You can enjoy a rewarding career in healthcare by earning a medical assistant certification online. This profession entails both clinical responsibilities to support patients’ well-being and administrative functions to ensure accurate record-keeping. Whether your duties include measuring people’s vital signs, administering their medications, or making certain they schedule their next appointment, take confidence knowing you are helping to improve quality of life.
Graduates of online medical assistant certification programs find employment in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and treatment centers. They can choose from an array of professional opportunities, largely due to the 29% occupational growth the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects for the field between 2016 and 2026. The BLS attributes much of this anticipated growth to the aging baby boomer population and a surge in the number of medical practices and clinics nationwide.
Moreover, doctors rely on medical assistants more than ever to oversee the administrative and clerical functions of their practice so they can focus on delivering quality care. Medical assistants can make a difference in the lives of others. These professionals earned a median annual income of $33,610 in 2018.
Medical Assistant Certificate Program Ranking Guidelines:
We selected the following online medical assistant programs based on their quality and online class offerings, as well as faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation.
The Best Online Medical Assistant Certificate Programs
Rank | School | Location | Apply | More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
California State University – San Bernardino |
San Bernardino, CA Apply Now | ||
2 |
Ogeechee Technical College |
Statesboro, GA Apply Now | ||
3 |
Georgia Northwestern Technical College |
Rome, GA Apply Now | ||
4 |
North CarolinaA &T State University |
Greensboro, NC Apply Now | ||
5 |
University of Alaska Southeast |
Juneau, AK Apply Now | ||
6 |
Concordia University-Wisconsin |
Mequon, WI Apply Now | ||
7 |
Renton Technical College |
Renton, WA Apply Now | ||
8 |
University of Providence |
Great Falls, MT Apply Now | ||
9 |
Southwestern Community College |
Sylva, NC Apply Now | ||
10 |
Spokane Community College |
Spokane, WA Apply Now | ||
11 |
Dakota County Technical College |
Rosemount, MN Apply Now | ||
12 |
San Francisco State University |
San Francisco, CA Apply Now | ||
13 |
St Charles Community College |
Cottleville, MO Apply Now | ||
14 |
Lenoir Community College |
Kinston, NC Apply Now | ||
15 |
Neosho County Community College |
Chanute, KS Apply Now | ||
16 |
Northcentral Technical College |
Wausau, WI Apply Now | ||
17 |
Cerro Coso Community College |
Ridgecrest, CA Apply Now | ||
18 |
Jackson College |
Jackson, MI Apply Now | ||
19 |
Wake Technical Community College |
Raleigh, NC Apply Now | ||
20 |
Dakota College at Bottineau |
Bottineau, ND Apply Now |
End of list, bravo!
The Advantages of a Medical Assistant Education
Medical assistant certification online schools prepare students to enter a myriad of positions in the field of medical assisting. You may maintain patients’ confidential files, or draw blood, remove stitches, or capture x-ray images. Regardless of the specific job you enter, your role requires discretion and a commitment to protecting others’ personal information.
Earning your medical office assistant certification online affords the opportunity for a rewarding occupation, but pursuing an associate degree allows for professional advancement in the field, qualifying you for roles with greater responsibilities.
An associate degree in medical assisting requires more coursework than just the certification, building on your existing knowledge and skills. This prepares you for higher-level, better-paying positions. For example, some associate degree graduates may aid surgeons during operations, while others work in specialty areas like ophthalmic medical assisting. In other instances, these professionals may assist dentists and oral surgeons by performing dental cleanings, sterilizing dental instruments, and administering fluoride and coronal applications.
Degree Level | Average Salary |
---|---|
Associate Degree in Medical Assistant | $38,000 |
Certificate in Medical Assistant | $31,282 |
Source: PayScale
Medical Assistant Certificate Salary Information
Completing a medical assistant certification online strengthens your administrative and clinical skills, equipping you for all aspects of the profession. Regardless of the position you ultimately choose, you must demonstrate attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to multitask. Moreover, because medical visits tend to create anxiety for patients, medical assistants should keep an even-tempered, calm demeanor at all times.
