curriculum includes:

• Anatomy, microbiology, physiology, and pharmacology.
• Communications and customer service skills
• Compounding, computer processing, dispensing, mathematics, drug/body interactions, and drug delivery systems among other subjects.
• CDI places students in workplaces to gain on-the-job experience.

U.S. Career Institute

• The U.S. Career Institute offers a four-month pharmacy technician online program.
• The U.S. Career Institute is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.
• The curriculum includes drug types, dosages and your role in the healthcare industry.

Ultimate Medical Academy

• The Ultimate Medical Academy offers a Pharmacy Technician Diploma program which prepares career-oriented individuals for a career as a pharmacy technician.
• This online program is flexible and is designed to prepare students for both the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board national certification exams.

The curriculum includes:

• Dispensing operations and prescription preparation.
• Stock-taking and inventory prescription.
• Counting or pouring medications into dispensing containers.
• Billing and cash-register handling.
• How to maintain patient medication records.

Other online pharmacy technician schools and schools which include courses for pharmacy technician certification online amongst the many other courses and programs that they offer include Kaplan University, South University, the Ultimate Medical Academy, Allied Schools, and Virginia College.

Resources For Pharmacy Technician Students

1. American Association of Pharmacy Technicians: They provide continuing education programs which pharmacy technicians can access in order to keep up with the changes in the industry and keep their skills updated. Their career centre page also affords employers the space to post jobs and techs to post their resumes.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics-Pharmacy Technicians: This site offers all the updated information regarding the career of the pharmacy technician.
3. National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA): A good resource for available pharmacy technician jobs, upcoming conventions, information on continuing education courses, and current industry news.
4. Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians: A good resource for study aides, training materials, and practice exams.
5. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB): This board administers the NCCA accredited national certification program for pharmacy technicians. A good resource for anything and everything to do with the certification exam.

Hopefully this article has given you food for thought and answered all the questions that you had about online pharmacy technician schools and has helped you to make the correct decision for your future.

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History Of Pharmacy Technician Training And Its Contemporary Developments

Formal pharmacy technician training was not always as developed as it is today. This is clearly outlined in, “The White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians 2002: Needed Changes can No Longer Wait,” as endorsed by the 12 members of the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy. According to the sources credited in this authoritative paper, the history of formal training for technicians unfolded thus:

Timeline Of Events Illustrating The Development Of Formal Pharmacy Technician Training

1930s – Pharmacy technicians were trained, “on-the-job.” This hands-on training prepared them sufficiently to meet the demands on the industry at the time. However, the need for a certified pharmacy technician training program soon emerged, largely due to the following reasons:

• With lawful procedures regarding the dispensing of medication and record-keeping policies becoming more prominent, a need for formal pharmacy tech training became evident.

• With insurance requirements becoming more stringent, it became more necessary for administrative tasks in the pharmaceutical industry to become more formalized and precise.

• Certain employers began to profess that a major benefit of formal training was greater job satisfaction and a lower staff turnover.

• Formal training seemed to provide technicians with a sense of pride in their work and a sense of duty towards their patients.

1940s – The Armed forces introduces a formal training program for all its pharmacy technicians serving military troops.

1958 – This pharmacy technician training program is further developed by the military to provide for the medical demands and needs of the time.

Late 1960 – The Department of Health, Education and Welfare recommends and implements a training program in all junior colleges and educational institutions.

This program aims to develop the skills of the, “pharmacist aide,” towards a more comprehensive kind of learning for all aspiring workers in this industry.

The first hospital-based pharmacy technician training program is developed and implemented.

1970s – Training programs continue to provide technicians with the education they require to operate at their best levels.

However, these programs are only implemented in the hospital and clinical environments, with no prominent need being voiced by other industries like retail.

1980s – The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) develops formal training guidelines for technicians in all hospital environments, with a set of minimum requirements and ways of evaluating skills and determining the competency levels of established technicians in the field.

Many colleges and institutions begin to use these guidelines to establish associate degree and certificate programs to assist technicians in meeting the basic pre-requisites for these positions.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)develops this training manual by dividing it into sections which are applicable to any environment or industry in which technicians will be employed.

These sections include:

• Practical and legal procedures as they apply to the dispensing of medication and the filling of prescriptions.
• Sterile-product compounding
• Guidelines on interacting with patients
• Reimbursement systems

1990 – Till Present – There are around 250 schools and institutions across 42 states offering various pharmacy technician training programs including certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

The Pharmacy Technician Training Course Syllabus

The structure of different curriculums differ from school to school although it is safe to say that the subject matter is roughly the same. Preparatory courses will also contain practical components, where students will be exposed to different environments where they may work after the completion of their studies. This provides them with valuable insight into what will be expected of them at an entry-level and how they can aspire to further themselves within their careers as technicians.

Below, some of this subject matter will be outlined and discussed to provide prospective technicians with a broad perspective on what pharmacy technician training will entail:

Pharmacology

• The term refers to the study of what is known as drug action i.e. the effect that drugs or pharmaceutical substances have on the body and vice versa.
• The study can be divided into two main sections: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
• Pharmacodynamics examines how the body’s various systems are affected by drugs and forms of medication.
• Pharmacokinetics focuses on how bodily systems and anatomical processes affect drugs or medication which are ingested by humans.
• In this aspect of study, students will learn how the body’s systems operate in sustaining life.
• These systems include but are not limited to the respiratory system, the digestive system, the gastrointestinal system and the musculoskeletal system.
• Students will also be exposed to the methods according to which drugs are classified.

Chemistry

According to the Department of Chemistry at Michigan Technological University: “Pharmaceutical companies need employees with strong skills in modern chemical techniques as well as a good understanding of biomedical issues such as drug action, drug design and drug development.”

• Going hand-in-hand with pharmacology, this subject focuses on drug manufacturing and classification.
• Students will learn the different compositions of certain medications.
• They will also understand from a technical point-of-view, the structure of these drugs on a molecular level and the properties of its components.
• Students will also become familiar with chemical reactions and how the components of drugs interact with each other to produce certain medical effects.
• Key areas of study include drug design and development, drug transportation and delivery as well as the mechanics involved in drug action.

Anatomy

• This is the study of the structure of the body on both a gross and microscopic level.
• Students will learn the fundamental ways in which the body operates.
• Students will also learn how the body reacts to aspects like disease, viruses and outside stimulate.
• In familiarizing students with the terminology used for different organs and body parts, they will begin to build a solid foundation of knowledge on how the body functions as a whole.
• They will also learn how treatment for various common ailments work and how they should be administered in order to be effective.
• This subject is taken in conjunction with pharmacology, where students will learn how the body reacts to different forms of medication.

Mathematics As It Pertains To Dosage Calculations

• Technicians require basic mathematical skills in order to function effectively.
• Students will therefore revise their understanding of arithmetic and build upon their school-level knowledge by learning special counting techniques employed for the counting and packaging of drugs.
• Different measurement systems will also be introduced to students.
• They will be educated on how to make accurate dosage calculations in the interests of the wellbeing and safety of their future patients.
• They will also learn how to measure natural ingredients used in creams and medicines by employing methods of concentration and dilution.

