The health care industry is booming and the demand for qualified medical assistants is expected grow faster than average over the next 10 years. In the past it was easy to begin a career as a medical assistant with only a high school diploma. However, with the current expansion of the industry, more and more health care institutions prefer to hire medical assistants with a solid educational background and a good amount of work experience. Enrolling in an accredited medical assisting program is the best way to ensure competitiveness in the job market, greater earning potential, and better career mobility over all.

How to Choose A Program

Once you have decided to pursue formal training in medical assisting, you have two options. You may choose to earn an associates degree in medical assisting or a certificate in medical assisting. To determine which credential is best for you, you must first decide what amount of time and money you wish to dedicate to your education. Whereas associates degrees almost always take 2-years to earn, certificate programs can be completed in as a little as 6 weeks. You must also decide in what capacity you would like to attend classes. Many schools now offer programs entirely online, which makes it easy for busy students to schedule their education around existing time commitments.
Potential applicants should always investigate whether or not their program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Accrediation is essential, should you choose to become nationally certified after graduation. Since national certification, along with education, boosts your profile with employers, accreditation is a very important thing to consider when choosing a school.

Associates Degrees

An associates degree is a good choice for an individual who wishes to undergo training in medical assisting, while also receiving a general education in math, science, and other basic subjects. Associates degrees usually take 2-years to complete and cover all aspects of medical assisting. Medical assisting students enrolled in associates degree programs can expect to study a number of relevant subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology. They will also take courses in administrative skills such as bookkeeping, accounting, insurance processing, transcription, and typing. Certain programs may also focus on more clinical duties, such as laboratory techniques, first aid, and medical administration. The curriculum for an accredited associates degree program will be based on the requirements of the American Association of Medical Assisting, which grants national certification to qualified assistants.
Associates degrees are offered by junior colleges and vocational schools. Find an online directory of colleges to find a school that offer programs in medical assisting.

Certificates

Individuals who wish to augment their work experience or gain basic knowledge of medical assisting without taking on a 2-year program should investigate earning a certificate in medical assisting. Certificates can take as little as 6-weeks to complete, as programs focus exclusively on related subjects. Unlike with an associates degree, certificate programs do not offer courses in basic subjects, which makes them the best choice for individuals who want to learn about medical assisting alone, or have already completed some college credits in the liberal arts.

The time needed to complete a certificate course varies based on the school. Some schools offer courses online, allowing the student to complete the program at the leisure. Other schools design programs to fit the needs of full-time workers. These programs may take longer to complete, as the coursework is spread out over a longer amount of time. The curriculum will cover the basics of medical assisting, but may not go as in-depth as an associates degree course. Medical assisting students in certificate courses will cover anatomy, biology, physiology, medical ethics, terminology, along with courses in administrative assisting. Studying the more clinical aspects of medical assisting might require enrollment in another program.
Many vocational colleges and technical schools offer certificates in medical assisting. Find an online directory to locate the schools nearest to you. Don’t forget to consider accreditation when making a decision! It’s possible to become a certified medical assistant after earning a certificate – but only if the school is accredited by the CAAHEP or ABHES.

Earning Potential

Perhaps the most appealing benefit of completing a medical assisting program is the boost in earning power. Medical assistants with associates degrees or certificate are considered for the higher paying positions within their field, while assistants with only high school diplomas may struggle to earn a greater salary. The skills acquired through a certificate or degree program will serve you well should you decide to transition into other areas of the health care industry. Getting an education does require a certain time commitment, but the financial benefits far outweigh the inconvenience in the long run.