Associate Degree
Medical Assisting
Online Associate Degree Program
CLASSES START
Jul 8th
20 Mo. Program Length | 60 Credits |
Online Format | $515 Cost Per Credit |
Associate Degree
Medical Assisting
Online Associate Degree Program
Earn a degree and 成为一名医疗助理
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Transfer credit | 最多45个认可学分 |
| Format | Online classes + hands-on clinical labs & externship |
| Certification | Prepare for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification exam – 软件下载为你的第一次尝试买单! |
| QuickPaths | Advance your education in allied health with many options at the bachelor’s degree level, including health sciences or 医疗管理 |
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2023 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Services
The Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Services degree is a 60-hour undergraduate program which prepares you for a career as a medical assistant.
The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in medical terminology, pathophysiology and pharmacology, insurance claims, patient privacy, billing and coding, and much more.
注重职业发展课程
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, 包括学术建议, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
7月8日开课
Learn More Today
Curriculum
Medical Assisting associate degree classes & curriculum details
Our associate degree program builds upon our 医疗辅助文凭, introducing students to the overall operation of a physician’s office. You’ll be trained in basic clinical and administrative tasks including exam room assistance, 常规实验室程序, 处理财务记录, 保险表格及其他. You will prepare for and sit for the Medical Assisting Certification Exam as part of the program.
All classes are delivered online. The curriculum also includes hands-on clinical experience and an externship.
| Programs | Monthsi | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Services | 20 | 60 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete the program attending full-time
Required Courses
All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.
临床必修课程
All courses, 13.00 semester credit hours, are required.
* Enrollment and successful completion in a student readiness training course is required two terms prior to MS 263 and MS 268.
医疗保健选修课程
A minimum of 2.00 semester credit hours is required from a combination of healthcare electives and/or credits transferred from the core (non-general education) courses of a healthcare-related associate or diploma programs. 2 .没有转学的学生.00 semester credit hours in healthcare courses may make up the difference with elective courses in healthcare and/or related subject areas.
General Education Requirements - Associate
Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications EN 104 -英语作文I en111 -信息素养 EN 116 – Speech 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities 胡140 -文化多样性 HU 240 – Introduction to Humanities 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 硕士109 -大学代数 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science SC 144 – Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology* 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences PS 101 – Psychology *This requirement is being met by the programmatic science course requirement, SC 144, above.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Associate of Science in Medical Assisting program is $515 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, 申请经济资助, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
退伍军人，美国现役军人.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
Requirements
Medical Assisting associate degree enrollment requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Medical Assisting associate degree program include:
- Completion of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
- Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
- Complete an enrollment application
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, 和维尔京群岛.
Clinicals: how the associate degree program works
There are two requirements to complete the medical assisting associate degree program outside of regular online classes:
Two terms prior to the externship, you will be required to take two clinical courses. Most coursework will be completed online, but you will also be required to meet with a proctor at a healthcare facility (possibly a Herzing campus) to demonstrate mastery in medical assisting skills. Prior to your labs you will need to take and pass a Student Readiness Training (SRT) proctorship. You must complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR class from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross as part of the requirement.
You will complete 180 hours at a medical clinic or doctor’s office in an eight-week period during your final term—Monday-Friday during daytime hours. Depending on the requirements of your externship site, expect about 25-40 hours per week. Herzing’s clinical coordinator can assist you in your search, but it will be your responsibility to locate and secure a proctor and externship site in your geographic area during your Student Readiness Training Seminar (SRT).
Finding a proctor for your clinicals. Herzing’s Proctor Prep SRT seminar provides guidance on how to search and secure a proctor to assist in your clinical courses. This course is usually scheduled two terms before the first clinical course. In order to succeed, you’ll need to be in frequent communication with the SRT instructor. You will have access to a clinical coordinator who will assist in your search, but ultimately it is your responsibility to secure proctorship.
Contact us and we can provide answers to any further questions you have about the clinical/externship component of the 医疗援助计划.