Compounding Of Sterile Medication

• Some patients have special needs in terms of the administering of medication and students will be shown how these needs can be taken into account.
• Course content will contain a list of common ingredients which patients may be allergic to as well as alternatives to these ingredients.
• Students will then be shown how to mix creams and other forms of medication according to the patient’s medical needs.

This knowledge will help future technicians to help the following groups of people:

• Infants requiring smaller doses of medication.
• Children who cannot take pills and require that their medication be compounded to form a liquid medicine.
• Patients with physical disabilities who cannot take certain forms of medication.
• People who are hyper-sensitive to certain allergens like colorants.
• Patients requiring drugs which have been previously discontinued.

Pharmacy Record-keeping

• The dispensary of medication needs to be closely monitored in order to track patients’ health levels and to prevent negative side effects occurring when different types of medication are being used simultaneously.
• Record-keeping is largely computerized.
• Students will therefore be familiarized with having to use computerized systems to take inventory, record the pharmaceutical history of all patients and place electronic orders for medication.

Pharmacy Law

• Technicians need to be well-aware of the laws which govern the administering of medication and the filling of prescriptions according to the directions as set out by practitioners .
• Laws will vary from state to state, but there are some laws which apply to all states.
• Ethics as they pertain to this field of work.
• One such law governing the manufacturing process of prescription drugs in the United States is the federal Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987.

Drug Preparation

• Students will become familiar with how certain drugs are prepared, manufactured in bulk, stored, packaged and distributed.
• They will be made aware of the safety measures to be taken in ensuring that the medication abides by state laws and are not exposed to harmful chemicals which can corrupt their ingredients.
• This course will also introduce students to the practice of compounding sterile medication.
• Students will be given an introduction to medicines manufacturing, which many of them may specialize in at a later stage.

Drug Reactions

• Students will be introduced to the genetic and non-genetic reasons for why certain patients react to certain drugs as they do.
• They will be given knowledge about drug side effects, how to counteract them and how to use alternatives in order to avoid causing harm to a patient.
• This course of study will also indicate how drug manufacturers use this knowledge to ensure that the medicines they manufacture are safe for the masses.

Externship

• This term refers to a kind of in-service training where students will work for periods ranging from 2 days to about 2 weeks, in a pharmaceutical environment.
• They will experience day-to-day interaction with pharmacists, patients and customers in a retail or hospital setting.
• This gives them a chance to put their theoretical knowledge to work and to practice some of the skills they will have been equipped with.
• Some pharmacy technician schools also prepare students for their careers by providing them with advice on how to formulate successful résumés and how to conduct oneself during professional interviews.

The Benefits Of Investing In A Formal Pharmacy Technician Training Program

In some states, certification and training is not always compulsory although it seems to be an industry standard that those who are formally trained and certified appear more favorable and employable.

The benefits of studying and receiving pharmacy technician training are far-reaching, and include:

• Enhanced confidence levels for technicians starting their first pharmacy technician jobs because they have been familiarized with subject matter and have a strong foundation of knowledge upon which to build their practical experience.
• More advancement opportunities in terms of being promoted to supervisory levels within the industry in which they work.
• Opportunities to branch off into other fields of pharmaceutical work due to their exposure to advance terminology and procedures .
• Opportunities to specialize in certain areas of the industry and become chemotherapy technicians or nuclear pharmacy technicians for example.
• Opportunities to earn higher salaries at an entry-level than non-certified technicians.

As with any job in the medical field, the process of learning is ongoing, as the following statement clearly suggests: “- Any national
standards for education and training of pharmacy technicians will
not eliminate the need for additional, site-specific training that focuses on
local policies and procedures.” (Sanford ME, Faccinetti NJ, Broadhead
RS. Observational study of job satisfaction in hospital pharmacy technicians.Am J Hosp Pharm. 1984; 41:2599-606.)

On-the-job training will continue well into the technician’s first few years of employment and in this time they will come to understand and know in an intricate way, how the pharmaceutical industry operates.

An encouraging prospect is provided by the United States Bureau of Labor statistics: “Employment of pharmacy technicians and aides is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.” For aspiring technicians, this means that even within a fragile economic climate such as the present, they can still fulfill their pivotal roles in society and become vital parts of one of the most lucrative and expanding industries in the world.

The post Increase Your Qualification With Pharmacy Technician Training appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

EMTs and Paramedics are usually sent to the scene of a disaster, accident or violent assault by 911 operators, and it is their job to asses, treat and stabilize the patient or patients prior to moving them to a hospital by ambulance or helicopter. The EMT will also continue to monitor and keep the patient stable during transit.

EMT Basic Job Description

When an emergency situation such as a fire, accident, violent assault, sports injury, heart attack or stroke occurs, the first people that are usually dispatched to the scene are EMS services including First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians and/or Paramedics.

The basic duty of the EMT is to provide initial life-saving medical care, determining the most suitable medical facility for the patient to be transported to and then transporting the patient.

The basic job description of an Emergency Medical Technician

Patient Assessment – The first thing that the Emergency Medical Technician does when they get to an emergency scene is to assess the condition of the patient. They determine the nature and the extent of the injury or medical condition (in the case of a heart attack or stroke for instance). They also check for identification, medical alert bracelets or necklaces and whether the patient is carrying any medication.

Basic Life Support – It is the duty of the EMT to provide basic life-support including ventilating the patient if necessary, airway management, applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of an automatic defibrillator. This includes monitoring the patient and keeping them stabilized during transit.

Additional Care – Additional pre-hospital care such as controlling any bleeding, treating the patient for shock, bandaging wounds and immobilizing broken bones may also be required in order to stabilize the patient before transporting them to a hospital.

Communication with Dispatch – The EMT stays in touch with their dispatch, keeping them apprised of the situation and requesting back-up should the situation require it.

Ambulance Maintenance – Once the patient has been handed over to the medical personnel at a hospital the EMT will ensure that the ambulance is tidied up, cleaned and disinfected if necessary and re-stocked so that it is ready for the next call.

EMTs have to undergo specific Emergency Medical Technician Training in various medical disciplines so that they are qualified to handle different emergency situations. There are different levels of emergency medical technicians and each has had different training and can perform different life-saving duties. The levels are progressive, starting at Emergency Medical Responder and progressively up to Paramedic.

It is of the utmost importance that your EMT Training is done at an accredited institution in order for you to get certified. The duration of EMT National Training Programs is between six months and four years, depending on the level of the qualification that you are doing. Graduates of Community College EMT Courses receive associates degrees, and graduates from a four-year Emergency Medical Technician Training receive a Bachelor Degree in Emergency Medical Technology.

Characteristics Of An Emergency Medical Technician

Being an EMT takes a lot out of one as the hours are long; the job is hard physically and emotionally. It is for this reason that many EMTs eventually move on to other disciplines in the EMT field. It is also for this reason that it takes a very specific type of person to follow an EMT career.

