Many careers in the healthcare field are rapidly expanding. This trend should continue for the foreseeable future. That makes this a critical time to become a medical assistant. Medical assisting is an excellent career with many jobs available in different medical settings, a relatively low educational threshold, and good pay. Fortunately, there are many medical assistant online colleges where you can get a quality degree without attending classes on campus.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sees a future with an aging population in the country. Combined with expanding access to healthcare, the BLS predicts that jobs for trained medical assistants will be steadily available. What’s more, these jobs have good income potential.
Options for careers in the medical assisting and healthcare administration industries are diverse. You might work in physician offices or dental offices, a long-term care facility or hospital, or an insurance company or government agency. With an accredited medical assistant degree or certificate in hand, the job opportunities are virtually endless!
See Also: Strategies for Excelling in Your Online Medical Assistant Program
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
There are many different jobs for trained medical assistants – jobs for which you can prepare at any number of online colleges for medical assistant programs. Your tasks might include managing patients’ records in doctors’ offices, working with healthcare professionals during examinations and simple procedures, or checking vital signs.
Moreover, medical assistants often administer medications and injections (under a physician’s direction) and collect and process lab samples. Other graduates with medical assistant degrees find jobs in healthcare facilities with little to no patient contact. For example, you might work in the insurance industry, a medical billing office, or a government agency related to healthcare.
Other common tasks for medical assistants include:
- Assisting doctors with patient exams
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Answering telephone calls
- Entering data, like patient records, into a computer
The exact job duties heavily depend on where you work and the specialty of the physicians with whom you work. For example, suppose you’re a medical assistant in a family medical practice. In that case, your duties will be much different than if you’re a medical assistant for an orthopedic surgeon at a major hospital.
Likewise, your area of expertise governs what you do on a daily basis at work. If you specialize in optometry, you’ll likely spend time with patients showing them how to insert contact lenses properly. However, if you specialize in administrative medical assisting, you’d spend most of your time greeting patients, answering the phone, and scheduling appointments.
See Also: 10 Accredited Online Colleges for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
What is the Job Outlook for Medical Assistants?
As noted earlier, the job outlook for graduates with a healthcare administration and support degree is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that medical assistants will benefit from 16 percent growth across the various jobs in the industry through 2031. This is much faster than average growth.
Salaries in the industry are good. Entry-level positions for workers with a medical assistant AAS or similar credential pay about $37,190 per year. If you continue your education and get a bachelor’s degree in medical or health services management, you might earn more than $100,000 per year.
Again, much like your education and training affects the job duties you must perform, they also affect the income you might earn. The more education and experience you have, the higher the pay. Concentrating on a specialization will also help you increase your pay.
See Also: Best Online Schools for Medical Billing and Coding Programs
What are the Best Accredited Medical Assistant Programs Online?
It can take a lot of work to choose a school with so many great online colleges that offer medical assistant programs available. As you search, it’s essential to consider factors like cost per credit hour and the anticipated total cost of the program. The school’s reputation, the faculty, and the available degree programs should also factor into your decision.
But you can take it a step further than just searching “online colleges medical assistant” or “online medical assistant programs accredited.” Let us help!
Accredited Online College uses the most recent data from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Each program in our rankings is scored individually. Those rankings are compared to all other universities offering that degree. Doing so helps us determine the final score you see by each ranking.
Accredited Online College considers several factors for ranking these programs. These factors include the affordability of the program, the student-to-faculty ratio, and the number of programs offered on-campus and online. Visit our methodology page to learn more about how we derive these rankings.
Let’s explore our list of the best colleges for medical assistant programs!
See Also: 26 Accredited Online Colleges For Respiratory Therapy Degree Programs
1. Liberty University
Ranking first on our list of medical assisting online colleges is Liberty University. Liberty is a respected Christian institution of higher learning and has been since 1971. The school is a leader in remote education, having started in 1985 with classes on videotapes for students to review at home. Now, degrees are accessible from anywhere with a computer and internet connection so that you can learn from the convenience of home.
