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You have to ask more than just if the school is accredited

Once you have discovered which health field is "right" for you, it is time to find the best institution for your education. Listed below are considerations you should use in deciding where to go to "school."

Colleges are accredited (recognized) by the Board of Higher Education for that state and by a regional organization that demands certain standards be met. This benefits the student, because it increases the chance that a course taken at one accredited college will be accepted (transferred) to another accredited college. Courses taken at an institution that is not recognized by the state Board of Higher Education and the regional accrediting agency, are generally not transferable.

Health Programs offered by an institution are also accredited, but not by institutional accrediting agencies. Each health field has a different accrediting agency that sets high standards for the program to meet. For example, a Medical Assistant program can be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Medical Assistant Education (a branch of the American Association of Medical Assistants.) This is in addition to institutional accreditation. A graduate of the accredited program is eligible to take the national certification exam for Medical Assistants.

In general, graduates of a health program recognized by CAAHEP or equivalent agency, are eligible to take the national certification or registry exams and state licensing exams. If you are entering a health program straight from high school, expect to complete at least two years of study before being eligible for these critical exams. People who already have a college degree may be able to take a one year or shorter course of study to be eligible. Never enter a health program before finding out how you can become eligible to take the national certification and state license exams.

Every health field has some sort of hands-on clinical experience. This part of your education might be located on campus in a special lab or at one or more medical facilities located away from the campus. Some health programs require both types of experiences. Clinical instructors of accredited programs must meet education, work experience and certification standards. Remember, every time you walk into a clinical lab or medical affiliate, it is your chance to show future employers just how good you really are.

Faculty in accredited health programs must meet and usually well exceed standards set by the national agency. A typical health faculty member has completed education for a health field, taken and passed national exams, is licensed by the state, has 6 or more years of experience working in the field AND holds a masters degree in a health or related field AND meets the requirements of the college for being a professor.