Specific skills that an EMT needs:

Active Listening – EMTs must be able to give their full attention to patients who are speaking to them as they may be trying to give pertinent information under stressful circumstances. This includes asking the right questions when and if needed.

Coordination – An EMT must be able to work in conjunction with others and change their actions in accordance to sudden changes and actions by another.

Critical Thinking – An EMT needs to be able to identify weaknesses and strengths in various approaches by applying logical thinking and analysis.

Equipment Selection – It is crucial that the EMT knows which equipment is best for a particular situation and also that they know how to use it.

Speaking – Part of an EMTs duties is to access information from a patient and to calm them down under what may be harrowing circumstances. This calls for excellent communication skills.

Emergency Medical Technician Training

Apart from first responders, who work alongside police and fire-fighters to give initial preliminary first aid to patients at emergency scenes, there are three levels of Emergency Medical Technicians; Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B), Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I), and Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic (EMT).

1. EMT Training – Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B)

An emergency medical technician needs to have an enormous amount of knowledge of the human anatomy, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and first aid, and must also be able to work well even when under pressure. EMT National Training for the EMT-B consists of a combination of EMT Training in a classroom as well as fieldwork.

Students on these certificate EMT Courses are taught the basic of emergency care such as taking vital signs, applying splints, performing physical examinations, and controlling bleeding. It is also important that EMTs learn how to deal with poisoning, heart attacks, drug abuse, fractures and burns.

Basic EMT Training teaches future emergency medical technicians how to operate oxygen equipment, stethoscopes, nasal and oral devices and extrication tools. The majority of EMT programs work with an assigned medical facility where the students complete their required 180 hours of hours of on-the-job ambulance and hospital training.

Education Prerequisites

• You must be 18 years old and have a high-school diploma or GED.
• You must pass a criminal background check.
• You must submit your current immunization records upon enrolment in an EMT Course.
• Some EMT Courses require you to have a current CPR certificate and some prior medical experience.

Program Coursework
The basic EMT National Training provides students with fundamental training on how to respond to emergency medical situations and what to monitor when they are helping someone who is injured. The EMT-Basic curriculum consists of:

• Basic Emergency Medical Care
• Human Anatomy
• Patient Stabilization
• Pharmacology
• Trauma Assessment

Employment Prospects and Salary

• Those who have completed their level-one training are usually employed in county fire-departments and emergency departments amongst other places.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for EMTs is favorable and is expected to grow approximately 12%.
• The annual EMT salary for those with the EMT-B certification is between $22,000 and $34,000.

Professional Licensing and Continuing Education

• Once you have completed the EMT National Training you can apply to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exam.
• The NRET examination is a computer-based test in which psychomotor and cognitive questions regarding basic emergency service care such as paediatrics, cardiology and trauma.
• EMTs must be re-certified every 2 years and have to be employed to meet the continuing education requirement.
• Emergency medical technicians with an EMT-Basic certification may take additional EMT Courses and complete another certification examination in order to upgrade to EMT Intermediate level.

2. EMT Training – Emergency Medical Technician- Intermediate (EMT-I)

Emergency life-saving techniques such as the operation of defibrillators and shocks and advanced intubation techniques are some of the skills that are taught on the intermediate EMT National Training. Students in the EMT-Intermediate certificate program are taught how to carry out emergency care for pre-hospital patients and correctly administer intravenous medication under the supervision of a physician via demonstrations, lectures and clinical training.

These EMT Classes build on the skills that were learned on the EMT-Basic course, but students are allowed to choose a specialization such as trauma, cardiac or shock at this stage. There are two further intermediate levels, EMT-I/85 and EMT-I/99 between the EMT-Basic and the EMT-Paramedic levels, although not all states recognize all the intermediate levels. Some EMT Training programs award a technical diploma instead of issuing a certification of completion.

Education Prerequisites

• You have to have an EMT-Basic certification, have worked as an EMT for at least one year.
• You must be in possession of current immunization records and CPR certification in order to enrol in an Emergency Medical Technician Training program.
• You may not have been found guilty of abuse, been convicted of a felony or have had your EMT license revoked or suspended.

Program Coursework
The intermediate EMT Training program builds on the fundamental training from the EMT-Basic course by giving advanced training in basic skills. The EMT-Intermediate curriculum consists of:

• Administration of medication
• Advanced life support
• Airway management
• Anatomy II
• Paediatric emergencies
• Pre-hospital care
• Trauma

Employment Prospects and Salary

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook is good and the amount of jobs in the EMT field is expected to rise by 12% through 2016.
• Emergency Medical Technician jobs also open up often due to EMTs leaving to pursue other fields and due to the stresses of the job.
• The annual salary for those with the EMT-I certification is between $34,000 and $42,000.

Professional Licensing and Continuing Education

• Both of the Intermediate exams are offered by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
• Both are computer-based tests and make use of psychomotor and cognitive testing of skills.
• EMTs need to get re-certified every two years and need to be working as an EMT in order to meet the continuing education requirement.

3. EMT Training – Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic (EMT)

The EMT-Paramedic training is the highest level of Emergency Medical Technician training and the one with the most training in emergency medical procedures. A certificated Paramedic can start an intravenous line, administer a range of medications and read an electrocardiogram.

Students who do the Para medic EMT National Training do advanced EMT Classes in assessing injury and trauma in children and the elderly, and have a far more extensive knowledge of critical care, the human body and critical care.

Education Prerequisites

• Students in the EMT-Paramedic program need to gain experience working in a clinic or hospital under the direct supervision of a physician or registered nurse.
• To enlist in this EMT Training applicants must have EMT certification and it must be in good standing.
• Paramedic Emergency Medical Technician Training students must have extensive medical services employment and training.

Program Coursework
Those who graduate from the Paramedic EMT National Training program are also exposed to various other aspects of emergency medical care, such as legal issues and ethics. They can also do endotracheal intubations, and employ a big variety of technologically complex equipment in the discharge of their duties.

They do much more advanced training than any of the other levels and are thus responsible for far more at an emergency scene. The EMT-Intermediate curriculum consists of:

• Assault and abuse
• Cardiology
• Communications
• Facial trauma
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious diseases
• Pathophysiology
• Psychiatric disorders
• Roles and responsibilities of a paramedic
• Toxicology

Employment Prospects and Salary

• Because of their advanced EMT Training, Paramedics are in great demand and can access employment in several fields.
• Paramedics can be dispatchers, become marketing professionals for EMT equipment companies, become supervisors, or managers of emergency services.
• The annual salary for those with the Paramedic certification is between $40,000 and $70,000.

Professional Licensing and Continuing Education

• Once they have completed the Paramedic EMT Training, they can apply to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians-Paramedic certification test.
• This test is computer-based and seeks to test the skills that the paramedic ahs learned, including and patient assessment, medication administration and cardiac management,
• Re-certification must be done every 2 years and the Paramedics must be working and in good standing when they apply in order to fulfill the continuing education requirement.

EMT Refresher Course

EMTs need to renew their certification every few years, and they do this by doing an EMT Refresher Course. These EMT Courses are offered by hospitals and community colleges and meet the educational credential requirements for both national and state certification renewals.