The accredited online Associate Degree in Medical Office Assisting program at Liberty University has frequent start dates to help you adjust your school schedule around work and life. The program features eight-week courses that are fully online. You get access to digital resources like 750,000 electronic publications, books, peer-reviewed academic articles, and the Online Writing Center.
Your tuition includes free e-books, so you don’t have to worry about that expense. Instead, you can concentrate on your studies, including an optional externship, to get real-world experience.
This is a 64-credit program. It takes two years of full-time study to complete.
See Also: How to Land Your First Job in Medical Billing and Coding: A Step by Step Guide
2. Minnesota State Community and Technical College
The vision of Minnesota State Community and Technical College is to cultivate “[a] success story for every student.” Faculty and administrators work to make your success their top priority. This is true whether you study at one of the campuses in Detroit Lakes, Moorhead, Wadena, or Fergus Falls. It’s also true if you choose to learn online.
The Medical Office Assistant diploma from M State combines leading faculty and outstanding medical assistant courses into a program with the flexibility of online learning. In this accredited, online medical assistant program, you will gain valuable workplace skills in patient registration procedures, electronic health care record preparation and management, and health insurance and medical billing procedures.
This is a 44-credit diploma program. You’ll need about 1.5 years to complete the requirements for graduation.
A $2,500 workforce development scholarship is available for eligible students. You can learn more about potential financial aid by contacting M State’s financial aid office.
3. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati has a reputation for educational excellence and is a leading research and higher education institution. UC Online combines a thorough and challenging education from nationally-known faculty with an online schedule that is flexible for your busy life.
All levels of education are available from UC Online. You can pursue basic professional certificates and associate’s degrees that take less than two years to complete. If you already have this level of education, you can opt for a bachelor’s degree to get more advanced training. Furthermore, UC has master’s programs that give you the tools to advance further in a medical assistant and administration career.
Some of the degree options UC Online offers include:
- Certificate in Physician Practice Management
- Associate of Applied Business in Healthcare Management Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Systems
- Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
- Master of Health Administration
4. Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Minnesota West Community & Technical College takes pride in offering a higher education in which you develop habits and behaviors to “Learn with Purpose.” By pursuing degree programs from Minnesota West, you can get the tools and knowledge needed to thrive beyond graduation. You’ll receive a foundation upon which you can build a long-lasting career.
An accredited online medical assistant education at Minnesota West includes an Associate of Applied Science degree as a Healthcare Administrative Assistant. The AAS degree challenges you to learn and practice valuable skills in medical terminology, reimbursement and insurance in healthcare, and disease conditions. The program also features a job-seeking course to help you with career preparation.
This is a 60-credit program that requires about two years to complete.
5. Guilford Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College has served the community in Jamestown, NC, since 1958. Growing consistently over the years, GTCC is now among the largest educational institutions in the state’s community college system. GTCC serves more than 25,000 students every year at six campuses and online.
The GTCC medical assistant program includes a Medical Office Administration – General Option. This program prepares you for a career in the rapidly-growing healthcare industry. Job opportunities after completing the GTCC medical assisting program include work in clerical support for patient care units, patient registration, and many service positions in the healthcare field.
This is a 66-credit program that requires about two years to complete. GTCC offers shorter programs, including an 18-credit Medical Office Administration – Electronic Medical Records Certificate and a 36-credit Medical Office Administration – Patient Relations Diploma.
6. National University
National University is a large, nonprofit private school in beautiful San Diego, California. National is proud to have a role in the education of hundreds of thousands of students worldwide. With four-week classes available in a fully online format, higher education through NU comes to you, and gives you the ultimate flexibility for completing your degree.
NU helps you prepare for a career in the medical field with relevant, hands-on courses within its Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Entry-level jobs within your reach include medical office management, administration, and supervisory roles in medical clinics or insurance agencies.
This 180-credit degree program includes courses in biomedical statistics, epidemiology, and healthcare management, to name a few. Moreover, you must complete a capstone project, an internship, or a global health experience before graduation.
7. Minnesota State College Southeast
With an average student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1, Minnesota State College Southeast takes pride in its student-centered and accessible approach to higher education. Serving the entire community of learners, from working adults increasing their career skills to first-time college students just out of high school, MSC Southeast provides dozens of programs in eight major fields.