- Certified Medical Assistant
- This professional often works in doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and medical facilities. They provide patient care by assisting nurses, physicians, and other staff. Job responsibilities include escorting patients to exam rooms, preparing patients for physicals and medical procedures, and performing clerical duties.
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Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $32,000
- Mid-Career: $34,000
- Experienced: $38,000
- Late Career: $40,000
- Ophthalmic Technician
- An expert in this role must possess in-depth knowledge of ophthalmic practices, including the appropriate care and use of specialty instruments. Responsibilities include recording patient history and conducting tests like refractions, pupil exams, topography, and amsler grids. These technicians should know about eye pathologies and eye anatomy.
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Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $34,000
- Mid-Career: $37,000
- Experienced: $43,000
- Late Career: $46,000
- Medical Secretary
- This role requires oversight of administrative work in a clinical environment. It entails answering telephone calls, scheduling patient appointments, filing medical claims with insurance companies on a patients’ behalf, and organizing medical files. A medical secretary should possess a strong understanding of medical terminology and proficiency in medical coding.
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Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $31,000
- Mid-Career: $34,000
- Experienced: $37,000
- Late Career: $39,000
- Medical Office Manager
- These professionals coordinate the administrative functions of a single medical office or multiple offices within the same practice or company. They oversee daily functions to streamline processes, including managing employee schedules and handling accounts receivable and payable. They should understand medical protocols, since they often need to ensure adherence to health insurance requirements.
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Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $37,000
- Mid-Career: $40,000
- Experienced: $44,000
- Late Career: $47,000
- Medical Coder
- Duties for this profession include transferring physicians’ treatment and diagnostic terms into a coded format for record-keeping purposes. This facilitates filing insurance claims and processing billing. As part of these responsibilities, these professionals may need to review patient records to understand their diagnoses and treatment plans.
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Salary based on experience:
- Entry Level: $38,000
- Mid-Career: $42,000
- Experienced: $49,000
- Late Career: $51,000
Source: PayScale
Choosing an Online Medical Assistant Program
Explore online medical assistant certification programs carefully to determine which one best suits you. Closely examine faculty credentials, class offerings, and the types of student services available to support your studies and transition to the workforce. Think about the practicalities of your budget, as well, so you can stay within those limits when it comes to tuition, fees, and other expenses.
In-state schools may prove more affordable, for example, because state residents pay less than for private and out-of-state public schools. You can find the ideal program that meets your needs, so take your time researching schools until you identify it.
- Program Cost
- Save yourself some education expenses by ensuring your online classes for medical assistant certification do not exceed your budget. Calculate tuition, fees, books, and distance learning costs. Moreover, explore scholarships and federal financial aid options.
- Transfer Policies
- Earning a medical assistant certification online should prepare you to transition into an associate degree program. Look for programs that fulfill some degree requirements by awarding transfer credits. Look into prospective schools’ transfer agreements, as well.
- School Size and Type
- Public schools usually feature larger class sizes than private schools, so decide if this makes a difference for you. Even in online classes, you must participate in virtual course discussions and group projects. Consider the potential effects of class size on these kinds of experiences.
- Program Length
- Part-time enrollment offers benefits and disadvantages. For example, as a part-time student, you can continue working and earning income to pay for school; however, you complete fewer credits each term and may take longer to obtain your medical assistant certification.
- On-Campus Requirements
- Keep in mind that some online programs still require students to spend time on-campus, either for specific courses or a residency over several days, including workshops and projects. If your chosen program mandates campus visits, consider what that would mean for your personal and professional commitments and budget.
Accreditation for Online Medical Assistant Programs
Select an accredited institution when determining where to earn your medical office assistant certification online. Most universities only recognize transfer credits from accredited institutions, because accreditation verifies the academic rigor of your prior studies. Furthermore, employers respect graduates of accredited online medical assistant certification programs because they possess the knowledge and skills to drive organizational success.
The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation assess schools to determine which meet their regional accreditation standards.
