Reviews

The course was easy for Medical Billing and Coding but when I got the Certificate It is not recognized as an accreditable Certificate. Wasted over $1500 on a Certificate that i cannot use. Would not recommend.

We are sorry to hear Ms. S***** feels this way and appreciate the opportunity to respond. We have been accredited since 2004 by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which holds recognition by the U.S. Department of Education, and are also approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence in distance education institutions and we are proud of our accreditation. Ms. S***** may visit the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website at *******************************, search “U.S. Career Institute” and click on the school name to verify the U.S. Department of Education status listed. She may also search “U.S. Career Institute” after visiting the DEAC’s Directory of Accredited Institutions at *****************************************************************************. Our records show Ms. S***** completed our Medical Billing Specialist course successfully on April 16, 2020, and was issued a Certificate of Completion. We are here to support our graduates and encourage Ms. S***** to contact our Graduate Services department at her convenience at ***** ********* **** ****; they will be happy to discuss this further or address any other questions Ms. S***** may have. We look forward to hearing from her and wish her the best.

We are sorry to hear Ms. S***** feels this way and appreciate the opportunity to respond. We have been accredited since 2004 by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which holds recognition by the U.S. Department of Education, and are also approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence in distance education institutions and we are proud of our accreditation. Ms. S***** may visit the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website at *******************************, search “U.S. Career Institute” and click on the school name to verify the U.S. Department of Education status listed. She may also search “U.S. Career Institute” after visiting the DEAC’s Directory of Accredited Institutions at *****************************************************************************. Our records show Ms. S***** completed our Medical Billing Specialist course successfully on April 16, 2020, and was issued a Certificate of Completion. We are here to support our graduates and encourage Ms. S***** to contact our Graduate Services department at her convenience at ***** ********* **** ****; they will be happy to discuss this further or address any other questions Ms. S***** may have. We look forward to hearing from her and wish her the best.

This business is a sham. I enrolled for the online Medical Assistant program, and I have yet to find employment because no one will hire a person who has not had hands on training in this field. In addition, the course materials were sadly lacking and some looked as if they were downloaded from any old internet site. The test questions and answers were off base and sometimes confusing. I complained about this to my online instructor, and her answers were often vague, although she did admit that some of the training videos were inaccurate. In summary, I am out over $1,500 and still have no job. I wrote a complaint to the business, but they have never answered me.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Ms. S****. We have previously addressed the majority of this in responses to two other reviews Ms. S**** submitted in March and June 2022, and we are sorry to hear that she still feels this way. Ms. S**** graduated from our Medical Assistant certificate course, which was written by our experienced curriculum team with the input of subject matter experts in the field. Throughout the course creation process, the ******** ************ *********** (***) outline was used as a guide because the course is designed to help prepare students for the CCMA or CMAA exam through the *** so that graduates of the course can go on to become certified. We have received high praise of the content within the course materials from industry professionals and our students have a great pass rate that is higher than the national average for the ***’s CCMA exam in 2021 and 2022. The *** does not currently require hands-on training to take the CCMA exam, and our course is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the field. A quick search for this close to Ms. S****’s zip code shows multiple listings for entry-level Medical Assistant positions that Ms. S**** would appear to meet general requirements for based on completion of our accredited Medical Assistant course, and more if a certification credential has been earned. While we do not provide job placement or guarantee employment as there are many other factors to consider beyond education to be successfully hired, we provide several resources and graduate support to all graduates. Eligible students can participate in our Career Coach Program and work with a Career Coach Specialist to create professional marketing materials highlighting education and qualifications (specific to entering a new field with no hands-on experience), have access to a comprehensive Career Starter Guide (which also addresses some of those other factors) and utilize our Graduate Services support. We also offer graduates of this Medical Assistant course reimbursement for the *** study guide, practice test and either the CCMA or CMAA exam, up to $243. Graduates who take advantage of these resources and implement the guidance provided generally see advancements in their job search results. Ms. S**** completed the full course and is responsible for the course’s tuition cost. Her certificate will be mailed when her remaining balance has been satisfied, and we thank Ms. S**** for continuing to make her payments automatically each month. In the meantime, she was issued a Letter of Completion, and is welcome to order a transcript or request a letter if additional documentation of proof of completion is needed for anything. As a courtesy, we will waive the $25 cost for the first two transcripts she orders. Ms. S**** is also welcome to utilize the Career Coach program for the benefits listed above, or utilize Graduate Services, who will be happy to help her review any marketing materials she is currently using, discuss strategy, and provide support in her job search. We understand that it can be frustrating when you are not receiving the results you expected, and we want to see Ms. S**** be successful in reaching her goals. We are happy to help and wish Ms. S**** the best.