MSC Southeast offers Medical Administrative Assistant degrees online for students who need to develop valuable workplace skills but can’t attend regular classes on campus. The Medical Administrative Assistant AAS degree allows you to gain a full two-year college education consisting of 15 general education credits and 45 technical education credits. These technical credits include coursework in:
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Terminology
- Word Processing
- Pharmacology
- Medical Insurance
The estimated cost for this program is around $14,300, making it an affordable option for your education.
8. Barton Community College
One of the benefits of studying at Barton Community College is that the faculty provide direct attention to you. They’re accessible for support throughout your degree program, even as an online student.
With a variety of flexible formats available, including hybrid, online, arranged-schedule, and classroom options, Barton College works with you to provide the education you need on a convenient schedule.
Barton Online offers the Medical Administrative Technologist program aimed at the rapidly expanding medical services field. Coursework in the program covers various topics, including:
- Records management
- Accounting
- Medical billing
- Insurance terminology and codes
These and other classes ensure that you can hit the ground running in your career as a medical administration worker.
This is a 64-credit program that culminates with an Associate of Applied Science degree. It takes about two years to complete this program.
9. Purdue University Global
With ten-week terms and multiple start dates throughout the year, Purdue University Global offers you an education that fits into your life. Combining medical assistant classes with direct experience in a clinical externship and clinicals at a site near you, Purdue allows you to put principles into practice.
The Medical Assistant Certificate at Purdue Global requires at least 15 hours of coursework per week. In the MA Certificate program, you will get hands-on training in medical assistant skills and clinical procedures, like:
- Administering injections
- Fielding phlebotomy procedures to draw blood and take laboratory samples
- Assisting in minor surgical procedures
You will also acquire essential office knowledge in areas such as accounting, medical billing, and coding tasks in this accredited program.
Just 58 credits are required to complete this certificate. You’ll need about 1.5 years to do so.
10. Dakota College at Bottineau
Dakota College at Bottineau has a proud history of education that stretches back almost as far as the beginning of North Dakota itself. The original state constitution in 1889 envisioned a forestry school to promote tree growth on the prairies. This led to the creation of the North Dakota School of Forestry in 1906. The school evolved over the years to become today’s community college. Now Dakota College at Bottineau reaches the world with online learning in many different fields.
At Dakota College at Bottineau, you can become a Medical Assistant in about a year. You’ll take the usual coursework in medical assisting, capped off with a 180-hour Cooperative Education opportunity at a medical facility.
You can choose to pursue either an Associate of Applied Science degree or a certificate, depending on your career goals and aspirations. The AAS track is 61 credits, while the certificate track is 38 credits.
11. Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College prepares students for career and life success at campuses in six locations throughout a nine-county area of northwest Georgia. Guided by a mission to deliver excellent technical education and career development opportunities in a student-centered learning environment, GNTC offers almost 200 study areas to prepare you for success in the modern workforce.
GNTC offers two technical certificates in the healthcare field that are available entirely online: one in Medical Coding and another in Medical Front Office Assistant.
The 24-credit Medical Coding certificate provides you with advanced coding skills that you can use to gain full-time employment in a medical setting. You’ll learn basic medical terminology, procedural skills, and become familiar with anatomy and physiology as well.
The 22-credit Medical Front Office Assistant certificate helps you build the base of education and experience that’s needed for a career as a receptionist or support staff in a medical clinic. In this program, you will learn medical terminology and healthcare administrative procedures. You’ll also gain computer literacy and English skills for improved proficiency in writing reports and correspondences.
12. Olney Central College
At Olney Central College, the staff and faculty are motivated by a mission to “deliver exceptional education and services to improve the lives of students and to strengthen our communities.” Olney extends these learning opportunities to students like you who are away from the area or are unable to fit typical class schedules into their lives.
The Medical Office Assistant (SMED) prepares you for jobs as a medical transcriptionist or medical office assistant. With this degree, the career potential is good for a job as support staff in insurance offices, government healthcare agencies, and medical facilities.
The first two semesters in the program include courses in general office skills like keyboarding, writing, and business computing systems. The last two semesters cover the principles and practices of medical offices. Additionally, the final semester includes a professional portfolio requirement. The portfolio gives your career preparation the attention it needs to get you ready for the field and to land a job.
