Regional Educational Programs

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Approved Training Programs

Both the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredit programs in medical assisting. In 2005, there were over 500 medical assisting programs accredited by CAAHEP and about 170 accredited by ABHES.

The Committee on Accreditation for Ophthalmic Medical Personnel approved 17 programs in ophthalmic medical assisting and 2 programs in ophthalmic clinical assisting.

Regional Occupational Programs (ROP)

The ROP program offers specialized training to high school juniors and seniors or students who are 16 years of age. One dedicated medical assisting instructor posted the following to the Medical Assistant Web Forum on 13 August, 2006:

I'm A Clinical Medical Assisting Instructor

Professional Title/Credentials: RMA- Regional Occupational Program- Clinical Medical Assisting Instructor

Check out this website: California Regional Occupational Program (CAROCP). This will give info about all the different Regional Occupation Programs available in California. We are State-funded- paid for by ADA (average daily attendance) just like any other public school. HOSA is the organization that the HS students can join. We participate in community activities such as the State wide disaster drills. The students are the actors and what an incredible opportunity for all. The learning experience is awesome.

Since ROP is a HS program, we fill up the remaining slots with adults. I found that students under 18 do not benefit from the program because they are unable to draw blood or give injections. It is so cool to see the adults and HS students work together. Can you tell how much I love my job??I did teach at one of the $$$$ private colleges earlier in my career. I didn't know about ROP. The students were in class for 8 months, then we sent them away- to their externships, never to return to school.

I like the way ROP has training throughout the program- we share so many good and bad situations- talk about what they see in "real" life. For example... "I never saw the MA wash her hands, should I say something" That leads us back into infection control again and again. We use the different syringes and discuss and draw up especially when it comes to epinephrine (Epi). We use the PDR. I have former students come back as my assistants - they really help.

Our student medical assistants have a strict dress code, and I do random inspections. I show up at their job sites and check their training plans- and I will pull them from a site if the medical office supervisor isn't doing the training. A teacher has to have the passion to share and care not only today, but the rest of their life. Nothing makes me feel better than going to a job site and see a former student working.