As a public service, I will present what I have found out about this school.
It claims to be accredited, but the alleged accrediting organization, The National Accreditation and Certification Board (NACB), is not recognized by any legitimate medical authority. In fact, it "accredits approved alternative holistic health practitioner programs and certifies graduates of said programs which meet all of the National Accreditation and Certification Board qualifications."
Graduates of St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants are not eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, executive director and legal counsel for the American Association of Medical Assistants, has written about this school saying its ads are misleading and calling it a "diploma mill." [Here is a guide explaining how to spot a diploma mill.]
The St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants appears on a list of " Unauthorized Schools and Invalid Degrees" posted by the State of Oregon. The site says, " The following colleges and universities are not permitted to enroll Oregon students or offer degree programs in Oregon. Degrees from these colleges are not valid in Oregon, and may not be used for academic or employment purposes, or acknowledged as a credential in any public forum or publication, including on a website or in communication related to professional practice or participation in professional organizations."
If you want further information, I suggest you check out a forum on the Indeed.com website detailing several complaints about this school.
Addendum [3/18/13 9:30 a.m.]: I just received notification that "m rana" has posted a comment on this site. I am going to publish it just to prove to you that it's true. I'm not Jewish but I believe they call it "chutzpah."
Addendum [8/3/18 3:45 p.m.]; Someone emailed me saying she has decided to take action. Due to problems with the Blogger website, she was unable to post a comment. Here is her plan:
My daughter was also scammed by this so called “Medical Assistant School”. They are not a legitimate business and are operating as a “business” from the British Virgin Islands. If there are other victims how would like to work together, please contact me at medicalassistantscam@gmail.com. We are stronger together than divided. Thank you to the Skeptical Scalpel Blog for making this public plea possible.
64 comments:
^^^ Speak of the devil...
ha, LMBO.
Nice way to out them.
Neuro, that's a very funny comment.
Rugger, they are outed but they just won't quit.
I will bet you 1 Millyun Quatloos that "m rana" is a computer program that's monitoring blogspot sites. When each is updated with a new post the software automagically posts a comment.
There's no actual human making the comment, except for whomever is checking the logs to see how many comments have been posted each day.
Moose, you may be right, but the comments are not just on new posts. They are mostly on old posts and often there are two or three directed at the same blog.
The name "m rana" is attached to all of them and she has a Google account.
You've got to hand it to the folks from St. Augustine (E. Augustine?). They don't let a little criticism deter them from their mission.
If the latest comment, from sajukhannon, is any indication of the quality of the education at St. Augustine (E. Augustine?), I am even more disinclined to recommend it. Try reading it aloud.
Really nice and great informative and valuable post.Thanks for share brilliant information regarding to Medical Assistants.
Now even the folks at St. Augustine School agree that my post about their school is "brilliant."
It's either a bot or a person who can't read English very well.
It's a bot spamming, being run by someone who is trying to use SEO on their controlled sites so that the negative reviews go away from the first page of Google
I'll take your word for it. I was just impressed by the variety of the attempted comments that seemed to be different each time.
Thank you for posting this article - the more people who expose this so-called school the better.
They even recently tried to post comments on the negative review I wrote about them last year thanking me for a great blog post!
Cheers,
Jason Horton
Editor
Medical Assistant Atlas
PS - I have shared your post on Twitter and Facebook - every little bit helps!
They continue to spam this post. I've deleted them, but I felt the one they sent today was particularly good.
I assume the training at St. Augustine includes instruction in writing coherent sentences such as the ones in the above comment.
St. Augustine is a RIPOFF and need to be stopped ASAP!
thank you for posting this, I was close to enrolling!
Afrika and Anon, I am happy to have been helpful.
i actuall paid for the online program, can somebody help me get a refund . i have emailed them for a refund but they never got back to me
Dear Anonymous,
I am so sorry that you fell for this scam. I do not know of any way for you to get your money back.
I suppose you could try to report this to your state's consumer protection department, but I doubt that it will help.
I hope it wasn't too much money.
Actually, I fell for it too. Don't have the time or the money to hoof it to a local college. I'd have to quit my job to attend their hours...So I figured Internet College was my best bet. I feel like a real idiot for sure. On the bright side, I threatened BBB action and I actually got an e-mail back for once. What a shocker!
