Online medical assistant programs are virtual programs intended to assist students in preparing to work as medical assistants.
If you want to work in the medical industry but have not figured out which specialty most appeals to you, getting a medical assistant certificate is a good choice. In hospital settings, medical assistants carry out clinical and administrative duties.
If you choose this career path, you will have the opportunity to work in both the front office and directly with patients. Medical assistants guarantee the smooth operation of healthcare institutions by offering vital physician support services.
In various healthcare settings, including clinics for doctors, podiatrists, and other health professionals, you will be a patient liaison as a medical assistant. They also help patients feel comfortable throughout their visit by utilizing their interpersonal and communication skills to support clinic staff.
Before I dive into the topic, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic.
Can I get my MA certificate online?
Yes, online courses are available for certification as a medical assistant. If you’re looking for an entry-level healthcare job with a high school education or equivalent certification, consider becoming a certified medical assistant.
What is the fastest way to become a medical assistant?
Completing a certificate or diploma program is the quickest route to becoming a medical assistant. Completing this type of program can take anything from six weeks to a year. For students to acquire the abilities required for this line of work, the shortest certificate or diploma programs are frequently offered online and include some in-person instruction.
Associate’s degree programs in medical assisting can be completed in as little as two years. These courses provide more sophisticated instruction and can help you secure a good job once you graduate. However, completing an online certificate or diploma program would be your best option if you want to enter the healthcare industry as soon as possible.
How do I become a medical assistant in the UK?
There is no particular accreditation for medical assistants in the UK. On the other hand, a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support is required to work as a healthcare assistant (HCA). Apprenticeships or occupational training programs are two ways to earn these credentials.
To work as an HCA, you must have demonstratable knowledge of infection control, basic anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology. You should also be capable of working well in a team and possess outstanding communication abilities.
After earning your diploma, you can seek jobs as HCAs at clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. You can also focus on a particular area of medicine, like pediatrics or mental health.
What is the highest-paying medical assistant specialty?
Here are the 5 highest-paying medical assistant specialties:
- Podiatry medical assistant in podiatry
- Medical assistants with expertise in insurance
- Physician assistant for fertility
- Medical assistant in cardiology
- Medical assistant in ophthalmology
Can I use my MA certificate in another state?
Every state will allow CMAs to use their certification, provided it is up to date and in good standing. Since the certification is a national credential, it can be transferred across all states if obtained through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Re-certification, however, will be required if you choose to move abroad.
List of the top 10 online medical assistant certification programs
- Preppy
- Penn FosterUCLA Extension
- Herzing University
- Purdue Global University
- California State University
- Independence University
- National American University
- Ultimate Medical Academy
- Keiser university
Top 10 online medical assistant certification programs for you
Preppy
Tuition Fee: you can pay $299 monthly or pay a one-time fee of $1,599 and get a laptop for free.
Accreditation: Preppy is accredited by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) for clinical medical assistant programs.
Duration: you can earn the program in as short as four months by completing the medical assistant program.
Preppy is one of the best online medical assistant certification programs you should opt for. It is head and shoulders above the competition when beginning a career as a medical assistant.
It is fast-paced, cheap, and entirely online, allowing you to learn at your own speed. It is self-paced and available to everyone. There will never be any unexpected tuition fees because it includes all textbooks and study supplies.
Preppy offers one of the best online medical assistant certification programs. For more information about the program, see Medical Assistant Certification Program.
If you wan to start your career as soon as possible, Preppy is the school for you. Its four months program is the shortest on the list.
Francis Tisk
Penn Foster
Tuition Fee: $5,800 to $6,300.
Duration: 2 Years.
Penn Foster has been in business for a while, and we appreciate that they specifically assist adults and high school students in accessing programs that are important to their careers. Penn Foster provides an Associate’s Degree in online medical assisting with a curriculum that prepares students for the certification exam and working in the healthcare sector.
I appreciate that the program is online, self-paced, and also includes an externship placement. This program from Penn Fost is one of the best online medical assistant certification programs you can find.
For more information about the program, see Online Medical Assistant Program.
Considering cost and quality, my verdict is that the program from Penn Foster University is the best of all online medical assistant certification programs.
Francis Tisk
UCLA Extension
Tuition Fee: $23,000.
Accreditation: The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Duration: 9 months.
The training at UCLA Extension combines in-depth practical courses with theory to prepare students for a successful career as medical assistants. In this program, you will gain knowledge of clinical and administrative duties, medication administration, health information system usage, and medical equipment usage.
The curriculum also prepares you for various certification exams, including the National Certified Medical Assistants (NCMA) and the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).
For more information about this program and enrollment, see UCLA Health Medical Assistant Program.
