Continuing your education as a medical assistant is very important. There are numerous reasons to do so, including improving and strengthening skills, learning new techniques, and keeping your certification current for working in your state or country.
However, continuing education can be very expensive. Anyone who has attended college or even gone through a certification program knows this. Adding credits to your certification can take a serious chunk out of your bank account, which is why many people avoid doing so until they are forced to.
It doesn’t have to be that way! There are ways to make ongoing medical education less expensive and get affordable CE credits under your belt.
Only Get What You Need
When you see the variety of continuing education credits currently available, you might feel like you need them all. While getting a lot of education is never a bad thing, it can be a very expensive thing.
This is why it is important to choose the credits you add to your education wisely. If there are specific courses your employer or state requires you to have, those should be your primary focus. Any additional education should be on the back burner until you can comfortably afford to get your necessities out of the way.
Ask About Employer or State Subsidies
In some areas, you may be eligible for a subsidy through your state for continuing education. This may be offered during specific times of the year or in the event of medical personnel shortages.
Additionally, some medical employers also offer to pay for continuing education. This is often a part of your contract when you hire on or as a bonus for staying with the provider for a minimum number of years.
If you are looking for ways to save on your education, be sure to ask your employer about these offers. If they cannot offset the cost of your education themselves, they may be able to help you find ways to reduce the cost.
Choose Your Provider Wisely
Once you know what you need, it is important to choose the provider of your education wisely. Many companies offer continuing education for medical professionals, but some are definitely better than others.
Look for a company offering free or inexpensive courses. These companies may require you to pay a nominal fee for subscription or access to content, but this is generally much less expensive than the fees that would be required from a traditional college or university.
Don’t be afraid to shop around. Remember, your education is important to your continuing employment. Don’t leave it to chance! Work with a great provider to reduce costs and make learning more accessible so that you can keep growing as a professional – without going broke in the process!