Thanks. I hope the previous anonymous sees your comment.
I fell for this scam too! I got scammed out of $570. I can't believe it. I am doing everything I can to try and get my money back.
Nikki, I am sorry that you got taken. I hope you get a refund.
Oh my. Thank you for this post. I was considering this school to assist some of my non-credentialed MA's in passing their certification exams. I guess it was too good to be true.
I'm happy to be of service.
I've been calling trying to get my money back. What email did you use to threaten them? I"ve called since I registered because they never emailed me my log in, I've called numerous times to to get answers and all the registration dpt can say is that they don't have a contact number for the school. I"m so mad I didn't do my research I always do. Should I seek legal actions?
I hope the previous anonymous sees your comment and tells you how she contacted the so-called school. I doubt that a lawyer would take your case since the amount of money is so small (to a lawyer). Can you stop the credit card charge? Good luck.
I work as a Credentialing Coordinator for a medical office. Several of our nurse aides took the St. Augustine Medical Assistant training, prior to my coming on board. At the time, no one realized they should take a National Certification exam as the secondary step of the completion of the medical assistant course. I called the NHA and spoke with a rep and explained the situation. They accepted the education from St. Augustine (previously they did not). We became an approved proctor site and we test our staff who want to take the national certification. We have several who now are Nationally Certified Clinical Medical Assistants through the NHA. If any employer wants to do this, they will need to contact the NHA.
Anon, you comment is very interesting but difficult to believe in view of the many comments to the contrary on this post. I don't have the time to verify anything you have written, but I would advise anyone considering this school to do a thorough check to be sure your state recognizes certification from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Without much effort I found this complaint online http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/cmt-credential-wisconsin-c192493.html
You must complain to google by logging in to http://webmaster.google.com/ and explain them the problem that you are facing with St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants.
regards,
Donna
Thank God I read this post! A really nice flyer came in my job fax, and I was actually considering it!
thanks everyone, i was about to enroll to this online programing...
Happy to have helped.
Thanks for this post! The clinic I worked at put us through this program about 2 years ago. I never bothered to check the program myself, I just took the training the manager gave us. We all thought we were Nationally Accredited MA's. Now I am moving, and am discovering all sorts of information like this on St. Augustine. At least I didn't have to pay for the course, but I am certainly not happy.
Sorry you got scammed, but I hope you do well when you take an accredited course. Good luck.
I was a student at St augustine school of medical assistant school they told me once I completed the program they will setup a externship site to receive experience they lied I took the program in 2012 I was wondering if I can get a refund
I don't know if you can get a refund. See the above comments for the experiences of others in your situation. Good luck.
Hi Skeptical Scalpel,
I have a question... I was wondering if someone established a company offering online education and one of the courses offered was Medical Assisting and this course would be very good and informative, but not accredited by NHA, would you consider this a good thing or still consider it a scam? Thank you.
It might not be a scam, but why would you take a course that isn't accredited? Many employers will not hire a medical assistant who did not attend an accredited course.
WOW! They are still at it I just received a fax for medassistant.org and I figured they were a scam because they can't spell the name of the cities they say their advisors are from...Las Vageus...go figure.
Yes, they actually spelled it Las Vagus, from the nerve with the same name. I think they were trying to keep it medically oriented.
You might find this amusing. Yesterday, the St. Augustine school tried to place a spam comment on this post. Maybe they hadn't read it or maybe they can't read. I almost let it go through but I didn't want to encourage them.
This has been interesting to read. My co-worker went through the St. Augustine program back in 2010. She recently sat through the NCCT certification test and passed, but when she applied to the state to get a state number, they told her that her application was incomplete because they needed her official transcripts. Of course, when she tried contacting the school through e-mail and phone...no response. The state told her they would keep her application in pending for 300 days. My poor co-worker is at wits end. Has anyone had success in getting transcripts from school?
For some reason, I just got notice of this comment.
I am so sorry hear about your co-worker's dilemma. I wish I could help you, but I can't.
THIS IS A SCAM!!!!! I have been calling to receive a REFUND everyday since Jan 22,2016 (the day after I enrolled) I have not received ANY sort of communication. I have now reported this association to the Michigan Attorney General and charges will be filed. You will NOT be accredited for these online classes.This company is FALSE ADVERTISING an accredited program. I have called and emailed this association every day multiple times a day since. NO RESPONSE yet!!!