Herzing University
Tuition Fee: $12,000.
Accreditation: the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Duration: 12 months.
The online program offered by Herzing University covers a wide range of topics, including medical office management, insurance claims processing and adjudication, ethics and professionalism, and much more.
This program covers the clinical and administrative aspects of medical assisting with the intention of providing students with a firm foundational education to allow them to specialize in any area of medical assisting.
This curriculum, which usually takes 12 months to complete, blends academic instruction with practical, hands-on learning experiences to ensure that students are well-prepared for their future employment.
For more information about this program, see Medical Assisting Programs – Online Classes/Training.
Purdue Global University
Tuition fee: $371 for each credit.
Accreditation: HLC and the Commission on Allied Health Education Programs Accreditation (CAAHEP).
Duration: you can obtain the 58 credits in 1 and a half years (1 year and 6 months).
Purdue Global offers one of the priciest online medical assistant certification programs. Purdue Global is less flexible than other programs on our list, even though some courses can be done at your leisure. Each semester lasts ten weeks, and the program is finished in 58 credits taking over a year and a half.
Purdue Global is a subsidiary of Purdue University that offers many online degrees and diplomas and is well-known among healthcare professionals. After finishing the Medical Assisting Certificate program, you are prepared to take the NCMA exam.
For more information about this program, see Medical Assistant Certificate Program.
California State University
Tuition fee: $3,199.
Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Duration: this program takes between 6 months and 2 years to complete.
California State University, San Bernardino is a part of the CSU. This school offers medical administrative assistant and electronic health records programs which you can fully complete online.
At the completion of any of the two programs, you will become a certified electronic health record specialist or certified medical administrative Assistant. CSU San Bernardino. The programs open for admission once every 3 months.
e This is one of the cheapest online medical assistant certification programs. If you want to learn more about this program or enroll, see Self-Paced Online Clinical Medical Assistant.
Independence University
Tuition fee: not specified.
Accreditation: The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Duration: it will take you between 19 months to 2 years to complete this program.
Independence University approaches this program’s externship component distinctively. For a weekend of practical experience at a medical facility, the school will pay for your flight to Salt Lake City.
You will need to complete 95 credit hours to complete this program. In this program, you will gain knowledge of clinical procedures that medical assistants require in addition to medical office operations.
The curriculum covers many topics, including law and ethics, drug administration, electrocardiography, medical terminology, computer foundations for healthcare, and healthcare record keeping.
The program also includes courses in psychology, communications, and English. Also, a capstone project is necessary. For more information about this program, see Independence University – MatchCollege.com.
National American University
Tuition fee: $14,400.
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Duration: 90 Credit Hour.
Studying medical terminology, records administration, pharmacology, coding, and billing, as well as having the option to choose between an introduction to US healthcare delivery and a practicum as a medical assistant, are all required to become a medical assistant.
In addition, the 160-hour practicum is required of students who pursue certification. General education courses for this degree must include Human Growth and Development, Foundations of Cultural Competence, Math, English writing, Communication, and Humanities courses.
For more information about the program, see Online Medical Administration Associate’s Degree.
Ultimate Medical Academy
Tuition Fee: $475 per credit.
Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Duration: 18 Months.
In this course, you will learn the skills required of Medical Administrative Assistants in areas including patient relations, medical terminology, diagnostic and procedural coding, law, ethics, records administration, and the foundations of healthcare computers.
Additionally, you will study general courses in arithmetic, broad biology, sociology, English composition, and critical thinking. This program prepares aspiring medical assistants for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) test with the aid of this program.
UMA offers textbooks, software, and ebooks as part of its tuition. The school provides students with one-on-one teaching, round-the-clock technological support, resume-writing assistance, and more.
For more information about the programs and for enrollment, see Medical Assistant Program.
Keiser university
Tuition fee: $22,000.
ยทDuration: 9-12 months.
In this course, students will gain the clinical knowledge needed to work as medical assistants and the clinical and administrative skills required in a hospital setting when they enroll at Keiser University. The course covers medical ethics, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and laboratory procedures.
Students also get the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom via an internship at a medical facility. Courses in general education, including composition in English, math, humanities, history, and social and behavioral sciences, are included.
For more information, see Online Medical Assistant Program – Degree Overview.
Conclusion
The top online medical assistant certification programs are great options, especially for working individuals looking to get started in the healthcare industry. Medical assistants are among the allied health professions with the quickest growth rate globally.
To get started, you can choose from the best online medical certification programs you can find on this page.
As someone with a lot of good and bad experiences in online learning, I advice you make further research on the institutions Elizabeth mentioned in this article to know which one really suits you best.
Francis Tisk
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