FAQ
Is this field for me?
If you have at least average keyboard, organizational and communication skills, like to work with people, work well with others, are interested in the healing arts, and can learn and retain what you’ve learned, this could definitely be for you.
For any of these programs you must be at least 18. Since the program is taken online, you should be familiar with computers and have access to a computer with an Internet connection (if you don’t have one at home your local public library will often provide this at no cost to you).
What are the best reasons I should consider this field?
The health care field is booming right now. National statistics show that people in these fields earn $28,000 to $35,000 per year on average. Medical assistants and dental assistants in medical and dental offices are staying busy because of it! With our home study course in medical and dental office assisting, you can prepare for an exciting clerical or administrative career in a private medical or dental practice, hospital, or clinic.
We’ll give you solid, comprehensive training in medical assisting and dental assisting techniques. In your career path, you may also consider adding medical terminology and coding to your skill base. Those elements will lead to more and varied responsibilities, increased income potential, and ultimately may provide you with greater skills for medical office management-administrative functions.
What is a medical office assistant-specialist?
Medical office assistants-specialists work in provider offices, individual physician practices, clinics, hospitals, virtually any care-provider setting. Regardless of what health care area office assistants may work in, they have close contact with patients, doctors, dentists, and other colleagues. They also may handle a wide range of duties. For example, they may meet arrivals at the front desk, schedule appointments, organize, update, and file charts and records, complete insurance forms, assist in the lab or pharmacy or with tests, treatments and therapies, convey lab report information to patients, renew telephone prescriptions, and assist with billing operations.
Occupational Outlook For Medical Billers and Medical Office Specialists
Bureau of Labor Statistics (US Department of Labor) projects that medical information and claims processing will continue to grow much faster than other occupations throughout the year 2014. With the ageing of America, more and more elderly enter the need for medical services, so the sheer numbers are staggering. Also, because of the ever-increasing rules and regulations, and the need for precisely adapting to them, even the smallest medical offices and clinics are looking for professionals skilled medical billers are sought like never before. The opportunities in medical billing and coding are excellent!!!
How long do the programs take to complete?
It takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months (depending how much time you have to devote to the program). The average will be about 4 months. However, you will have access to the program for 12 months from the date of purchase. That way you can continue to refer to the material as you start your new job or study for an accreditation exam.
Certificates of Completion: Certification of completion is provided upon successful completion of this program. You must score at least 70% on the end of course assessments. If you score below this you should retake the course material and try the exam again. Certificates are e-mailed to student e-mail address provided during registration within 10 days of successful course completion. Replacement certificates are provided for a $10 research fee. They need to submit a request that includes the students’ full name, social security number, SID number, and verify current mailing address.
FAQ’s
1. How your online programs works?
In order to take a course, you need to have a username and password. When you register for courses, you will create a username and password for yourself. If you’d like to take a course, go to www.360institute.com and select the type of courses that you are interested in taking from the “Online Programs” menu. You will have access to each program for 12 months from the date of purchase.
Click on the “pricing” button in the middle of the page. On the next page, check the box next to the course(s) you would like to take and click on the “+ Add to Cart” button. When you have selected all of the courses you are interested in purchasing, click on “Checkout and Proceed” button. Fill in your registration information and your billing information. Once you have registered, you will receive an email explaining how to log on and start your courses.
Note: your email address will be used as your username.
2. What computer hardware and software do I need?
You will need a computer with the following hardware:
- IBM PC Compatible Computer (we recommend at least 1 GB RAM, and a processor equivalent to, or newer than, an Intel “Pentium 4″ 2.4 GHz processor)
- Microsoft Windows XP or Vista operating system
- Internet connection (we recommend any type of broadband connection)
- Sound Card with speakers or headphones
- Monitor connected to a video card with driver equivalent to, or newer than, SVGA (1024×768)
You will need to have some free software installed on the computer you are using to take the course:
- Internet Explorer 7 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/ie7/
- Macromedia Flash player: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
- Adobe Reader: http://get.adobe.com/reader/
- Windows Media player http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/alldownloads.aspx
3. What’s it like to take a self-study course?
We have observed first hand that people who are allowed to study at their own pace, acquire knowledge more readily, feel less pressure, enjoy the learning experience more, and actually retain more of the information than students in traditional classes. It goes without saying that we are all different in the way we learn; we read at different speeds, comprehend and absorb information differently, and apply our practical knowledge to problems in different ways. Self-paced learning allows an individual to apply his/her own best study methods and learning techniques, and this ability produces better results.
A self-paced training process must be able to communicate directly at a level which far exceeds that of classroom instructor and our courses are specifically designed for this purpose. We did not simply take a book from the shelf and repackage it as an on-line course. Our courses are designed from the ground up, as interactive learning tools, which take the students step by step through every aspect of the materials and the process, providing practical knowledge, examples, and self-examinations, and offering the opportunity to review the materials until they are well understood. In a traditional classroom, you either get it by the end of the course semester, or you don’t. With our self-paced courses, if you don’t get it the first time around, you have the opportunity to go back, and to keep going back until you have mastered the material.
4. How do refunds work?
Full refunds will be given upon written request by student so long as they have not yet completed at least 25% of the course and that they request the refund with either 3 days of first logging into the course or 14 days from purchase, whichever occurs first. Partial refunds will not be granted.
If the course includes printed materials provided by 360, the student must (at their own cost) ship these materials back to 360 corporate office before the refund will be processed.