13. Bellevue University
Bellevue University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Science that you can finish in person or online. The degree integrates health and disease prevention studies with the sciences of psychology, human development, and leadership. This interdisciplinary approach prepares you for various career paths in the growing healthcare field.
A Health Science BS from Bellevue leads to clinical or non-clinical jobs in medical offices. Additionally, many graduates pursue a BS in Health Science as a start to a medical school program. Bellevue University also supports the med school application process with a Pre-Medical Certificate. You can get the certificate on your way to completing your BS in Health Science.
With transfer credits, you can complete this degree sooner. Depending on the number of credits you’ve already earned and transferred, you might only need a few semesters to finish your degree.
14. State Fair Community College
State Fair Community College has programs that prepare you for health professional work. You’ll learn versatile skills for either clinical or administrative jobs in medical offices or laboratories. With program options that include a Medical Assisting Professional Certificate or an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting, you can get on the right path to employment. The skills you learn at State Fair Community College will help you be competitive in a field that anticipates rapid job growth and stability in the next decade.
Medical assistants can work in clinics, doctor’s or dentist’s offices, hospitals, or insurance billing agencies. In the programs at State Fair Community college, you will learn how to interact with clients, handle patient billing and bookkeeping tasks, and work with electronic medical records.
The Medical Assisting Certificate is a 34-credit program that you can complete in about one year. The AAS in Medical Assisting is a 61-credit program requiring about two years of full-time studies.
15. Keiser University
Keiser University began delivering quality adult education in 1977. Now with campuses in 21 of Florida’s major and mid-size communities, Keiser University has grown to serve tens of thousands of students. Thousands of alumni have used the education they earned at Keiser University to build solid careers.
Keiser University offers an AS in Medical Assisting Science at four Florida campuses. The program is also online to help you fit your education into your busy schedule.
This degree prepares you for the following:
- Clinical work in assessing and recording patient vital signs
- Assisting physicians with exams and simple procedures
- Following directions to administer injections and perform electrocardiograms
- Other practical skills in outpatient and inpatient settings
This is a 60-credit program requiring about two years to finish. Once you complete the degree, you will be eligible to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam.
16. Weber State University
Weber State University serves the Ogden, Utah, community with higher education opportunities and has done so for over a hundred years. The university offers a Medical Laboratory Assistant certificate in both on-campus and online-learning formats. As a student in this program, you’ll learn to conduct medical lab tests to help doctors find, diagnose, and analyze illnesses.
The online MLA program requires that you have access to a clinical lab to complete the program’s competency checklist. Online students like you also work directly with a local laboratory professional who is a mentor and facilitates the hands-on experience required for certificate completion.
This is a short 15-week program that includes online coursework and 64 clinical hours in a lab setting.
17. Ferris State University
Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University offers dozens of degree programs. With a small student-to-faculty ratio, the school enables you to interact with classmates and faculty on a more personal level. This helps enhance your learning experience.
Beyond the Big Rapids area, Ferris State offers degrees and courses online for students with life schedules that don’t mesh with campus class times. There are many online programs, including those in the medical assisting field.
In fact, Ferris State University has a number of study options available in health administration and health information. You can pursue a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree that leads to an accredited online medical assistant degree. There’s even master’s programs available!
The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is an excellent option if you’ve already completed an associate’s degree from an accredited Health Information Technology program. You must also have a current RHIT certificate to apply to this degree-completion program.
You’ll learn how to help medical professionals enhance patient care in an online learning environment built specifically for this and other healthcare programs. Wherever you choose to study, you can do so with the ability to take part in lectures, collaborate with classmates, and get real-world experience.
18. Northland Community and Technical College
At Northland Community and Technical College, you have the potential to gain the skills and knowledge needed to step into a job in a medical setting with one of the school’s two-year degree programs. Best of all, you have the option of earning the Associate of Applied Sciences – Medical Administrative Assistant degree entirely online.
In this program, you can look forward to taking courses in:
- medical office procedures
- pharmacology
- medical billing and insurance
These courses are part of the 60 credit hours required for the AAS degree.