Certification
Get educated and certified
Our goal is to maximize your chance of finding a job as soon as possible after graduation.
That’s why our associate degree curriculum includes prep for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam and 软件下载为你的第一次尝试买单.
After earning your associate degree and certification you’ll be well positioned for your first job and a healthcare career full of possibilities.1
Classes Start July 8th
豁免报名费Your rewarding career path in medical assisting
Medical assisting offers you an entry point into your unique career path in healthcare. In less than 2 years you can earn an associate degree in medical assisting, find your first job and position yourself to advance your career in the future.
As a medical assistant you’ll be charged with variety of many different types of tasks in either clinical or administrative roles (or both, depending on the size of the institution), 包括抽血, taking vital signs, 安排预约, preparing exam rooms and communicating with patients and other medical personnel.
医疗助理排名 #11 Best Health Care Support Jobs of 2023 by U.S. News & World Report
You will become a key contributor in a healthcare institution and learn what it takes to succeed as part of a medical team. This can be a greater next career step for those looking for go from CNA to MA.
Seeking a job in an office environment? Students interested in pursuing a role exclusively working in administration might prefer to pursue an associate degree in medical office administration. You’ll be able to focus your study developing the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a medical office.
Job outlook
According to the 劳工统计局, employment of medical assistants is expected to increase 14% from 2022-2032, much faster than the average across all U.S. occupations.*
It’s a great time to begin earning the education you need to join this rapidly growing field, become an MA, and build a strong foundation for a career in healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical assistants can hold a variety of titles, 角色和职责 based on the employer. There are two broad 医疗助理的种类:
- 临床医疗助理. These medical assistants focus on patient care, 包括测量生命体征, drawing blood, visual/hearing tests, preparing exam rooms for procedures, 与医生沟通, and much more. Our 医疗援助计划 is designed for students seeking these kinds of roles working directly in patient care.
- Administrative medical assistants. Sometimes referred to as “front office medical assistants,” administrative assistants handle scheduling, patient records, insurance claims and additional accounting/billing tasks to help the delivery of healthcare run smoothly. These 医疗助理的种类 can specialize their education in a medical office administration program.
经验丰富的医疗助理, particularly on the clinical side, may specialize in a certain type of care or age group, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiology, orthopedics, or many others.
Because medical assistants can wear so many different hats there are many important skills needed to thrive in different healthcare environments:
- Professionalism. In many positions you will need to handle customer service tasks, basic patient care and clearly communicate physician information to patients. Medical assistants must demonstrate professionalism and tact when interacting with patients.
- Attention to detail. Medical assistants may gather patient contact or insurance information and keep medical records organized. You must be meticulous and highly detail oriented to succeed.
- Compassion. Making patients comfortable and empathizing with their concerns is crucial ensuring patients are calm and collected for medical procedures.
- Multi-tasking. Staying organized and measured in the face of quickly changing circumstances and a lengthy “to-do” list will make you indispensable to a healthcare team.
These are just a few 医疗助理关键技能 that will help you excel in medical assisting and beyond to many other career opportunities in healthcare.
A career in medical assisting involves a diverse array of 角色和职责. Depending on the practice you work for and department you are in, your normal everyday tasks can vary widely.
Potential tasks include (but not limited to):
- Answering the phone and greeting patients
- Informing physicians about patient concerns
- 安排预约
- Gather patient information: contact info, insurance info, etc.
- 测量病人生命体征
- Taking blood pressure, pulse and respirations
- Setting up exam rooms for procedures
- 视觉和听觉测试
- Drawing blood
- Pregnancy tests
- Making patients comfortable during an appointment
No matter what’s required in your day-to-day experience on the job, what ties everything together is your professionalism, care for patients and attention to detail. Your resourcefulness will make you a valuable resource in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
阅读更多关于一个典型的 day in the life of a medical assistant and what you can expect after getting a job in the field.
With Herzing University, an affordable, career-focused education is within your reach. We are always striving to make college more affordable for everyone.
