Continuing Education for the Chiropractic Assistant
Nancy Singleton
When you think about continuing education, what comes to mind? If you're like most chiropractic assistants, you probably think about the hours your boss—the chiropractor—must put in every year to keep his or her license up to date. If this is what you're familiar with, you might not realize that continuing education is available to chiropractic assistants too! Continuing education classes provide you with a way to learn new skills and enhance your knowledge in new and exciting ways.
Many CA certification programs, including the national program run by the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB), require chiropractic assistants to fulfill continuing education credits to keep their certificate up to date. This requirement is not unlike the requirement that your chiropractor must face each year to keep his or her license. However, even if you're not a certified chiropractic assistant, there are still plenty of reasons to pursue additional education. As W.B. Yeats once said, "Education is not the filling
However, even if you're not o certified chiropractic assistant, there are still plenty of reasons to pursue additional education 33
of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." When you actively pursue opportunities for professional improvement, you'll increase your passion for what you do, and that will make all of the effort worthwhile.
Continuing Education for Certification Renewal
To maintain certification through the FCLB's Certified Chiropractic Clinical Assistant (CCCA) program,
you must complete six hours of continuing education credit every two years. Though certification isn't required (or even necessary) for most CA positions, it does come with certain perks. In many states, certification will qualify you to assist your chiropractor in preforming hands-on physical therapy. If you live in such a state and want to take your career to the next level, certification may be the way to go. Once you're certified, you'll have the opportunity to learn new skills every time you take a continuing education class.
Continuing Education Boosts Your Confidence and Makes You Seem More Professional
Continuing education courses cover topics that will directly improve your performance in the office. You may learn how to take a patient's vitals, apply electrical stimulation, or assist your chiropractor in providing other treatments. These new skills will boost your confidence and make you seem more professional. If your patients ask about your credentials, you'll be proud to tell them that you've been professionally trained and certified. Your patients will notice that you know what you're doing, and you'll enjoy the satisfaction that comes with providing the best possible care.
Continuing Education Allows You to Do More in Your Clinic
Each time you take a continuing education course, you'll learn a new skill that allows you to do more in your clinic. You may learn how to take X-rays, provide physical therapy, or work with patients in other key roles. As you pick up these skills, you'll find that your job becomes a lot more interesting! If you find yourself stuck in a rut—doing paperwork at the front desk or completing monotonous tasks—you may find that new skills are just what you need.
Continuing Education Makes You More Qualified for a Job Promotion
If you're already certified and know you need to complete your continuing education credits soon, you can find classes available online or at chiropractic colleges near you. The classes will cover topics such as:
• Anatomy
• Clinical documentation
• Emergency procedures
• Physical therapy
• Ethics for professionals
• Diagnostic imaging
• Patient safety procedures
Every time you learn a new skill, you'll become more valuable to the clinic. This can make you more likely to snag a promotion! Though the initial upfront investment may seem daunting, you'll find that the payoff will be worth it for many years to come.
Continuing Education for Personal and Professional Growth
Even if your state doesn't require certification, it's still a good idea to develop new skills on a regular basis. Learning new skills will keep you excited about your work and increase your job satisfaction, and it doesn't have to break the bank! If you look carefully, you'll find dozens of interesting and affordable opportunities available online.
Continuing Education Can Increase Your Job Satisfaction
Learning a new skill, such as physical therapy or diagnostic imaging, can make your job far more interesting. Many of the skills taught in continuing education classes
will allow you to work directly with patients to improve their quality of life. Most chiropractic assistants find that working with patients is a lot more fun than doing paperwork at the front desk! When you feel as if you're really making a difference in your patients' lives, you'll find that your job is much more satisfying.
“'Many of the skills taught In continuing education classes will allow you to work directly with patients to improve their guality of life.33
Continuing Education Is a Smart Investment in Your Future
Today, you can find dozens of courses and other learning resources online for free. If you want to learn a new skill, you just have to set aside the time to make it happen. Although some of the most specialized skills are only taught in a classroom setting, you can always invest in free training now while saving up for a pricier class to take later on down the road. Regardless of your financial situation, you can always afford to learn new skills in one way or another. When you invest in additional training, you'll increase your earning potential and job security—two things that make
continuing education a smart move!
Regardless of which path you choose, you'll find that continuing education is absolutely worth the effort. Learning new skills will boost your confidence, make you seem more professional, allow you to work more closely with patients, make you a stronger job candidate, and increase your job satisfaction. With so many reasons to further your education, there's really no reason not to learn new skills as a chiropractic assistant. With a little effort, you'll be able to turn your "job" into a rewarding career!
■RE^ ! Nancy Singleton is a 1989 graduate of the Los 11(fZ Angeles College of Chiropractic Assistants. She ¡H¡ J consulted and helped doctors grow their practices for more than 20 years. She and her husband, ¿ u Dr. Todd Singleton, teach chiropractors how to implement multiple cash systems into their existing practices. For more information, e-mail ngsingleton@gmail. com or visit www.PatientsWantWeightLoss.com.