I submitted a compliant the year of 2020-2021 and I don't see it , nor have there been any response from BBB; now I am wondering do I need to file a compliant with BBB

Weston Distancing Learning is a scam; I was told I can work from home part-time Medical Billing Specialist. I took the course, passed straight AAA paid in full May 2019 and I am still without employment; The Medical Billing Specialist is a F/T M-F Employment and they know this; During the seminar they don't tell you to get a lawyer to help with the contract for your business. I am requesting for a full refund of $2,450.00; I will reporting the to NCDOJ; I just reviewed recent compliant which let me know that are still doing what they do and getting away with this. The BBB is giving them an AAA, they need an FFF

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Ms. ******’s review. Weston Distance Learning, aka At-Home Professions (AHP), has worked extensively with Ms. ****** and found that she is not willing to follow the steps necessary to find a job. Instead, she repeatedly says At-Home Professions promised job placement. Likewise, the school has repeatedly informed the student that she is responsible for her own job search efforts. This requirement is clearly explained in her signed enrollment agreement, the catalog she received prior to (and after) enrolling, the school website, the sales presentation before enrolling, and in numerous conversations with staff (June 18, 2018; July 1, 2019; September 30, 2019; and January 6, 2020). Below are excerpts from those sources: 1. The enrollment agreement states, “While career counseling and graduate support are provided to all graduates, I understand the school cannot promise or guarantee employment.” 2. The AHP School Catalog reads, “While graduate support and career counseling is provided, it is understood that the school does not provide placement services and cannot promise or guarantee employment to any student or graduate.” 3. The AHP Website reads, “Your course includes detailed job search information, including resume tips, interview techniques and more. Plus, all graduates have access to graduate support representatives. We’re here to help you throughout your career.” 4. The sales script she heard during her presentation was a pre-written script. The script does not mention “job placement” anywhere in the script. What it states is: Another reason our graduates are so successful: As a part of your program, you will continue to have complete support from At-Home Professions through our Graduate Support Staff. They will work with you as your work through your career starter guide. They may ask to look over your resume, your cover letters or discuss marketing ideas with you. This support is unlimited! If it is five years from now and you are moving and you need help with your job search, call the school. We stay with you after you graduate. This is part of your program. It is lifetime support. It never goes away!!! In addition to your unlimited Graduate Support and the Professional Career Starter Guide we have added “The Success Promise Program”. The marketing skills taught in the Success Promise Program will stay with you for a lifetime. There is no additional cost for the program. There is no obligation once you are signed up for the program. When you graduate, if you decide you don’t want to move forward in the Success Promise Program, you don’t have to. The Success Promise Program is a Career Development Strategy Course taught by a HR Expert. This is a win/win situation for you! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! The Success Promise information referenced by Ms. ****** from the seminar she attended is also below and states: “We are so confident that our training programs are the most dependable and effective way for you to learn and start a new career that we give you our success promise: When you complete your course and our Success Promise program, you will get a job within six months or we will give you all of your money back. You have our word. How it works: 1). Finish your certificate program within 15 months of your enrollment date and with at least an 85% GPA. 2). Pay at least 50% of your tuition and be current in your payments as you begin the Success Promise Program. 3). Complete all weekly activities in your Success Promise program and remain current in your payments. ….. “The Success Promise program is not a guarantee or promise of employment.” Ms. ****** enrolled on August 24, 2016, and completed the second course on May 1, 2019, so she did not meet the first criteria of completing her program in 15 months in order to participate in the Success Promise. Ms. ****** was subsequently offered participation in the Career Coach program, which covers the same material (networking, marketing, resume preparation, interviewing skills, etc.) as Success Promise with the two exceptions that it did not have weekly deadlines like Success Promise, and it did not offer a tuition refund at any point, regardless of what work Ms. ****** completed. Ms. ****** declined this assistance, saying on July 1, 2019, that she did not have time to do the program. The Career Coach program was explained to Ms. ****** again on January 10, 2020, when she again accused Weston of not finding her a job. At this point, Ms. ****** agreed to send a copy of her resume to our graduate services department so we could review for any red flags. Many suggested changes were made to make the resume more user-friendly, namely going down to a one-page resume and focusing the skills she discussed on the type of job she was searching for. Ms. ****** indicated she was devastated and that it was “like her whole career was hauled away.” Graduate Services again explained the resume needed to be more user-friendly in order to gain the attention of the person reviewing resumes. As indicated by Ms. ******, her availability to do a job search is very limited given she has a full-time job. She is looking for weekday evening hours or weekend day hours. Yet, there are still jobs she can apply for. Per Indeed.com on March 22, 2022, there are 6,879 remote medical billing jobs open across the U.S. Some of these jobs say they prefer experience, but it is not required; others do not list experience requirements; and some require experience. In summary, we understand Ms. ****** is busy, but she is responsible for her job search. Her lack of significant effort in her job search is most likely why she has been unsuccessful in finding a position – and regardless, a job was not promised to her. Throughout her enrollment, Ms. ****** identified several things she was unhappy with. For example, she stated she was not told about processing and shipping fees – and that they were not in her contract. Again, both the enrollment agreement (aka contract) and school catalog clearly outline all processing and shipping fees and were made available to her prior to and after enrollment. Ms. ****** signed the enrollment agreement attesting to her agreement of these fees. Finally, Ms. ****** has not paid $2,450 as she stated in her complaint – she has only paid $1106.98. Had she chosen to complete all five units in her study program, she would have paid more. However, she only chose to complete two units. At-Home Professions has extensive notes from many conversations with Ms. ******. After reviewing them in preparation for this response, it is apparent that the time it has taken to try to explain to and help Ms. ****** has not been productive. Weston Distance Learning has expended far more resources assisting Ms. ****** than the tuition Ms. ****** paid would cover. Weston has clearly provided the services promised to Ms. ******, and Ms. ****** has not provided reasonable effort to help herself find a job. Weston desires to end its current and any future relationship with Ms. ****** and is refunding the $1106.98 she paid by issuing a refund check to the address on file. We hope that she finds something that will fit her needs and wish her the best.