Online medical assistant certification
Table of Contents
Overview | What to expect in your program | Popular programs | Career pathways | Tips for success
Choosing the right program | Resources | Summing it up
An online medical assistant certification program may help you to learn specific information you will need to successfully earn your medical assistant credential. These programs generally incorporate education on key topics and skills, patient simulation scenarios and a series of practice exams to prepare you for your certification exam.
Since these certification programs are delivered online, they’re ideal for anyone who is balancing work or personal commitments with their education. These programs are often at least partially self-paced, so you can progress through the material in the way that works best for your individual learning style.
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Why earn your CCMA: An expert shares her experience
Earning your medical assistant certification is an important step in many healthcare careers. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) reports that 89% of employers require or encourage medical assistants to earn their certification. Earning one can help you to stand out from other job applicants, and it may increase the chance of your getting a job as a medical assistant.
Ashley Cubic, NCMA, CCMA, a Risk Management and Compliance Officer at Cornerstone Care, earned her Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential through the NHA, and a National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) through the National Center for Competency Testing. “My certifications have earned the respect of my colleagues,” Cubic says. “I am also valued by employers for holding the certification.”
Cubic notes that her certifications have also made her a more competitive candidate. “My certifications allow me to stand out in a room of applicants who may not have a certification,” Cubic explains. “They show I hold additional skills that employers value.”
“My certifications allow me to stand out in a room of applicants who may not have a certification…they show I hold additional skills that employers value.”
-Ashley Cubic
A medical assistant certification may also help you to earn a higher wage. The American Association of Medical Assistants surveyed 11,803 medical professionals, including medical assistants and medical assisting educators, for its 2023 CMA Compensation and Benefits Report. The report found that full-time medical assistants with a current CMA certification earn an average of $21.64 per hour. In contrast, non-CMA-certified medical assistants earned an average of $20.84 per hour.
Since employers value certifications, earning a certification can help to increase your job security. It may help you to earn promotions and prepare for additional future education and career advancement.
CMA certification: Requirements & expectations
An online medical assistant certification program may help you to develop the skill and knowledge that you need to not only be a medical assistant, but to also pass one of the available medical assistant certification exams. Programs accomplish that through a combination of coursework, experiential learning and practice exams.
Coursework
A quality certification program should include online medical assisting classes that cover a broad selection of topics:
- Professionalism in healthcare: Explore the expectations of a medical assistant in the workplace, skills like emotional intelligence and self-management, external communication talents and how to facilitate successful patient interactions.
- Human anatomy and medical terminology: Learn about the language of medicine, including how to analyze terms through the study of prefixes, suffixes, root word and common abbreviations. Explore major diseases and conditions across the human body systems.
- Medical office administration: Learn about how medical offices run and develop key talents including scheduling patients, the basics of coding and health insurance billing, accounting and bookkeeping and HIPAA and HITECH compliance laws.
- Clinical medical assisting: Develop foundational knowledge and skills in medical assisting, including how to use medical terminology and communication within a facility, how to use diagnosis and procedure codes to maintain electronic health records, infection control procedures in healthcare, laboratory collection techniques and medication administration.
Experiential learning opportunities
Experiential learning opportunities are particularly valuable, since they give you the chance to practice and better understand the skills that you’re learning. The available opportunities will vary depending on the program you choose.
For example, some programs offer virtual shadowing webinars that are led by physicians. Others send a venipuncture and injection practice kit to your home so you can practice blood draws and injections. Some programs also include an optional or required internship to ensure that you gain real world experience. Keep in mind that when you’re completing an online certification program, you may need to take an active role in securing an internship that’s local to your home.
Certification requirements
A medical assistant certification program can also help you to satisfy the requirements to earn your certification.
According to the NHA, if you plan to take a CCMA or CMAA exam, you will need a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency. In addition, you will need to either:
- Complete a medical assistant training or education program within the last five years, OR
- Have one year of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last three years, or have two years of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last five years
Popular online medical assistant certification programs
Whether you’re looking to jumpstart your career, add valuable qualifications, or even switch gears mid-stream, numerous online programs cater to diverse ambitions and learning styles. Prepare to explore the exciting landscape of online medical assistant certifications, discover the perfect program to launch your healthcare journey, and unlock a rewarding career path in a thriving field.
Advanced eClinical Online Medical Assistant Course
This course prepares students to take the NHA CCMA certification exam. The on-demand module-based program allows students to set their own pace, and with the fast-track option, students can complete the program in just six to eight weeks. Virtual office hours are available, and the coursework includes real-world patient case studies, 3D animations, instructor-led video lessons and more. An optional clinical externship placement can help students to gain real-world experiences.
Admission requirements: Not specified
Tuition and fees: $3,100
MedCerts Medical Assistant Online Certification Training
This 28-week program prepares students for CCMA and CMAA certifications. Coursework is delivered through video-based training and eBooks, and students take competency assessments. Student success advisors are available to support students throughout the program, and students retain access to the career center and career coaches for a year after completing the program.
