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How much is your tuition? Trade schools are known for outrageous tuition and expensive fees. CMA programs at local community colleges offer the same education for less than half the cost.
I completed a CMA program nearly 13 years ago and never managed to find a job as a medical assistant. For me, it was a waste of time, money and effort.
In NJ as a CMA (certified medication assistant) you can only dispense meds at assisted living homes. Otherwise I would just go the route of CNA. There are more job opportunities but less pay. HOWEVER, now that I see you mentioned you are signed up for financial aid, if they are paying for school then go for it.
Please clear one thing up for me: are you taking about MA (medical assistant) or CMA (certified medication assistant)? There is a vast difference between the two and I think if you provide this information you may get different answers.
My personal opinion... Go to school for LVN, you'll learn CNA work your first month and can take the test to get certified, work as a CNA while you go to school for LVN. CNA's unfortunately do all the dirty work, all the time. I just finished LVN schooling and am prepping for the state boards. I didn't become a CNA because I didn't want to be cleaning feces, changing beds and all the grunt work all the time. Yes as an LVN, I am responsible for this and will have to do this sometimes but this is not my assignment day in and day out. As a LVN, and one day a RN, I will have greater opportunity to move around and the pay is definitely better.
DON'T PAY AN EXTREME COST FOR CNA! You can take a class at a community college or something for that.
RachelLT81612
3 Posts
I just enrolled to Brown Mackie College for their CMA diploma program; i have all kinds of people telling me i mad a bad choice & cma is a bad field & brown Mackie is a bad school. Im really confused now & don't know what to do because everyones scaring me out of my decision && i start classes Thursday.