Upon graduation, you’ll have the qualifications to seek employment in various areas, including, but not limited to:
- Health clinics
- Hospitals
- Home health
- Dental offices
- Long-term care facilities
Additionally, you might find employment with an insurance company, a government agency, or in public health.
19. Kirtland Community College
Kirtland Community College offers many degrees and certificates for all types of students, from high school graduates just starting in higher education to adults returning to college for career improvement or life enrichment. With three Michigan campuses and a robust online learning platform, Kirtland Community College has a broad reach.
Kirtland’s Medical Billing and Coding Certificate prepares you for a Medical Records and Health Information Technician career. You’ll learn about critical aspects of this job, including:
- How to use electronic health technology
- How to analyze and evaluate regulatory standards in the healthcare industry
- How to interpret policies that protect patient privacy
You’ll learn these and other skills in a self-paced format that’s affordable, whether you’re a Michigan resident or an out-of-state student.
20. Ultimate Medical Academy
With an associate’s degree from Ultimate Medical Academy, you’ll be prepared for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam, which is a strong resume-building step toward the best jobs in the field. With 24/7 tech support and a fully online classroom environment, UMA lets you pursue your AAS – Medical Administrative Assistant on your schedule. This allows you to maintain current life and job responsibilities without losing out on an excellent education.
The CMAA medical assistant exam is not a part of the curriculum at UMA, but experts at the school will help you focus your learning on the materials that are most relevant to the exam. You’ll also benefit from some extra guidance and assistance in the areas that you find most challenging.
The AAS program is 62 credits. You can complete these requirements in two years of full-time study. Alternatively, you can pursue a 38-credit Medical Administrative Assistant Diploma. The diploma can be completed in as little as 11 months.
21. Rochester Community and Technical College
Rochester Community and Technical College has a long history of providing the community with higher education and lifetime learning opportunities. As the oldest public two-year college in Minnesota, RCTC has grown to establish new learning centers and offers online learning, too.
RCTC’s 60-credit degree program for Healthcare Office Professionals focuses on medical terminology and the advanced skills needed for medical office procedures. Courses cover the fundamentals of diseases, how they affect the human body, and the treatments and medications to combat illness and disease. Other topics of study include:
- Business Communications
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Keyboarding
- Anatomy and Physiology
Several programs are available in the Healthcare Office Professional Program. Likewise, many are offered entirely online for enhanced flexibility.
22. Illinois State University
The Department of Health Sciences at Illinois State University is respected for its history of offering a thorough and challenging education provided by knowledgeable and experienced faculty. The Health Information Management program at Illinois State is part of that tradition. This program trains you to collect, maintain, and analyze medical data.
While degrees in the four-year, on-campus program are highly respected paths to career potential in the growing field of health information management, many people can’t clear their schedules for regular weekly attendance. Fortunately, if you’re a professional in the field and already hold an RHIT certification, you can participate in an online program to further your skills.
As a graduate of this program, you’ll have the necessary training to work in many aspects of the healthcare industry. You can assume a managerial position in finance or administration. You might even pursue a clinical position in data management. It’s all possible with the education you get at Illinois State University.
23. Community College of Vermont
Community College of Vermont delivers educational opportunities at CCV Academic Centers in a dozen cities throughout the state. With the CCV Center for Online Learning, higher education can come to you wherever you have a computer and internet access.
Just because you are learning remotely doesn’t mean you will be all alone in your studies. You can connect with classmates through the CCV Center for Online Learning to work on small group projects.
CCV offers numerous online degree options in the healthcare field. For example, you can pursue a Medical Billing and Coding Certificate to enhance your skills and your resume. This 30-credit program includes courses like:
- Medical Coding I and II
- Human Biology
- Computer Applications
- Introduction Health Information Systems
- Health Insurance Reimbursement and Billing
You’ll be prepared to take the Certified Professional Coders exam upon graduation. The CPC credential requires real-world coding experience. If you don’t have that before the examination, you’ll have a CPC-Apprentice designation until you meet the coding requirement.