EMT First Responder Refresher Course

• EMT first responders work alongside fire-fighters and police officers to administer preliminary emergency medical care until more qualified medical professionals arrive.
• Refresher EMT Classes review subjects such as bleeding control and stabilization of broken bones, wound care, and CPR, and covers any advances in first response care.
• EMT first responder refresher courses generally consist of 16 hours of classroom instruction.

EMT-Basic Refresher Course

• EMT-Basic personnel provide emergency medical care at an emergency site and can also keep a patient stabilized in an ambulance on the way to a hospital.
• Students enrolled in this EMT Class are taught any updated methods of emergency medical care skills.
• This EMT Course covers oxygen administration, cardiac arrest treatment, trauma management, triage and emergency childbirth delivery.
• These refresher courses consist of 24-hour EMT Classes.

EMT- Intermediate Refresher Course

• EMT-Intermediate is the second highest EMT level.
• The refresher EMT Courses at this level cover pre-hospital care skills, including airway management and ventilation, patient assessment, needle chest decompression and advanced cardiac life support procedures and ECG interpretation.
• The duration of this refresher course is 36 hours of classroom instruction.

EMT- Paramedic Refresher Course

• Paramedic is the highest EMT level.
• Paramedic refresher courses cover the most topics and are the longest.
• This EMT Class covers the same curriculum as the lower-level EMT Courses but a paramedic refresher course delves deeper into obstetrics, paediatric, and geriatric care.
• This EMT Course lasts approximately 48 hours.

The EMT Refresher Course is not only for those who need to renew their certification but also for those whose certification has expired not more than 2 years previously. One can also do an online refresher course, but always bear in mind that whichever type of Emergency Medical Technician Training you do, it must always be done through an accredited institution. You can only sit for the certification exam if the course is accredited.

One of the most renowned online EMT Refresher Courses is the U.S. Department of Transportation EMT Course, which is a 24-hour online EMT Class. The course is presented by Mark Komins B.S.E.M.S., Paramedic, of the EMS Training Institute, who has been an Emergency Medical Services Educator and Provider for more than ten years. The EMS Training Institute is CECBEMS accredited approved EMT School and a BLS & ALS Continuing Education provider for the National Registry.

The course does not have to be completed at once, but can all be done online at your own pace. This EMT Refresher Course qualifies for Instructor Based and CE Training and this will be noted on your certificate.

EMT Paramedic Training

A Paramedic is the person you see rushing around at the scene of an accident or a rescue situation whether it is as a result of an automobile accident, a climbing accident where someone is stuck in a ravine, a fire or any number of natural disasters. Paramedics need to undergo very specific training s they are the person in charge of emergency medical attention at the scene. They are the most qualified and often have to give orders to EMTs.

Paramedics usually work in a team of two people, very often with a basic level EMT. Although both of these Emergency Medical Services personnel are highly trained, the paramedic has much more training than the EMT Basic member of the team, which is why they are in charge. Paramedics have far more years of experience too, as most of them started with EMT National Training to become an EMT Basic and did the job for a few years whilst picking up experience and working their way up the ladder, doing the Intermediate EMT course first and then only going on to do the EMT Paramedic Training.

EMT Courses for paramedics are very intense programs and require that the student has strong math, science, leadership and problem-solving skills. EMT Paramedic training programs generally last 1-2 years and frequently culminate in an associate’s degree. Paramedic training is offered at technical schools, community colleges,

Requirements for EMT Paramedic Training

• Applicants must be 18 years or older by course completion date.
• Applicants must hold current national certification as an EMT-Basic
• Applicants must be in possession of a high school diploma or a GED.
• Applicants must be currently CPR certified and have Physiology and Anatomy from an accredited university or college.

EMT Course – Paramedic

The EMT-Paramedic certificate training is offered full-time and part-time, which may suit some people who would prefer to continue working whilst they are doing the course. The full-time course is two semesters and includes academic and practical studies.

The course covers:

• Introduction to Advanced Practice
• Anatomy & Physiology for Paramedic Practice
• Assessment Based Management
• Cardiology
• Clinical I, II, III & IV
• Emergency Pharmacology
• EMS Operations
• Medical Emergencies
• Patient Assessment & Airway Mgmt
• Special Populations
• Trauma Management

Once the Paramedic EMT Classes are completed graduates need to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians paramedic exam. This exam is a 2-part test which comprises of a practical, psychomotor portion and a written, cognitive portion. Certain states may also require you to write a state exam in order to work as a Paramedic in that state. Licensure needs to be renewed every 2-3 years and this is done by earning attending refresher classes and continuing education credits.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 45% of paramedics in the US are employed by ambulatory services, and many others work in hospitals and local governments. The amount of jobs available for paramedics is projected to rise by 9% in the 2008-2018 decade.

Hopefully the above information on EMT Training was of some help to you. Now that you know what it takes to become an Emergency Medical Technician, the only thing that you have to do to take the next step is to source an accredited EMT National Training program and start your very worthy career as one of America’s heroes!

The post Everything You Need To Know About EMT Training appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

More people are living longer due to technological advances in the medical field and because more trauma victims and newborns with disabilities are surviving. This therefore means that more people require medical attention for longer, which means that the job prospects for physical therapy assistants are excellent. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, PTA jobs are projected to grow by 35% in the 2008-2018 time-span.

Requirements For Physical Therapy Assistants

Although most states have their own rules and requirements for Physical Therapy Assistants, most of them are basically the same nationally:

Education:

• In order to become a licensed PTA, you will need to obtain an associate degree at an accredited physical therapy assistant school.
• The program is approximately 2 years long.
• Classes consist of both academic classroom work at the PTA school and hands-on clinical experience, which most of the schools for physical therapy assistant courses organise for their students.
• Subjects include pathology, human anatomy, and physiology amongst others.
• Some states require additional training such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, first aid, and blood-borne pathogens training.

Clinical Experience:

• Most physical therapy assistant schools and physical therapy assistant colleges require that students participate in clinical rotations.
• These hand-on clinical stints allow the student to practise what they learn in class in a real-life situation.
• Various tasks such as documenting care, administering treatments, and educating patients will be undertaken during these periods of clinical work.
• Students are also exposed to various modalities such as sports medicine, wound care, pediatrics, and geriatrics, which can assist them to decide whether they want to specialise or not.

National Physical Therapy Assistant Exam and Licensure:

• All graduates of PTA schools have to undertake the NPTAE before they can practise as physical therapy assistants.
• This is a core requirement in order to get licensure.
• The exam is four-and-a-half hours long and consists of 200 questions.
• Only subjects which have been covered in the physical therapy assistant training will be covered in the exam, and generally include pathology, physiology, documentation, professional skills and anatomy.

Continuing Education Requirements:

• One of the requirements for license renewal, which needs to be done every 3-5 years, depending on the state, is continuing education.
• The exact kind and amount of educational practises which are required vary from state to state.
• You can either contact your State Physical Therapy Association to find out what their requirements are or the PTA school at which you study should also be able to provide you with the relevant information.

