What is a medical administrative assistant?

Medical administrative assistants are responsible for a variety of tasks that help healthcare offices, hospitals and other facilities run smoothly. Earning an online associate degree can prepare you to step into this career and the medical field. Typical online associate degree programs for aspiring medical admin assistants require between 60 and 75 credits and take two years of full-time study to complete.

Graduates generally earn an Associate of Applied Sciences degree. Depending on the school, this might be called an Associate of Applied Sciences in Healthcare Administration degree, an Associate of Applied Sciences in Medical Office Administration or an Associate of Applied Sciences in Medical Information Technology.

What are medical administrative assistant duties?

Daily job duties for medical administrative assistants can vary depending on the location where they find work. Often, these professionals oversee many administrative, organizational and customer service tasks. For instance, medical administrative assistants might schedule patient appointments, record patient data in charts, create invoices, answer phones, greet patients as they arrive and more, all during the same shift. An online associate degree can give you the foundation you need to take on all these tasks with confidence.

Should you consider becoming a medical admin?

As is true for many healthcare roles, medical administrative assistants are in demand, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicting a 4.2% job growth for medical secretaries and administrative assistants through 2034. That’s faster than the anticipated growth for all jobs nationwide says the BLS, and faster than general admin assistants in sectors other than the medical industry, who are predicted to see a decline in job growth. In 2024, medical administrative assistants earned a median annual salary of $44,640.

Medical administrative assistant online associate degree overview

Online associate degrees in medical administrative assisting are career-focused. They’re designed to give students the knowledge and skills they need to jump into entry-level roles in the field. To achieve this, coursework is focused on essential topics such as medical ethics, medical billing and coding, patient scheduling, general business, communications, and healthcare office management. Since students earn an associate degree upon program completion, they also must take general education courses.

Some schools also have coursework that focuses on specific types of medical office work. For instance, a program might have courses for students who hope to work in dental offices or for students whose goal is to work in a hospital setting. Additionally, hands-on experience, such as an internship or fieldwork at a local healthcare facility, is sometimes part of online associate degree programs.

Do medical administrative assistants need certification?

There isn’t any required certification for medical administrative assistants, but professional certifications are available. Earning certification may help boost your career and may help you stand out to employers. Certification can be a good way to demonstrate your knowledge and your dedication to your career. Plus, many employers may prefer to hire certified medical administrative assistants.

The most commonly recognized certification for medical administrative assistants is the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant  (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You’ll need to complete your education and pass an exam to earn your CMAA.

Medical administrative assistants might want to look into additional certifications if they intend to specialize in any areas. For instance, medical administrative assistants in roles that require a lot of medical coding can consider coding and health information certifications from the American Health Information Management Association. Some employers might also have certain other certifications they like to see.

Applying to your online degree program

The admissions process can vary depending on the online program you apply to, but there are a few things that are common among most online associate degree programs in medical administrative assisting. Typically, you’ll need to submit your high school diploma along with your application. Some schools have GPA requirements for admission, but others do not.

Not all schools require a high school diploma. There are online associate programs that admit students who’ve earned a General Educational Development (GED). No matter what education you’ve already completed, you’ll generally be asked to submit a transcript showing the classes you took and the grades you earned. If you took the SAT or any other standardized tests it’s common to be asked for a record of your scores. Other requirements will depend on the school, but could include:

• An interview
• Letters of reference
• A criminal background check
• A resume
• Satisfactory grades in prerequisite math or science classes

Browse our vetted online medical admin assisting associate programs

Earning your online associate degree in medical admin assisting

It’s common for students in online associate programs to be juggling multiple obligations. Many students work full or part-time while they study. Schools offering online associate degree programs in medical administrative assisting are typically prepared to help students with this challenge. Schools often offer resources such as tutoring, online study groups, academic planning and career planning. Exact resources will depend on the school, but it’s a good idea to check out what assistance your program provides. Tutoring sessions and study groups can be great ways to learn and prepare for your exams and your future career.

Of course, there are also ways you maximize your solo study time. Before a test, you can try techniques using flashcards to memorize information and taking practice tests to make sure you understand the material. Throughout your courses, you can make sure to make the most of your study sessions by having a plan for every class and assignment. It can also be a big help to break down your work time into small intervals. For instance, taking a 5 to 10-minute break for every 45 minutes you work. Finally, one of the best ways to study is to focus on the material, and one of the best ways to do that is to remove any distractions from your designated study space.

Career paths for medical administrative assistants

Students who’ve earned an online associate degree in medical administrative assisting have multiple career pathways open to them. Many new graduates use their degrees to enter the healthcare industry and gain an entry-level role in a medical office or healthcare facility. Other graduates put the credits they’ve earned toward an online bachelor’s degree in a related area, such as health information or healthcare administration.

Common careers for graduates who’ve earned an online associate degree in medical administrative assisting include:

• Medical secretary: Medical administrative assistants are sometimes called medical secretaries. No matter their title, these professionals take on daily responsibilities such as record keeping, scheduling and billing.
• Medical receptionist: Medical receptionists work at the front desk in doctor’s offices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They answer phones, greet patients and often take on other administrative tasks.
• Medical records and health information technicians: Medical records and health information technicians are responsible for data entry, record keeping and medical coding.
• Billing clerks: Billing clerks handle financial information for physician’s offices. They create invoices, contact insurance companies and manage accounts.
• Medical transcriptionists: Medical transcriptions turn recorded physicians’ notes and other audio data into typed information and then enter it into charts and records.

Resources for your career

Professional organizations can be a great way for medical administrative students to make connections and gain valuable knowledge while they work to earn their online associate degree. After graduation, they can provide resources such as continuing education, certification and career guidance. Aspiring medical administrative assistants can look into:

• The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): AHIMA is the oldest organization for health information professionals in the country. They offer certifications, career planning assistance, online courses and a wealth of additional resources.
• National Healthcare Association (NHA): NHA offers a range of career development resources that medical administrative assistants can take advantage of, including job boards and certifications.
• The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM)—AAHAM is an association dedicated to professionals who manage healthcare finances. Medical administrative assistants who oversee office billing cycles, invoicing and other budget tasks can find helpful resources through this organization.

How to choose the right online program for you

Finding the best online program for you can help you start your career on a great note. However, with so many programs available, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the one that fits you best. To help narrow it down, there are a few key questions that it’s a good idea to keep in mind. As you browse online schools, you can search for the answers to these questions.

• What is the total cost of this program?
• Can I attend this program part-time?
• Can I attend classes on my own time?
• Is an internship or fieldwork required to earn my degree from this program?
• What coursework is included in this program?
• Does this program offer career placement assistance?
• Does this program offer student resources, such as tutoring?
• Does this program align with my career goals?

Summing it up

An online associate degree in medical administrative assisting may open the door to a career in the healthcare industry. Programs can typically be completed with two years of full-time study, and financial aid is often available. Degrees aim to prepare students for entry-level with coursework in key areas, such as medical terminology, medical ethics, office management, medical coding and patient scheduling.

If you’re interested in earning the education that you’ll need to succeed in this growing career field, our Find Schools button can help you get started researching online programs.

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