I am sorry to hear about your problem. I hope you can get a refund and that the Atty. Gen. of Michigan can do something about this company. Good luck.
One of my coworkers was able to pay the two for one price of the program and WAS ABLE to sit for the certification test. She is now a Certified Medical Assistant in Oregon... I'm not sure where you get your scam details but they are quite scandalous. I wouldn't blame the school for suing you for fraud.
Before you start assuming I am connected to the school... NO, I am not.. in ANY WAY connected to this school. I am however considering taking the course and becoming certified myself now.
I didn't make this up. If you had read the post, you would have found out where I got the details. I provided links to every reference.
I'm currently enrolled in this program. I did research on this program and they say they are accredited. I plan on taking my test next week. I found this site by accident.
I did this online course because I have worked in healthcare for many years. I have done everything as a medical assistant in the past just never had the accredited exam. I feel like a fool, after reading this. I got my book and immediately asked for a refund. The book is outdated and the c.d. is windows seven. Its obsolete. I did get a refund from amazon. I figured I could take my state cma test after this online course.
This is very disheartening. I'm a single mother trying to get ahead in this world.
I feel taken. I researched this program. I'm disgusted agter reading all the comments. I'm ready to take my test next week. I'm a single mom, that works full time in healthcare. I thought since they were accredited and I was able to take the state boards, sounded legit. So diappointed ��
I am sorry that you had the misfortune to sign up for this course. I hope things work out for you.
I am just trying to get a copy of my certificate but cannot find a phone number or any way to get in touch with them. Anyone have suggestions?
Unknown, I'm sorry. I have no idea how to contact the school. Maybe one of my readers can help.
I recently fell for this scam. I am so upset because I work so hard for the money I just lost. I am working with my bank for a refund due to fraud. But I have not received e-mails back from st augustine school of scams even with threats.
Scammed, Too bad. I hope you can get some of your money back.
I have been a Medical Assistant for over 10yrs and unfortunately the school I was attending closed before I was able to take my exams. I was lucky that I graduated and received my certificate but was never able to get my State Certification. In my state they didn't require at the time a state certification just a certificate from an accredited school which it was, so I was able to work. I most certainly will say that I have definitely learned it is best to go to a community college and get your degree rather than investing in an accredited vocational/technical school, it's not worth it. You'll be paying the same and if you decide later in the future to continue your education you can't transfer your credits. That's where I'm at now spent over $25000 in school grants/loans and can't transfer anything and now starting from scratch. Plus most hospitals are starting to require an Associates Degree for MA. Anyways... Easy way is never the best, aside from that I have gained plenty of experience and I am grateful for that, it is a wonderful field and if you are contemplating as to what you want to do in the medical field this will help you with what career path you want.
I took this in 2011 and the doctor office i worked for accepted it but now i'm having trouble getting a job. i have missed good opportunities because of this. this address i have and email address is at the bottom of my official transcript.
St Augustine Educational Services, Inc. BVI (IBC# 585384)
Mailing address:
2870 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
www.medassistant.org
Hope this helps some of you.
Does anyone have their phone number???? This info is discouraging
This website has an address and phone number for Dr Mark Stout the president of St Augustine's School.
Just search for Augustine on the page.
Hope this helps.
https://radaris.com/p/Mark/Stout/
The grammatical errors on their website are an indicator that they are not a legitimate business and/or school.
That and everything else about it.
Please note the addendum I inserted at the end of the post above. Someone is trying to do something about this problem.
Hi . I took this course in 2006 and received my certificate. However we moved and i lost it. Anyone know how to get a replacement asap?
Thank you so much for saving me $700! Even in 2019 they are trying to scam students. You are a godsent!
Sarah, I am happy to have helped.
I received an unsolicited FAX today promoting MedAssistant.org and immediately called the "opt-out" phone number. No legitimate business promotes itself with illegal FAXs.
This is not a program whose graduates can sit for the AAMA CMA exam. They have received numerous correspondence to cease and desist false advertising. Further, the comment regarding NHA, they credential anyone so that holds no validity. I would also check whether all employers take the NHA CCMA credential because they don't.
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