I'm getting mixed signals... Are they even legit?

[Miiiilk]

So I've been looking around and where I live to get into a Medical Assistant program is bar none the most frustrating thing I've dealt with =\ no schools seem even remotely close to where I'm at and the ones that are only deal with actual degrees (associates, etc,) but that's when I found St. Augustine's online course. They can be found at http://www.medassistant.org/aboutus.html

BUT!

I was wondering if anyone knew how legitimate they really were... I mean $600 for the entire course and all online seems like a deal I shall not pass up anytime soon. Any insight would really be appreciated as an online course is about as convenient as it gets!

[Corpsman514]

Try googling the school for reviews and check out the better business bureau to see if there is any record. Also, make sure it's accredited! A lot of employers require MA's to certified as a CMA or RMA. If they are not accredited, you are not eligible to sit in the exam for either certification. If you're not certified, it's a waste of money.

[Corpsman514]

The candidate must have graduated from or is about to complete a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

I researched the St Augustine program. They claim to be "nationally accredited", but they don't appear to be accredited by those listed above. Plus, how can you learn how to perform an actual ekg without an actual hands on lab, same goes for phlebotomy. I highly doubt the quality of training provided online is anything but satisfactory. I wouldn't do it. I attended the MA program at Remington College in Little Rock and I was in MA training for seven months before I went into ekg and x-ray.