The Physical Therapy Assistant Job

A Physical Therapy Assistant works primarily with those who have suffered trauma or have a medical condition. Physical therapy improves a patient’s fitness, flexibility, strength and mobility, in order to help them to be pain-free and live a fully functioning life.

Physical Therapy Assistant duties:

• They assist patients with rehabilitative exercise routines to lessen the effects of a physical disability or chronic illness.
• These exercises are done to improve mobility, flexibility and strength, as well as to improve their balance and stabilize their walking.
• They monitor a Patient’s response and progress in report their observations to the Physical Therapist.
• The PT and PTA will review the treatments after each session and the PT will determine whether they are giving the patient the correct type of treatment or whether they need to change or adjust it.
• PTAs also monitor and record a patient’s continuing physical challenges and mental and emotional outlook.
• The PTA will help patients to adjust to their circumstances and teach them a new way of performing routine tasks so that they do not re-injure or strain themselves, and improve their healing time.
• The exercises they teach and help their patients with can also rebuild muscle strength or help to restore their full range of movement.
• They coordinate treatments with the Physical Therapist and administer massages, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.
• The equipment used by PTAs use can include elastic bands, balance balls, and other simple equipment which the patient can easily use at home to augment the exercise sessions they do with the PTA.
• They fit patients with support devices like crutches, prosthetics, walking frames etcetera and train the patient how to use them.
• They assist patients to move to and from the treatment areas and also to dress and undress if necessary.
• Physical therapy assistants also perform administrative duties such as telephone duties, manning the reception area, ordering supplies, and scheduling appointments for patients.
• They complete insurance claim documentation for patients and record patient information in databases.
• They also keep the treatment area and the equipment clean, tidy and organised.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools

With the demand for physical therapy assistants increasing, there are in excess of 260 recognized physical therapy assistant programs and more than 1 000 schools for PTA training throughout the US. There are various physical therapy assistant degrees and certifications offered by PTA schools:

Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assisting:

• An Associate of Science program, which is offered by most physical therapy assistant schools, offers a well-rounded introductory education in the fundamentals and general academics of physical therapy.
• The program lasts about 2 years and teaches working with patients who suffer from diseases or who are recovering from accidents, mobility, pain management, and working with physical therapy equipment amongst other subjects.

Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health:

• An allied health degree from one of the Physical Therapy Assistant colleges is beneficial for building a solid foundation in general health care systems and practices.
• The programs are between 1 and 2 years long and prepare students for entry-level work in a medical facility.
• They also provide grounding for more focused study for Physical Therapy Assistants.

Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Health:

• Once you have qualified as a physical therapy assistant and have practised as one for a few years you may wish to specialize.
• To get a graduate certificate you will have to go back to a Physical Therapy Assistant school to study further.
• Specializing in something like geriatrics or paediatrics can open many doors.

Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant:

• Occupational therapy is the strain of therapy which deals with patients who have physical and cognitive impairments.
• This course will give you a broader perspective and wider range of skills than a normal physical therapy assistant course and will qualify you to do entry-level Occupational Therapy work.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – Courses

Courses in most of the physical therapy assistant schools will include the following subjects:

• Clinical Training
• Geriatrics
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Introduction to Physical Therapist Assisting
• Kinesiology
• Laboratory Practice
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Ethics
• Neurological Disorders
• Orthopaedics
• Pathology
• Pathophysiology
• Patient Communication
• Paediatric Physical Therapy
• Pharmacology
• Physical Therapy Fundamentals
• Rehabilitation
• Sports Injuries
• Therapeutic Exercises

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – Curriculum

Although some of the schools for Physical Therapy Assistant training in various states may have a slightly different curriculum, the core subjects remain basically the same no matter which Physical Therapy Assistant school you attend.

Below is the general curriculum that is followed by many of the physical therapy assistant schools for the associate degree in Physical Therapy Assistance:

MODULE CONTENT:

PTA 101 Introduction to Physical Therapy

• Introduction to physical therapy.
• The role of the PTA in the healthcare team.
• The law as it pertains to Physical Therapy and ethical conduct.
• Patient motivation, interpersonal communication skills, and teamwork.

PTA 102 Physical Therapy Terminology

• Abbreviations & terminology used in PT to describe pathology of the body systems, physiology and anatomy.
• Terminology for patient care, laboratory tests, diagnostics, pharmacology, and surgery.

PTA 103 Applied Anatomy

• Human anatomy; external palpation, identification of structures and relationship to function and the musculoskeletal system.
• Kinesiology, motion, joint range of motion and manual muscle testing.
• The neuromuscular process; respiration.

PTA 104 Survey of Pathophysiology

• Overview of disease process, the physiology of healing and repair and general pathological responses.
• Systemic origins of musculoskeletal pain.
• Specific diseases and conditions and rehabilitation treatment.

PTA 105 Introduction to Neuroscience

• Introduction to basic functions and structure of the nervous system and their relationship to PT treatment of neurological diseases.

PTA 106 Regional Anatomy

• Function and structure of the human body; nervous, endocrine, and respiratory systems.
• Muscles, respiratory and circulatory systems.

PTA 110 PTA Procedures I (Basic PT Procedures)

• Basic care skills – vital signs, wound care, taping, aseptic techniques, and bandaging.
• Preparation of treatment environment and patient.
• Theory and application of cold, superficial heat, and hydrotherapy.

PTA 111 PTA Procedures II (PT Modalities)

• Theory and application of deep-heat modalities.
• Principles and application of basic massage techniques.
• Introduction to fundamentals of electrotherapy and traction.

PTA 112 PTA Procedures III (Functional Restoration)

• Principles of normal and abnormal movement.
• Functional restoration techniques.
• Ambulation, patient transfers, postural analysis, and bed mobility.
• Use of selected functional rehabilitation activities and assistive devices.

PTA 151 Clinical Experience 1

• Supervised clinical observation.
• Interpersonal communication and patient interaction.
• Written and oral patient progress reporting.
• Effective problem-solving skills.

PTA 201 Issues in Physical Therapy and Health Care

• Survey: psychological, medical and legal issues and the delivery of healthcare by a PTA.
• The achievement of goals of physical therapy and the physical therapy assistant’s influence.

PTA 202 Introduction to Orthopaedics

• Introduction to mechanics and biomechanics of orthopaedic injuries and diseases.
• Fundamentals of orthopaedic terminology.
• Survey: surgical repair; rehabilitation.

PTA 210 PTA Procedures IV (Therapeutic Exercise)

• Introduction to kinesiological principles related to exercise.
• Instruction in therapeutic exercises.
• Specific exercise protocols and their application.
• Selected physical therapy testing procedures.
• Working as a member of a healthcare team.
• Patient motivation.

PTA 211 PTA Procedures V (Rehab Applications)

• Neurologic disabilities: stroke, head injuries, MS, spinal cord injuries, and other neurologic diseases.
• Development of treatment programs for orthopaedic patients; upper and lower extremity dysfunctions, lower extremity amputations and injuries to the spine.
• Developing of specific home programs, and instruction in family training.
• Selection of appropriate selective devices and equipment for geriatric, orthopaedic and neurologic patients.