- Student loans & secured loans. Loans offer a way to pay for all or part of your tuition.
- Scholarships. 软件下载提供各种 scholarships based on academic achievement, financial need or community affiliations. Contact an admissions advisor about current scholarship opportunities by calling 1-800-596-0724 or 网上索取资料.
You can find an estimate for grant and scholarship aid using the net price calculator, and find an estimate for tuition for the online 医疗援助计划 using Herzing University’s tuition wizard.
Your choice depends on the career path you’d like to pursue.
If your number one priority is finding a job as a medical assistant as quickly as possible, a diploma program may be a better choice. You can earn a diploma in a year or less when attending full-time and be ready to enter the workforce as a certified medical assistant.
If you envision medical assisting as step one on a long career path in healthcare, you may prefer to choose the associate degree program. In addition to core medical assisting courses, you will take general education classes you can transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in the future. Baccalaureate options for medical assistants include 医疗管理, health sciences and 健康信息管理. Earning an associate degree will likely only take a few months longer and position you very well for the next step in your education.
According to the 劳工统计局, these are the most common places of employment for medical assistants:
- Physician’s offices
- Hospitals
- Offices of other health practitioners
- 门诊护理中心
- Retirement communities / assisted living
Beginning your career as a medical assistant is a great way to build a strong foundational education in healthcare, gain meaningful real-world experience and prepare yourself to continue growing professionally.
What is the next level after medical assistant? It depends on your strengths, preferences and overall career goals in healthcare.
Many fields in healthcare are potential landing spots for medical assistants looking to specialize or branch into a new career path, including healthcare management, 健康信息管理, 护理(你可以考虑 going from medical assistant to RN), and more.
Herzing大学提供很多 学位和文凭课程 for practicing medical assistants to take a leap and embark on a new career path. Our 健康科学学位课程 is designed to help you complete your bachelor's degree and advance your career to the next level.
Considering your career options in healthcare? Here are a few other types of jobs where you can potentially get off to a fast start:
- 医疗记录技术员. Medical records technicians are responsible for the recordkeeping of confidential patient information. These types of jobs have no responsibilities in clinical care.
- 医疗计费和编码. Billers and coders focus on healthcare revenue cycle management, concerned primarily with how patients and insurance companies are billed for healthcare services. These professionals do communicate with patients (most often medical billers) but again, 在临床护理中不发挥作用.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). CNAs, on the other hand, do not play a role on the administrative side. They work exclusively in patient care, 帮助病人穿衣服, bathe/shower, 从床上移到轮椅上, or eat meals. CNAs more often perform tasks needed around the clock, so hours/shifts in these positions can be less predictable.
- 持牌执业护士(LPN). LPNs have a different scope of practice than medical assistants, focusing more directly on patient care under the supervision of an RN or physician. This represents a more direct career path into nursing. Learn more about the difference between medical assistants vs. LPNs.
- Dental Assistant. Dental assistants also perform one or a mix of clinical and administrative tasks, but only in regard to dental care.
According to the 劳工统计局 (BLS), medical assistants earn an average salary of $43,350 per year ($20.84 per hour).* As you earn more experience and gain more skills, your earning opportunity will improve.
The BLS also projects growing demand for medical assistants in coming years, predicting an 14% 就业增长 2022-2032. It’s a good time to get your foot in the door and work towards your new career.
How long it takes to 成为一名医疗助理 depends on what level of education you pursue. Partner with Herzing University and you can expect a range of 10 months–20 months to get your education, get certified and start looking for a medical assistant position, depending on whether you choose a diploma or degree program.
The following timelines are based on full-time status:
- 副学士:20个月
- Diploma: 10 months
After earning your degree or diploma, we recommend becoming certified as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) even if it isn’t required in your state. With a diploma/degree and a certification, you’ll be positioned well for your first job.
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Accreditation
Accreditation & Disclosures
1. Certification in this program is not a state requirement.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. 教育部.
View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals
* 劳工统计局 (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, 包括之前的经验, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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