24. Park University
Park University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration option in Healthcare Management that forms a strong foundation for graduate work in healthcare administration. This bachelor’s degree program is available both on-site at one of Park University’s facilities and online for maximum flexibility.
Whether you pursue the online or on-campus program, the 60 credit hours of major courses cover the fundamentals of office work. You’ll take classes like:
- Principles of Financial Accounting
- Applied Computer Technology for Business
- Financial Management
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Business Policy
The medical assistant training in the program also provides an education specific to the healthcare field. You’ll learn about:
- Third Party Reimbursement & Risk Management
- Health Care and the Political Process
- Basic Issues in Community Based Health Care Delivery
25. Dakota State University
With a BS in Health Informatics and Information Management from Dakota State University, you can pursue a career in health records administration in hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies. Dakota State University takes pride in educating the highest quality professionals with skills that can be used in these and other healthcare settings.
This is a 120-credit program, with 77 credits in the health informatics and information management realm. You’ll take classes that focus on specific health-related topics, like:
- Legal Aspects of Health Information
- Digital Health Data Analytics
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Database Management Systems
- ICD Healthcare Coding Systems
Additionally, you’re required to complete multiple on-site supervisory experiences. These experiences are divided into three separate professional practice placements. The first two are 40 hours, and the third is 80 hours.
Dakota State also makes it easy to prepare for your master’s degree in this field. This program is part of a 4+1 FastTrack that allows you to take up to three courses in the graduate core to get a head start on your graduate education.
26. Umpqua Community College
Umpqua Community College features an AAS in Medical Office Administration program that is available completely online. During the admission process, Umpqua Community College will conduct placement testing to determine if you need additional courses in math, writing, computers, or reading before starting your coursework.
The steadily-growing medical industry requires support personnel trained to process patient information, maintain medical records, and uphold the highest legal and ethical standards to assist medical professionals. Umpqua Community College offers training in these skills so you can enter the medical field with a high degree of competence.
By graduation, you will be trained in transcribing medical documents, handling payroll, and medical coding. Moreover, you’ll learn how to understand insurance regulations and write reports and professional correspondences for medical offices.
With start dates throughout the year, Umpqua Community College makes it easy to start your education and get a quality education online.
27. Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Clarion University of Pennsylvania is in the rolling hills in the western part of the state. Clarion has been a leader in lifelong learning and higher education opportunities in the area since 1867. More recently, Clarion has extended the reach of its courses and degree programs by offering accredited online degrees for career advancement.
Clarion offers online Associate of Science in Allied Health for aspiring professionals like you. The 30-credit Allied Health concentration leads to an associate’s degree. This program is specifically for professionals with a formal healthcare education from an accredited school. For example, if you’re a medical assistant, medical lab technologist, or paramedic, this degree is for you!
Once you complete the requirements for this degree, you’ll be better prepared to continue your education. You can do so in Clarion’s Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Leadership. This program is designed for students that wish to become healthcare managers in a clinic, hospital, or another healthcare setting.
No matter which of these degrees you choose, you can complete your studies online and work around your busy work and life schedules.
28. Herzing University
Herzing University is an accredited private nonprofit institution of higher education that delivers challenging academic content. Helping students to create a path toward advanced academic pursuits, Herzing sees each learner as more than just a statistic in its records. If you’re a student in search of personal and career advancement, Herzing’s online programs might be for you.
Herzing Online offers healthcare programs made to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding career field. With an emphasis on direct patient care and healthcare administration, Herzing Online offers dynamic degree paths to prepare you for the next step.
For example, you can concentrate your studies in areas like:
- Medical Billing
- Health Information Management
- Healthcare Management
Additional pathways include Health Sciences, Sterile Processing, and Medical Office Administration.
29. Community Care College
You can earn a Medical Assistant Certification from Community Care College in as little as nine months. Offered in a hybrid format that features online and on-campus learning, this program is designed for busy adults who need flexibility in their school schedule. Here, you will learn critical administrative and clinical skills to enter the healthcare field in stride.
Medical assistant professionals perform a wide range of jobs in medical offices. For this reason, the certificate program at Community Care College prepares you to:
- Maintain patient medical history in Electronic Medical Records
- Assist medical professionals during examinations
- Perform EEGs
- Handle patient intake
- Administer medications as ordered by a doctor
Furthermore, you’ll learn the skills needed to undertake phlebotomy, autoclave usage, and assist with minor surgical procedures.
