| St. Augustine Educational Services Department of Distance Education FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) |
| Welcome to St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants & Health Sciences: Thank you for your interest in our program, we are a fully accredited health science school that provides its students with the best allied health education available anywhere. We are dedicated to providing affordable and accessible quality health science education to students through the use of innovative technology, such as our online distance education programs. Our comprehensive web-based programs deliver unparalleled convenience and flexibility to thousands of students and our commitment to educational excellence and unsurpassed student service has made as one of the leading accredited online Health Science schools worldwide. |
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| MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: What makes St. Augustine School better then other healthcare schools? Our programs are designed by physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals to assure a very high quality of education. Students are not just given academic basic sciences courses, but also we integrate “real life” practical information into our courses. Our students are the best trained anywhere! How long does it take to complete your program? The advantage of distance education is that you can study at your own pace and complete our online program at your convenience. Most students are able to finish our online programs in approximately six weeks. When can I begin my classes? Since this is an on-going distance education program you can begin your studies immediately after you register. Once you enroll in our program you will be issued a student ID # and password, so you can log into our online classrooms and begin your studies when ever you like. Our classes are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, for your convenience. Will employers treat my certificate any different because I eared it online? No. Most major Universities now offer online distance education programs. The University of Phoenix, University of Maryland, Penn State and many other prestigious school all offer online distance education programs. Will my certificate and transcripts say “distance education” program or online learning? No. Since the distance education program follows the same educational format as a traditional classroom program there is no need to indicate that your program was taken online via distance learning. Is distance education as good as traditional classroom? It’s actually much better! Since you study at your one individual pace you will retain more of what you are studying. Many studies, including research by the University of Phoenix, the University of Maryland and Penn State University have shown that students taking distance education programs perform better and earn more money then student who graduate for traditional classroom. Is it safe to pay my tuition on-line? Yes. We currently use the “PayPal” system which provides the most secure method of processing financial information available anywhere. In addition “PayPal” provides you with anti-fraud protection for all transactions. Read additional information about PayPal security features. How do I register using another persons credit card (such as a friend or relative)? After you pay your tuition fee send us and email confirming your name, email and mailing address. Does your school provide direct financial aid? Currently financial aid is not available for most healthcare distance education programs. However our tuition fees are very reasonable and affordable for most students. In addition we accept credit card financing and have convenient payment plans available for students. How is clinical and lab information presented ? Our innovative program has been designed by physicians, nurses and healthcare educators to provide you with the best possible educational experience available anywhere. We use internet based technology to present clinical and lab information to our students. If you require additional clinical training this can be achieved by contacting the administrative office at a local area hospital. Are tuition fees refundable? Since this is a distance education program all tuition fees are final and are nonrefundable. Does the online format provide the same quality of education offered by a traditional campus? Yes. Numerous studies have proven that distance learners perform as well or better than their on-campus counterparts. The book "The No Significant Difference Phenomenon" by Thomas L. Russell cites 355 research reports, papers, and summaries dating back to 1928 that found no significant difference between distance learning and in-class learning. Where a difference was identified, it generally favored the distance learning student. Similarly, an extensive study conducted by University of Phoenix comparing its own campus-based students to distance learners came to the same conclusion. In addition, it identified the current online format as the most effective vehicle for distance education. How does the program work? All you need is a computer and an Internet service provider. You'll retrieve lectures, questions and assignments from your instructor then review them offline at the times and places most convenient to you. You'll also have access to online research libraries and services, as well as other successful professionals with whom you can share ideas, debate issues and learn from each others' experience. What is the difference between a Medical Assistant and a Nursing Assistant? Nursing Assistants usually perform the more menial casks patient care taks, such as cleaning patients and changing beds. Medical Assistants however, work in doctor’s offices, hospitals and other healthcare institutions were they perform a variety of tasks, for details about what Medical Assistant or Nursing Assistant do please click on the appropriate link on our distance education website. In almost all cases Medical Assistants earn significantly more and have much better working conditions then Nursing Assistants. How are basic clinical tasks taught online? Since this is a distance education program we use innovative internet based technology to teach the basic clinical skills used by healthcare providers, our program is designed by physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to be very effective and one of the best programs available anywhere. How come your students can finish your programs in about 6-8 weeks when many other schools ’ programs take much longer, even up to a year of classroom study? Accelerated study is a major advantage of distance education. Most distance education programs such as ones offered by the University of Phoenix, the University of Maryland and Penn State University allow students to study at their own pace, so students are able to complete online programs at an accelerated rate when compared to slower traditional classroom studies. In today’s fast paced world our students are given a huge advantage over students in most other schools. Will the military pay for my tuition fees? We do not accept direct military payments, however you may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through you military education department. |
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