Pursuing online medical assistant programs has a lot of promises, one of them includes the demand for this career. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2021 to 2031 there will be a 16% demand for these professionals, which is a lot faster than the average for all occupations.
That means, there will be 123,000 job openings for medical assistants annually. Also, their median annual wage is $37,190, which might not be that high, but looking at the small number of months or a year you’ll spend to get a certificate or associate degree in this program, I think it’s worth it.
Besides the fact that a medical assistant certificate can grant you good employment, it’s also an eye-opener to whether you really want to pursue a career in the medical field.
The major requirement you’ll be seeing in most of these programs is your high school diploma, and you need to learn how to get the right diploma copy for submission. But, if you’ve not gotten your high school diploma, we would advise you to follow these steps.
Before we list these medical assistant programs online, let’s first learn what a medical assistant program is, then we answer the question of the legitimacy of these online programs, also explain the cost, then finally list these programs.
Table of Contents
What is a Medical Assistant Program?
A medical assistant program is designed to train students to become healthcare professionals that can work alongside medical doctors and other healthcare workers. You’ll both be taking classroom classes and clinical training.
Are Online Medical Assistant Programs Legit?
Yes, these programs are legitimate. However, you have to ensure that you’re choosing a program from an accredited school because there are still those that will want to defraud you of your money even in online classes.
How Much Does a Medical Assistant Course Cost?
A lot of things determine the cost of a medical assistant course, and some of them include the institution providing the program and the duration of the course. The cost can vary from $500 to $4,000.
Now we have explained everything we promised to do, let’s now list these programs.
Online Medical Assistant Programs with Certificate
1. Penn Foster
Penn Foster offers a 5-month online Medical Assistant Associate Degree Program, and within this 5 months, you’ll learn everything you’ll need to earn industrial certifications like;
- The Registered Medical Assistant Certification (RMA)
- The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate (CCMA)
- The National Certified Medical Assistant Certificate (NCMA)
You’ll be learning the basics of clinical procedures, including anatomy, physiology, and psychology.
2. Texas A&M International University
Texas A&M is one of the providers of online medical assistant programs that will prepare you to work as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), designated by the National Healthcare Career Association (NHA). The course is totally online and you can decide to start whenever you want.
3. CHCP – Medical Assisting Certificate
Through the Medical Assisting Certification Course provided by the College of HealthCare Professions, you will be learning both the administrative and clinical skills needed to assist patients and providers. After your graduation, you would have grabbed some of these skills:
EKGs, Injections, Phlebotomy, Routine examinations, Patient history obtaining and recording, Vital sign recording, Medical law, and ethics, etc.
4. BMCC – Online Medical Administrative Assistant Training
Borough of Manhattan Community College will prepare you through this 100% online course to work as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), designated by the National Healthcare Career Association (NHA). Before you’ll start this program, you’ll be required to take TABE (Tests of Adult Basic Education) to test your reading and math levels.
5. Medical Assistant Online Programs at Herzing University
Herzing University provides a free enrollment online medical assistant program that can run for 10 to 20 months. They also allow you to transfer up to 18 – 45 credits you have already acquired.
Besides the fact you’ll learn online, they will also provide you with an externship program.
6. University of Houston – Online Clinical Medical Assistant Training
This is among the 100% online medical assistant programs that will prepare you to work as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), designated by the National Healthcare Career Association (NHA). You’ll be learning topics like Law, Ethics, and Healthcare, Enhancing the Patient Experience, the Musculoskeletal System, and the Cardiovascular System.
7. Lehman College – Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Online
This program combines classroom instruction with practical experience through a 100-hour internship in a community-based medical practice or a hospital. You will need a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate to be able to enroll.
The program is not 100% online, their clinical practice and CPR for Clinical Medical Assistants are both hybrid and in-person respectively.
8. Purdue Global – Medical Assistant Certificate Program
Purdue Global offers a 15–18 Hours Per Week course, a 1.5-year online Medical Assistant Certificate Program, which we believe is one of the longest. Your online coursework will basically be to;
- Administering injections
- Taking vital signs
- Recording EKGs
- Assisting in minor surgical procedures
- Obtaining specimens and laboratory testing
9. U.S. Career Institute
This is among the online medical assistant programs that have been providing distance learning for more than 40 years, and they are experienced enough to properly train you in this program. The 100% online program takes 4 months to complete, and within this time, you’ll be learning real-world skills for your career.
They also provide a monthly plan ($79) which is very affordable.
10. Liberty University – Online Medical Office Assistant Certificate
Liberty University provides 100% online, 8-week courses on Medical Office Assistant Certificate, and they will even allow you to transfer up to 75% of your credit, which helps you to save time and money.
11. Baker College
The Baker College Medical Assistant Certificate program provides a one-year program in which you’ll be combining both formal education and practical experience. Through this one year, you’ll learn both administrative and clinical procedures you will use every day.
86% of students studying this course receive scholarships, grants, or other financial aid.
12. Davenport University –
Davenport University was the first to create an online education in Michigan, now they are among the best in the United States. They provide both 2 years online Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting, and 1-year online Certificate in Medical Assisting.
13. Franklin University
Franklin University provides a 5 to 6 months Medical Assistant Certificate Online for $4,000. This month, you’ll be focusing on understanding the laboratory, specimen collection techniques, cardiopulmonary testing, pharmacology and medication administration, and many other relevant topics.
14. Northwestern College – Medical Assistant Online
This is one of the online medical assistant programs where you’ll be completely prepared to sit for the American Medical Technologists Registered Medical Assistant exam. Also, the school provides cutting-edge simulation labs powered by SIMTICS, where students will have digital clinical experience, allowing them to practice skills and procedures in a safe and controlled environment.
15. Western Nevada College – Clinical Medical Assistant Online
This is another 100% online medical assistant program that will prepare you to work as a certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA), designated by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Some of your curricula include;
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- The Musculoskeletal System
- The Cardiovascular System
- Introduction to Medical Assisting
- Telecommunications, Written Communications, Computers, and the Medical Office Environment
Conclusion
Getting a medical assistant program is promising because of what comes after graduation, whether it’s the demand for your expertise or the salary.
Author’s Recommendations
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