Admission requirements: High school diploma or GED, web browser with internet connection
Tuition and fees: $4,000
Purdue Global Medical Assistant Certificate Program
This program can be completed in just over a year and helps students develop the skills they will need to work in a physician’s office or ambulatory care clinic. The online training includes hands-on medical equipment training. Students complete an externship at a healthcare facility to gain real-world experience, and they have access to a team of student advisors, admissions advisors and career specialists. The program prepares students for the CCMA exam, as well as for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) or Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) exams.
Admission requirements: Not specified
Tuition and fees: Not specified
Career pathways for Certified Medical Assistants
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical assistants earned a median annual wage of $42,000 in 2023. The BLS projects that medical assistant employment will grow by 13.9% through 2032, which is much faster than the average growth for all occupations. That growth is partially due to needing to replace medical assistants who have retired or left the workforce. It’s also driven by the fact that as the baby boomer population ages, that significant population will have growing healthcare needs, requiring additional healthcare professionals.
Certified medical assistants can also work in other healthcare or medical administrative roles:
How to succeed in a medical assistant certification program
If you’re thinking about enrolling in an online medical assisting certificate or certification program, consider some of these tips to set yourself up for success.
CMA study tips
When you take a medical assistant certification program, it’s important to understand how you best study and learn. Try different study techniques to see what works best for you.
Having an accountability partner can also help. Ask a friend or family member to check in with you to see how you’re progressing. Even better, see if any of your classmates would be willing to create a virtual study group, which would allow you to support and learn from each other.
Time management tips
Even if your certification program allows you to study at your own pace, set yourself a schedule to ensure you make steady process. Book off time in your schedule each day or each week so you have dedicated hours to focus only on your education. You might also want to use a social media blocker app to help avoid distractions while you work on your coursework.
Test-taking tips
Getting good at taking tests and preparing for your certification exam is a matter of practice. Take advantage of any practice tests that your program includes. You can also purchase study exams from the NHA for additional test-taking practice.
Tips for experiential learning opportunities
Experiential learning opportunities, particularly externships, can be valuable. If you’re interested in an externship, you may need to start looking for a placement early on. Experiential learning opportunities can help to solidify your skills while also building network connections that may help you in your career, so take advantage of any opportunities you may have.
How to choose the right CMA program for you
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the medical assisting certificate programs that are out there, start narrowing down your search by considering some of these important factors:
- Align with your career goals: Consider your career goals when choosing a program. Start by determining which certification exam you want to complete, and then look for a program that offers preparation specific to that exam. You may want to consider whether there are any specialized areas that interest you, such as phlebotomy, and look for a program that offers education or an emphasis on those particular areas. Cubic chose her certifications based on her personal goals of achieving teaching and management positions. “When pursuing these certifications, my goal was to use them to reach my fullest career potential,” she explains.
- Evaluate reputation: Take the time to thoroughly research any program you’re considering, and evaluate that program’s reputation. Look for a program that has successfully prepared students for their exams, and ask about the percentage of program graduates who have gone on to pass exams on the first try.
- Use cost-effective decision making: As you explore program options, consider their costs and the value they deliver. A program may be worth that extra expense if it gives you more resources and potential career-building connections than a lower-cost program that doesn’t offer those benefits. Consider your budget, but also look for any ways that you may be able to save on costs, such as by paying for the entire program upfront.
- Accreditation equals assurance: Since the NHA requires either appropriate training experience or the completion of a certification program to take the CCMA or CMAA exam, it’s important to choose a certification program that is accredited by the NHA. Accreditation confirms that you’re receiving a quality education, and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that the NHA will recognize the program.
Browse our vetted online medical assisting school programs
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Resources for studying medical assisting online
Professional associations
- The National Healthcareer Association provides a wide array of certifications, as well as webinars, a job board and exam preparation materials.
- The American Association of Medical Assistants offers continuing education opportunities, certifications, a career center and a compilation of news and events impacting the industry.
- Many states have their own medical assistant or medical professional organizations, chapters of national groups and associations, too.
Scholarships
Medical assistant scholarships are sometimes available. The associations above publish news about scholarships and grants available for students. Consider reaching out to the financial aid department of the programs you’re interested in to see if the school offers any sort of financial aid or payment plans.
Summing up
An online medical assistant certification program can help you to prepare for your certification exam. Depending on the exam that you plan to take, the program can also satisfy part of the exam prerequisite requirements. By accessing study resources, gaining hands-on experience and learning the skills and talents you will need for both the exam and your career, these online programs can help you to advance your career.
Take the next step in your career and explore available online medical assistant certification programs today.
With professional insight from:
Ashley Cubic
Risk Management and Compliance Officer, Cornerstone Care
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All Online Schools is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
All Online Schools is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.