Online Degrees in Medical Assisting

Medical Assisting Degrees

As a medical assistant, you will learn to assist medical professionals in a number of clinical tasks, such as recording medical histories, taking vital signs, getting patients prepared for examination, collecting laboratory specimens, performing basis lab tests, and advising patients about doctor-prescribed diets or medications. These medical tasks will be performed under supervision by a licensed physician, and the scope of your tasks may be governed by state law. In addition to assisting with clinical work, you'll also perform administrative duties including insurance and billing, setting appointments, handling correspondence, and keeping patients' charts updated.

You may qualify to work as a medical assistant by earning either a certificate or an associate degree in the field. The curriculum in your medical assistant program may consist of coursework in administrative procedures, lab procedures, diagnostic procedures, clinical procedures, administration of medications, pharmacology, human anatomy, physiology and pathology, medical office finance and insurance,  medical ethics and law,  customer service in the healthcare industry and medical terminology.

If you wish to gain certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) upon graduation, you will first need to make sure that you receive your certificate or degree from a program that has been accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). You will then need to pass the Certified Medical Assistant Certification Exam - if you pass, you will receive your CMA designation, the top qualification for any medical assisting position.