PTA 212 PTA Procedures VI (Pediatric Rehab)

• Laboratory sessions – facilitation of developmental sequence.
• Human development, pediatric assessment tools, pediatric treatment philosophies

PTA 251 Clinical Experience 2

• Supervised clinical experience in various PT sites.
• Hands-on development of previously learned skills.
• Functional activities, documentation, etcetera previously evaluated in a lab.

PTA 252 Clinical Experience 3

• Supervised rotation in a clinic.
• Skills development in functional activities, patient care and documentation.
• Practical experience of coursework previously covered.

PTA 253 Clinical Affiliation (12 credits)

• Full-time Internship – appropriate application of PT techniques and procedures.
• Hands-on; understanding of clinical responsibilities and supervisory relationships and the application of PT procedures.

PTA 254 Clinical Seminar 2

• Discussion seminar and clinical lecture – cultural competence.
• Verbal and written communication.

PTA 255 Clinical Seminar 3

• Survey: Issues regarding teamwork and patient care.
• Adjustment to disability and grief, patient interaction, and ethics.
• Role and responsibilities of the PT and the PTA.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – List

Some of the best physical therapy assistant schools which offer Associate Degrees are:

• Brown Mackie College – Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina
• Carrington College – Arizona, New Mexico
• Florida Career College – Florida
• Hesser College – New Hampshire
• Herzing University – Florida
• Kaplan Career Institute – Pennsylvania
• Keiser University – Florida
• Medical Careers Institute – Virginia
• MedTech College – Indiana
• New England Institute of Technology – Rhode Island
• Pima Medical Institute – Arizona, Colorado, Washington
• Remington College – Ohio
• Sanford Brown College – Missouri, Virginia
• South College – Tennessee
• South University Campus – Alabama, Georgia, Florida

Online Physical Therapy Assistant colleges

• Bryan College
• Dawn Career Institute
• Fortis College
• Globe University
• Keller Graduate School of Management
• Liberty University
• Ottawa University
• University of Phoenix
• Virginia College

Whichever physical therapy assistant school you choose to attend, make sure that the program is accredited. Not all Physical Therapy Assistant schools are accredited, and if they are not you are wasting your time because you will not be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination, in which case you will not be allowed to practise legally.

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Learning To Be An EMT Online

To apply for any Emergency Medical Technician course you will have to:

• Comply with the minimum age requirement in your state (which is usually 18 years of age, but in some states it is lower).
• Be in a physical state that allows you to lift heavy loads and engage in all of the physical requirements of an Emergency Medical Technician.
• Have good eyesight, and if you have bad eyesight, it will need to be sufficiently corrected either with glasses, surgery, or contacted lenses.
• Have a valid driving license.
• Have at the very minimum a high school diploma.

If you decide to do your EMT training online you will be preparing yourself to:

• Provide life-saving procedures to people who have been involved in accidents and to assist them in dealing with their injuries, illnesses and traumas when such events occur outside of a hospital setting.
• You will need to pass an exam that is in line with the requirements of the particular state in which you would like to work once you are qualified, and you will have to do a certain amount of practical work in order to sufficiently qualify as an emergency medical technician.

In order to become an EMT you will need to complete the online course within the time specified by the particular course that you are taking part in. Usually the time that you will have to complete the course is something like 110 hours. If you look at the coursework and suspect that you may be unable to complete it in the specified time, then you may want to reconsider your career choice.

Advantages Of EMT Training Online

There are several very convincing advantages to doing a portion of your online EMT training. The best advantages are the following:

• Time is flexible. You will be able to adjust your study schedule to suit your needs. Many people are blocked from studying further due to the fact that they have to work as well as study as they have no other means to support themselves. This is not always possible as many employers are not very understanding of a student’s needs. With an online course you can study when it suits you and when you can find time for it.
• You will not have to quit the job you already have. This is related to the previous point. If you are able to study at any time and fit your studies in around a full-time job then you won’t have to sacrifice the work you already have just to enter EMT training for a future job. This is great as you do not want to burn bridges with your current employer and you will be able to continue maintaining yourself.
• You will be able to study at your own speed. That is perhaps one of the best advantages. Were you to take classes in a traditional face-to-face situation, you may find that the lecturer moves at a pace that is too fast for you and does not review the areas that you struggle with the most. Likewise you may find that the classroom pace is too slow and that you are able to move at a much faster speed through the coursework when you study by yourself. As long as you are able to properly manage your time, then doing your EMT classes online will make it easier for you to work at a speed that suits you best.
• Related to the previous point is the idea that you will be able to devote the time necessary to the aspects of the work that you are struggling with the most. You will be able to keep your focus on the areas that need the most attention, and not waste time and effort reviewing work that you are already sufficiently familiar with.
• Unlike classroom programs, you will be able to study for qualification in a state other than the one you live in. this is an important advantage of EMT certification online because different states have different requirements for practicing as an EMT in that particular state. If you are planning to relocate as soon as you qualify then you will not have to retake the test or catch-up any missed points in order to work in a different state.
• If you need to be re-certified you will be able to do this from your own home and without having to deal with any face-to-face situations at any point.

What You Get With An Online EMT Program

When you decide to do your online EMT courses you will find that the lessons are laid out in the following ways:

• The lessons will be web based (as implied by the fact that it is an online course), making it a lot easier to study in your own time and at your own pace. You will not be tied down by work constraints and distance problems.
• The lessons will be self-paced. This means that you will be able to complete the course work at your own speed. You will not be tied down by slow students and neither will you be outpaced by students who are quicker than you are. Rather you will control the speed at which you work.
• Such resources as podcasts and videos will be used in order for you to get a clear understanding of the life-saving techniques and skills in which you will have to be well-versed in order to be an efficient EMT.

With an online EMT course you will learn about:

• Human anatomy
• Human physiology
• General pharmacology
• Medical terminology
• How to respond to asthma attacks
• How to respond to heart attacks
• How to respond to overdoses
• How to respond to strokes
• How to respond to choking
• What to do in the case of a pregnant woman giving birth unexpectedly
• How to lift patients
• How to move patients
• How to identify and check vital signs
• What to do in the case of airway obstructions
• How to administer CPR
• How to set fractures
• How to stop bleeding
• How to use medical equipment (such as backboards and oxygen masks) that are related to the profession of being an EMT
• How to administer oral medication
• How to administer intravenous medication
• How to administer and record EKG information
• How to intubate patient
• How to administer oxygen
• How to use suction devices

Is An Online Program Enough?

Something that is essential for you to remember is that EMT online training will only provide you with the theory side of the training. If you want to become an EMT then you will need to also do some practical training at some point. This should be obvious. You cannot learn how to use the appropriate machinery in the appropriate way if you are only learning online. There has to be some practical and real-life input if you are to be a qualified and effective EMT.