Regionally accredited schools earn their status from one of six agencies, including the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Other colleges and employers respect regional accreditation because it primarily recognizes academically oriented schools, while national accreditation generally recognizes schools offering vocational studies. Attending a regionally accredited school can prove advantageous for this reason.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs recognizes medical assisting programs across the U.S. to ensure they meet its guidelines and standards. It also retains a repository of accredited medical assisting programs nationwide. The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools provides accreditation to similar programs across the country.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Certificate in Medical Assistant?
Online classes for medical assistant certification take 12-18 months to complete, but program length depends on several factors. If you decide to enroll part-time, for example, you may take longer to graduate since you will probably complete fewer credits each term. Furthermore, some certificate programs may require campus visits, which could affect program length.
You might need to adjust your schedule for mandated face-to-face experiences, which could extend the time it takes to complete your certification. Similarly, you could need more time to complete a practicum or clinical experience, if required.
You can finish your medical assistant certification online more quickly if you take on a heavier course load. Taking more courses each term may raise tuition expenses, but if you ultimately spend less time in school, you may pay less in overall tuition.
Courses in an Online Certificate in Medical Assistant Program
- Anatomy and Physiology
- This course explores the human body through an emphasis on the development of anatomical structures and physiological processes. Learners cover topics like sensory and nervous systems, tissue classification, cell structure, and the skeletal system. In addition, the class includes laboratory activities on urinary, reproductive, and digestive systems.
- Medical Terminology
- This course builds an understanding of medical terms by helping students learn the origins of this vocabulary, including suffixes, prefixes, and roots of words. In addition, students examine abbreviations and symbols, human anatomy vocabulary, and word-building. As a result, they can better support medical professionals and communicate with them in a workplace setting.
- Human Diseases
- In this class, students explore the fundamentals of common diseases and disorders of bodily systems. They look at the kinds of pathologies affecting each system to recognize their signs and symptoms, develop management and treatment strategies, and design diagnostic protocols. They also consider what steps to take to prevent certain kinds of diseases.
- Pharmacology
- Learners delve into medication therapy, focusing on safety, actions and adverse reactions, side effects, and food and other medication interactions. The course also teaches the calculations necessary to administer medicines and explores the sources and forms of medications and medication classifications.
- Medical Assistant Skills
- This course builds the competencies necessary to assist doctors in their practice. Students learn to sterilize equipment and prepare sterile instrument trays. They also study infection control, electrocardiography, and gender-specific examinations. Coursework in advanced studies include radiology, nutrition, and collecting and analyzing patient specimens.
Medical Assistant Membership Associations
Membership with a professional organization builds your network of colleagues and exposes you to continuing education opportunities. You can deepen your knowledge of emerging trends and best practices through publications, conferences, and trainings, many of which are made available to association members. You can also learn about career opportunities through updated job boards.
- American Association of Medical Assistants
- This organization provides certification, education, and credentials acknowledgement to practitioners, while also promoting patient well-being. Members enjoy discounted certification exam fees, access to legal counsel should they require it, and a subscription to CMA Today magazine. They can also enroll in online courses for a reduced fee and participate in local and state chapter activities.
- American Registry of Medical Assistants
- With members in each state, this organization represents those in the allied health professions, including military medics and corpsmen. It advances medical assistants’ professionalism and offers certification and registration for professionals in the field. Either a director or representative of an accredited, affiliated school must recommend professionals for membership.
- American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
- As the only national organization focusing exclusively on the revenue cycle, this association provides professional development in topics like reimbursement, data management, medical records, and admitting and registering. Founded in 1968, it offers a path to certification, plus publications and conferences.
- Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals
- Executive and administrative assistants who support healthcare leaders make up this organization’s membership. The association advocates for recognition of administrative professionals and the support they offer to the medical field. Members can attend educational events, webinars and classes, and conferences for ongoing professional development.
- American Medical Technologists
- This membership society and certification agency supports allied health professionals, such as medical and dental assistants, technicians, and laboratory consultants. Members participate at the state and national levels by joining committees and boards, attending meetings, and engaging in continuing education opportunities. They also enjoy access to publications from the organization.