Online medical assistant programs make it possible for students to earn the title of Medical Assistant (MA) in their free time from the comfort of their own home. The majority of distance learning programs are comparatively affordable, offer flexible class schedules and, in some cases, can be completed in as little as six months. If you’re interested in starting an exciting, rewarding career in the rapidly growing medical assisting profession, earning a certificate or associate degree from an accredited online program can make it happen much more quickly than you might imagine!
Types of Online Medical Assistant Programs
Generally speaking, schools offer two different types of medical assistant programs online: one-year certificate programs, and two-year associate degree programs. It is not unheard of, however, for students with relevant prior work experience, or liberal arts units earned at another college, to collect their medical assistant diploma, or certificate, in only six months.
Choosing Between a Certificate or an Associate Degree
You can work as a medical assistant with either an associate degree or a certificate, but deciding which is right for you involves asking yourself three questions.
• Will I need help to pay the cost of tuition?
• How long am I willing to stay in school?
• Do I want to specialize in a particular field?
For those individuals concerned with the time required and cost of going to school, the one-year certificate program option will allow you to complete your online medical assistant courses quicker and for less money. The drawback, however, is that many employers now require candidates to have an associate degree unless they already have a significant amount of work experience.
Another important consideration is whether or not you want to specialize in a specific field within the health care industry, or work in many different roles as a generalist. If your answer to this question is that you want to become a specialist, then you will need to enroll in a two-year associate degree program but the upside to this tradeoff is that you will find higher salaries and better jobs waiting for you upon graduation. Those who opt for the one=year certificate program will usually be paid less, but will enjoy a greater variety of responsibilities in their work.
Choosing Between Online Medical Assistant Programs
It can be a bit of a daunting task trying to choose between the various online medical assistant programs that are offered today. Even though they all teach the same basic material, schools tend to structure their curriculum differently and not all are fully accredited by the ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Schools) or CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs).
Both of these factors are things you should consider when choosing which program to enroll in.
Entrance Requirements, Curriculum and Accreditation
Before getting too far into your selection process, you should first make sure that you can satisfy a school’s admission requirements. Most schools require applicants to have a high school diploma or its equivalent (i.e. a G.E.D.), although some will weigh other factors (e.g. work experience, an employer’s recommendation, scores on an entrance exam, etc.) as well. Each program’s admissions staff is also a resource available to help any students who are worried about their ability to get accepted into a school.
Ensuring that your selected program’s class schedules and specific curriculum aligns with your goals and availability is also an important consideration. Things to look for include: flexibility of class schedules and availability of courses in your specialized field of interest (if applicable).
Because becoming a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) requires holding either a degree or diploma from a CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited program, you must be certain that any school you are considering holds these accreditations. If your career goal is to remain a medical assistant, the issue of program accreditation is less important since many employers will not consider this when interviewing new MA candidates.
If you think you may eventually want to be a CMA, however, you need to be aware that certificates and degrees from unaccredited schools are not recognized by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Only graduates from AAMA-sanctioned schools are eligible to take the medical assistant certification exam required to become a CMA.
Beginning Your Online Medical Assistant Training
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the position of medical assistant will be enjoy one of the highest growth rates of any profession through 2019. Not only is demand for medical assistants expected to soar, but their salaries will continue to rise as well. Enrolling in an online medical assistant program allows you a fast, inexpensive way to capitalize on this outstanding opportunity.
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