30. Davenport University
The final entry in our list of accredited medical assistant programs online is Davenport University. Davenport is a leading online provider of associate degree programs in health informatics and information technology. Offered at the campus in Grand Rapids and online, the Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science program requires you to complete two years of full-time study.
In addition to coursework, you must complete 80 or more hours of professional practice experience. This hands-on, real-world supervised work is crucial in helping you develop the skills you need to be a competent health information technology associate.
Graduates of this accredited online program are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician exam. The American Health Information Management Association offers this exam. The RHIT exam is not a part of this degree’s curriculum. However, it will be vital for your resume in the competitive and growing job market of health information technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do I Need Before I Can Earn a Medical Assistant Degree?
In most cases, before earning a medical assistant degree, you need a high school diploma or GED. Also, whether you pursue an online certificate or an associate’s degree, you’ll need to complete the admission process at your chosen college.
The school you choose to apply to will probably require that you take a few tests before beginning the program. You will need basic learning skills like writing, reading, and mathematics.
If you need help in any of these areas, most colleges offer classes that help you build skills and competencies for college-level coursework. Colleges and universities also have robust tutoring programs with fellow students and staff members that can assist you in your studies.
How Do I Choose Where to Earn My Medical Assistant Degree?
Selecting the right degree program and institution is an important choice for aspiring professionals. Your career goals, experience in the field, and budget for higher education are all factors that should go into your decision making.
Our list of 30 accredited online colleges for medical assistant degrees is a great place to start. Going over these rankings will help you evaluate some of the options you have. Moreover, it can help you determine the most important priorities for your education and the future you want to create.
Also, when looking at schools, consider their reputations in their communities and around the country. Read reviews from previous students and their evaluations of the faculty and administration.
Furthermore, ask yourself questions like the following as you sift through online programs available:
- Is the program right for me and my unique needs?
- Will I be able to pay for the total cost of education with the money I earn in the field afterward?
- Will I be able to balance life and school duties once I’m registered for classes and have begun the program?
As discussed in more detail below, the program you choose should also have the appropriate accreditations from professional medical organizations.
When Will I Earn a Degree?
The time it takes to earn an online degree as a medical assistant or in a related healthcare field depends on the type of degree you’re seeking, the amount of time you have for your studies, and how long you’re willing to devote to the pursuit of a degree.
Some accredited online colleges have medical assistant degrees or certification programs that you can complete in a year or two of full-time studies. On the other hand, a bachelor’s or master’s degree will usually take at least four years and two years to complete, respectively.
A college degree of any kind takes a lot of effort. It’s a huge commitment of time and resources as well. The results are worth the cost, though, if you use that education to build a strong future for you and your family.
Why Should I Pursue an Accredited Medical Assistant Degree?
People who enjoy work, have a clear sense of purpose, and serve the community often go into medical assisting. Also, people who want to participate in the critical work of providing healthcare to the community, but don’t want to be in charge of patient care, are likely to benefit from a medical assistant degree.
As discussed earlier, the BLS predicts strong job growth in this field. With plenty of jobs available and the expectation that job growth will continue to be strong, you can exit your degree or certificate program and immediately find work. This isn’t the case for all jobs!
Additionally, starting salaries are good for medical assistants. There’s the potential for pay increases for each step you take up the academic ladder as well. So, if you pursue a medical assistant certificate or AAS now, you can ensure higher pay in your career by earning a bachelor’s degree, and even a master’s degree, in the future.
Likewise, pursuing a certification, like the Certified Medical Assistant from the American Association of Medical Assistants, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from the National Healthcareer Association, or another medical assisting certificate program, can help you advance your career and earn more money.
However, to qualify for the CMA exam, you must graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Before enrolling in a degree, ensure that it’s among the accredited online CMA programs.
If you are interested in higher education and want to know more, check out the Top 12 Accredited Online Colleges With Low Tuition and the Top 15 Accredited Schools Offering Online Bachelor Degrees!