Things to remember when considering an Online EMT Training Program

• You will have to engage in some practical work in order to get the hand-on experienced required to qualify s an EMT.
• You should only do EMT training online with programs that meet the standards as they are laid out by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians(NREMT).
• Some courses are only refresher courses for students who already hold an EMT qualification, so make sure that you are choosing an online EMT certification course that suits you and that will get you the qualifications that you are particularly aiming to get.
• Some courses may expect you to re-take the entrance exam even if you have previously passed it for another EMT qualification, so be aware of this when applying.

As long as you keep in mind that an online EMT course is not where your training ends, then feel free to embark along this route. There are a large number of advantages to doing EMT training online, and it will allow you to open up your career options and broaden your horizons without compromising your current job. Many of the online courses will also provide you with the information and opportunities necessary to complete the practical training which means that you may be in the position to do all of your training in more or less one place. As health related industries are the ones that are growing the fastest in terms of job opportunities and job security, you will find that this is a very stable career on which to embark, and you will not regret your decision to do EMT training online.

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How To Become A Physical Therapist In Oklahoma

In order to become a physical therapist in Oklahoma you need to first earn an undergraduate degree. This is a basic requirement for entry into a postgraduate degree program that will allow you to practice as a physical therapist. Topics that you should cover in this undergraduate degree program to be fully prepared include:

• Anatomy courses
• Physiology courses
• Biology courses
• Mathematics courses
• Physics courses
• Chemistry courses
• Social science courses

You will then need to enter a doctor of physical therapy program. This is one of the minimum requirements involved in preparing for licensure in the state of Oklahoma. If we look at the qualification offered by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center we can see that there are a number of prerequisite courses you will have to complete before you can enter this degree program:

• Statistics
• Anatomy
• Physics
• Physiology
• Developmental psychology
• Chemistry

Students in the advanced program at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center study:

• Exercise science
• Orthopedic management
• Human movement

Oklahoma requires physical therapists pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to qualify for a license to practice in the state. This exam includes sections on:

• The musculoskeletal system
• The cardiac and pulmonary system
• The nervous and neuromuscular system
• The metabolic and endocrine system
• The gastrointestinal system
• Physical therapy devices and equipment
• Physical therapy techniques

In total you will need to answer 250 questions on the test. Once you have passed the test and become licensed you will need to renew your license once every two years in order to continue working as a physical therapist in Oklahoma. This involves 40 contact hours of continuing education.

List Of Physical Therapy Programs In Oklahoma

There are only two schools offering physical therapy programs in Oklahoma:

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Degree: Masters
Website: http://www.ah.ouhsc.edu/rehab/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 1200 North Stonewall Avenue, Room 3092, Oklahoma City, OK 73126
Phone: 405-271-2131
Fax: 405-271-2432
Email: alliedhealth-info@ouhsc.edu

Langston University
Location: Langston, OK
Qualifications: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Transition DPT
Website: http://www.langston.edu/academics/physical_therapy.aspx
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: PO Box 1500, Langston, OK 73050
Phone: 405-466-3697
Fax: N/A
Email: LUpt@langston.edu

Although there are only two physical therapy programs in Oklahoma to choose from, you can be certain that these programs are of a high quality. Both are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. When looking for a physical therapy program it is essential to ensure that it is properly accredited. If it is not accredited your qualification will not be much use to you and you will struggle to find employment. It is recommended that you apply to both of these programs when you begin your education as this will save you time in the long run. If both programs accept you, you will then need to analyze the tuition offered and decide which program is better. This could depend on which school is closer to you. It could also depend on what each school charges for tuition. If possible you should base your decision on which school you think is best equipped to prepare you for a career as a physical therapist rather than on which school is more convenient to get to or cheaper.

Salary

According to www.physicaltherapycareer.net there are 1820 physical therapists employed in Oklahoma who earn an average of $33.48 an hour and $69,630 a year. According to the following salaries can be earned in each of Oklahoma’s cities:

• In Enid you can expect to earn about $70, 026 a year as a physical therapist
• In Norman you can expect to earn about $65, 922 a year as a physical therapist
• In Lawton you can expect to earn about $88, 034 a year as a physical therapist
• In Oklahoma City you can expect to earn about $65, 922 a year as a physical therapist
• In Muskogee you can expect to earn about $77, 620 a year as a physical therapist
• In Tulsa you can expect to earn about $59, 351 a year as a physical therapist

According to www.alliedhealthworld.com the following salaries can be expected in the different parts of Oklahoma:

• In Oklahoma City you can expect to earn about $73,000 a year
• In Tulsa you can expect to earn about $65,000 a year
• In Norman you can expect to earn about $73,000 a year
• In Lawton you can expect to earn about $70,000 a year
• In Broken Arrow you can expect to earn about $66,000 a year
• In Edmond you can expect to earn about $74,000 a year
• In Midwest City you can expect to earn about $73,000 a year

Different sources give different estimates about how much physical therapists, who have completed physical therapy programs in Oklahoma, can expect to earn. This is because there are a number of important factors to take into account that play a big part in terms of your salary. As you can see from the numbers above, several sources agree that you will earn different salaries in different parts of the state, even if they cannot agree on the exact amounts that you will earn. If you choose to work in a city that has fewer physical therapists than most other cities, your skills will be in high demand and you will probably be able to ask for a higher salary. On the other hand if you work in a city where there are too many physical therapists you will earn less because the demand is lower. The actual employer that you work for will also play a role in how much you earn. For example there are a number of different industries you could work in as a physical therapist. Across the entire country the following salary averages have been observed in different industries:

• In Physical Therapy you can expect to earn $49,633 – $80,700 a year
• In Healthcare you can expect to earn $50,464 – $83,586 a year
• In Rehabilitation you can expect to earn $50,746 – $82,432 a year
• In Hospital you can expect to earn $51,937 – $85,976 a year
• In Home Health Care you can expect to earn $48,750 – $84,799 a year

Specific companies also pay different rates:

• At Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine you can expect to earn $40,268 – $79,463 a year
• At Gentiva Health Services, Inc. you can expect to earn $56,270 – $80,854 a year
• At Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital you can expect to earn $57,891 – $66,955 a year
• At Select Physical Therapy you can expect to earn $58,600 – $82,850 a year
• At Novacare Rehabilitation you can expect to earn $55,955 – $70,318 a year

Your gender may affect your salary. As a woman you can earn $57,701 – $71,562 as a physical therapist, and as a man you can earn $58,981 – $73,019 – these numbers are averages for the whole country. Your level of education is also crucial. With a Doctorate (PhD) you can earn $50,804 – $76,477 a year, with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) you can earn $51,327 – $76,787 a year, with a Bachelor’s Degree you can earn $49,566 – $91,077 a year, with a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) you can earn $58,373 – $88,282, and with a Bachelor of Science (BS / BSc), Physical Therapy you can earn $55,685 – $98,006 a year.

Career Outlook

It is interesting to note that, overall, the field of physical therapy in the United States is growing stronger. The unemployment rate is currently at 0.2%, which is lower than once was. It is also important to note that this unemployment rate is an expected to drop even lower during the next six years. In 2006, 172,900 physical therapists were employed in varying industries and that number is expected to increase by 27% by 2016, bringing the number of therapists in the field to just fewer than 220,000. This means that now is a good time to enter the field of physical therapy because the projected future for the profession looks extremely promising. According to www.alliedhealthworld.com, “Oklahoma had 2,160 physical therapists in 2006 and that number is estimated to rise by 17% to 2,530 during the same ten-year time-frame  Moreover, since September 2009, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was less than half of the national average, with only nine states having a lower rate”.

Although there are limited opportunities in terms of education for prospective physical therapists in Oklahoma, it is still an excellent state to be a physical therapist in due to the fantastic career outlook and impressive salaries available.

The post Physical Therapy Programs In Oklahoma And What They Offer appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Recently, there has been a huge increase in the number of jobs available in the medical sector in Texas. What this means for medical assistants now and in the future is that there are an ever growing number of jobs available, making it an excellent career to pursue. The medical assistant field is expected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation from 2008 to 2018, and the city of McAllen-Edinburg-Mission is noted as one of the top five US metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of medical assistant employees. In addition, there are also many medical assistant programs in Texas through which they can train for the position. In comparison to several other states, Texas offers more opportunities for education as well as for employment, and the rate of pay for medical assistants in this state is quite high. When it comes time to select one of the programs, it is very important that you shop around. Ideally it is better to contact in the region of 3 to 5 different schools (possibly more) as this will increase your chances of being admitted to one that suits your needs. There are a number of parameters to consider when choosing a school, so begin by creating a short list of the best options for you.

What Is A Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant is an individual who assists a doctor or physician with either administrative or clinical tasks. This frees the doctor up to focus more intensively on the well being of his patient. The specific duties of the medical assistant may differ depending on:

• The location of the practice
• The specialty of the practice (for example, there is a subdivision of medical assisting for both the ophthalmic and podiatric disciplines)
• The size of the practice

Although there can be differences in terms of what a medical assistant is expected to do, they are usually actively involved in taking patient history, measuring patient vital signs, helping the physician with patient examinations, giving the patient injections (as directed by the physician), scheduling patient appointments, and preparing blood for laboratory tests. Although medical assistants are described as either being administrative or clinical, they usually perform a mixture of duties.

Medical Assistant Training In Texas

One of the main reasons why individuals often fail to study for a career as a medical assistant is that they cannot afford to. However, in Texas, there are a number of financial aid options available for students who would like to pursue a career in this discipline. Some of the better known options are:

• The Tuition Equalization Grant program
• The Texas Public Educational Grant
• The Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program

If you are in need of financial assistance, you should consider options offered at federal level. In addition, there are a number of private contributors who provide scholarships and loans for students. If you do have to take a loan, there are loan forgiveness programs that you could engage in once you have completed your studies.

List Of Medical Assistant Programs In Texas

The following is a fairly comprehensive account of the medical assistant programs in Texas:

Everest College
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree, Diploma
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Everest Institute
Program Types Offered: Certificate, Diploma, 9

Kaplan College
Program Types Offered: Diploma

National American University
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree

Anthem College
Program Types Offered: Diploma

Arlington Career Institute
Program Types Offered: Diploma

Career Centers of Texas
Program Types Offered: Diploma
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Career Point College/Institute
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree, Diploma

Cisco College
Program Types Offered: Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

College of the Mainland
Program Types Offered: Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Concorde Career Colleges
Program Types Offered: Diploma
Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES

Dallas County Community College District
Program Types Offered: Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

El Paso Community College
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree, Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Hallmark College of Technology
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Lamson Institute
Program Types Offered: Diploma

Northeast Texas Community College
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Richland College
Program Types Offered: Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

Sanford-Brown College
Program Types Offered: Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES

Southern Careers Institute
Program Types Offered: Diploma

Southwest Career College
Program Types Offered: Diploma
Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES

The College of Health Care Professions 
Program Types Offered: Certificate
Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES

Virginia College
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree

Vista College
Program Types Offered: Associate Degree, Diploma
Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES and CAAHEP

Westwood College
Program Types Offered: Diploma
Programmatic Accreditation: CAAHEP

It is interesting to note that accreditation information is not available for each of these schools. When selecting medical assistant programs in Texas, it is very important that the program you select is accredited by an appropriate accrediting agency. If it is not, you are likely to find that you qualification (as well as your hard work and money) will have been for nothing. The best method for selecting a school is by only considering those that offer information regarding their accreditation status, and ignoring those that are either not accredited or that are not forthcoming on the topic.

Salary

It is well worth considering what your medical assistant program will get you in the long run. In Texas, the salaries for medical assistants can differ quite notably by city. According to cbsalary.com, the following are the approximate rates that you could expect to earn as a medical assistant in Texas.

• In Abilene you can earn $30, 891 a year
• In Laredo you can earn $27, 443 a year
• In Amarillo you can earn $28, 603 a year
• In Lewisville you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In Arlington you can earn $38, 675 a year
• In Longview you can earn $30, 410 a year
• In Austin you can earn $39, 789 a year
• In Lubbock you can earn $27, 700 a year
• In Azle you can earn $38, 675 a year
• In Marshall you can earn $30, 810 a year
• In Beaumont you can earn $28, 017 a year
• In McAllen you can earn $29, 167 a year
• In Brazoria you can earn $35, 508 a year
• In Mission you can earn $29, 165 a year
• In Brownsville you can earn $29, 338 a year
• In Odessa you can earn $32, 830 a year
• In Bryan you can earn $32, 061 a year
• In Plano you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In College Station you can earn $32, 061 a year
• In Port Arthur you can earn $28, 017 a year
• In Coppell you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In San Angelo you can earn $33, 859 a year
• In Corpus Christi you can earn $31, 758 a year
• In San Antonio you can earn $34, 847 a year
• In Dallas you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In San Benito you can earn $29, 338 a year
• In Denison you can earn $38, 218 a year
• In San Marcos you can earn $39, 789 a year
• In Denton you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In Sherman you can earn $38, 218 a year
• In Edinburg you can earn $29, 167 a year
• In Temple you can earn $32, 804 a year
• In El Paso you can earn $29, 502 a year
• In Texarkana you can earn $30, 629 a year
• In Fort Worth you can earn $38, 675 a year
• In Texas City you can earn $35, 953 a year
• In Frisco you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In The Woodlands you can earn $35, 953 a year
• In Galveston you can earn $35, 953 a year
• In Tyler you can earn $33, 222 a year
• In Harlingen you can earn $29, 338 a year
• In Victoria you can earn $30, 619 a year
• In Houston you can earn $35, 953 a year
• In Waco you can earn $31, 796 a year
• In Irving you can earn $38, 753 a year
• In Wichita Falls you can earn $29, 029 a year
• In Killeen you can earn $32, 804 a year

Texas offers a surprising number of schools through which you can train to be a medical assistant. However, it is important to remember that the medical assistant programs in Texas mentioned here do not represent an exhaustive list, and neither are they necessarily the best options for you. It is extremely important that you do your own research into each of the schools and determine their suitability for you at a personal as well as at a practical level. Medical assisting allows you to enter the stable and ever-growing medical industry where job security is guaranteed and the potential for growth is huge.

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