Medical assistants (MAs) fulfill a variety of administrative duties in healthcare settings, including physicians' offices, hospitals, and outpatient centers. Their training also qualifies them to provide some clinical services, including taking patient vitals, recording patient medical histories, and assisting doctors with exams. They work with patients of all ages and all demographics, depending on what client base their workplace serves.
Affordable online medical assistant programs offer learners a flexible path to earning their diploma. To receive the best possible education, students should research medical assistant online programs recognized by regional and industry-based accrediting agencies.
Fortunately, candidates can choose from a variety of cheap medical assistant programs online to help them meet their academic and career goals. Based on crucial factors like affordability, we ranked the best online medical assistant programs to help learners make an informed choice.
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9 Affordable Online Medical Assistant Certificate and Diploma Programs
What to Expect From an Online Medical Billing and Coding Program
When pursuing MA certification online, learners study a wide scope of topics, including medical billing and coding, human anatomy and physiology, first aid, medical laws, and pharmacology. Students enrolled in medical assistant school online generally complete all required medical assistant classes online in about two semesters of full-time study.
While requirements for becoming a medical assistant vary from state to state, most states do not mandate a specific degree or diploma. However, most employers look for medical assistants who have completed some formal training, like that offered in a certification program. Earning a medical assistant certification online prepares students to take the certification exam and enter the workforce.
The American Association of Medical Assistants offers a recognized certification for medical assistants. The certification requires at least two semesters of study that must include courses in areas like those listed above, along with a period of unpaid, on-the-job training in an ambulatory care setting.
Career Outlook for Medical Assistants
As the demand for medical professionals continues to grow, the demand for medical assistants should also increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for medical assistants will grow 23% between 2018 and 2028, exceeding the growth rate for other fields and for many other healthcare positions.
Medical assistants work in a variety of healthcare settings and industries. The areas with the highest concentration of medical assistants include physicians' offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. Although the BLS projects strong overall growth for the field, those who hold certification and possess skills in electronic health records may enjoy the most positive job outlook.
In 2019, the median salary for medical assistants was $34,800 per year. Earning a medical assistant certification online may increase salary potential, and make graduates more marketable to employers in the field.
Affordable Online Medical Assistant Certificate and Diploma Programs 2020
1. Eastern Florida State College
Based in Melbourne, Florida, EFSC educates nearly 16,000 students through online and in person education. As part of the school's distance learning offerings, students may enroll in the medical assistant specialist program.
The full program consists of 44 credits of coursework, which learners can finish in one year. The certificate trains individuals to become medical assistants, equipping them to perform tasks like venipuncture, injections, and x-rays. The curriculum includes a practicum experience that requires students to observe and complete supervised work at healthcare facilities.
Upon completion, each student receives a certificate in electrocardiology, CPR, AIDS, phlebotomy, and injections. Graduates of the program may also sit for a national certification exam from the American Medical Technologists. Finally, enrollees can choose to apply these credits to an associate degree in advanced medical assisting if they wish to continue their education.
Courses Include
- Anatomy and physiology
- Microcomputer applications
- Clinical competencies
- Medical office laboratory procedures
- Administrative competencies/coding
Unique Features
- Cost: $7,238
- Credits Required: 44
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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2. Neosho County Community College
NCCC, located in Chanute, Kansas, offers an affordable online medical assistant program for individuals looking for entry-level professions in the healthcare industry.
The program typically requires over a year of study to complete. Students begin with foundational courses in the summer semester and complete the program in the following summer semester. Among the required courses, enrollees can opt to take either a four-credit anatomy and physiology class for allied health, or a five-credit anatomy and physiology course with a lab.
Learners must also fulfill an externship, completing 160 hours of supervised work in a real-world setting. Certificate-seekers must obtain CPR certification before they can begin their externships.
After graduating, degree-holders may take the registered medical assistant examination from the American Medical Technologists.
Courses Include
- Reimbursement methodologies
- Emergency preparedness
- Clinical aspects of medical assisting
- Medication aide
- Fundamentals of phlebotomy
Unique Features
- Cost: $131/credit for Neosho County students; $145/credit for other Kansas students; $167/credit for out-of-state students
- Credits Required: 41 or 42
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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3. Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Located in Fergus Falls, M State offers students an online medical assistant program that prepares students to work in medical facilities, administering basic clinical tasks and office processes.
The curriculum covers foundational medical knowledge, laboratory skills, and medical administration tasks like processing insurance and electronic medical records. Certificate-seekers also take courses that focus on soft skills, like communications and medical ethics.
The diploma concludes with an internship requiring students to complete supervised work experience at physician's offices. All learners must also enroll in a capstone course in which they discuss their internships and prepare for the national certified medical assistant exam.
The full program consists of 37 credits and lasts about one year. Students take courses during the fall and spring semesters before participating in internships and capstone projects during the summer.
Courses Include
- Medical terminology
- Laboratory skills
- Disease conditions and nutrition
- Medical assistant administrative procedures
- Communication skills for medical assistants
Unique Features
- Cost: $199/credit
- Credits Required: 37
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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4. Northwest Technical College
NTC, located in Bemidji, Minnesota, offers an online diploma in healthcare administrative support that students can take through distance learning courses.
The curriculum focuses on administrative tasks, including scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and managing a medical office. Diploma-seekers also learn about basic medical knowledge, like anatomy and physiology. The full online medical assistant program consists of 36 credits. Students can apply 27 of these credits to a healthcare administrative specialist associate degree at NTC if they wish to continue their education.
Graduates of this program work in the offices of several different healthcare settings, including hospitals, insurance companies, public health offices, and long-term healthcare facilities.
Courses Include
- Medical office procedures
- U.S. healthcare systems
- Medical billing/insurance
- Medical language applications
- Keyboarding
Unique Features
- Cost: $178/credit
- Credits Required: 36
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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5. Central Texas College
Based in Killeen, CTC began educating students through distance learning in 1970, when it broadcast courses through television to people in the area. Now, the majority of the college's students may pursue their education online.
The clinical medical assistant certificate at CTC does not follow a traditional format. Students do not enroll in individual courses, and they do not earn credits. Instead, they enroll in 280 contact hours of accelerated classroom training. Each certificate-seeker must also complete an additional 80 contact hours of hands-on training in a supervised clinical setting. Throughout the program, students develop skills like administering oral and injectable medications and helping physicians with medical exams.
Once they complete their 360 contact hours of training, learners may sit for the medical assistant certification exam from the National Healthcareer Association.
Each applicant must possess a high school diploma or a GED certificate. They should also hold CPR certification for the duration of the program. Only people over 17 years may apply.
Unique Features
- Cost: $2,695
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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6. Minnesota State College Southeast
MSC Southeast enrolls about 2,600 students in 50 different career preparation programs and degrees. While some students take classes at the college's main campus in Red Wing, many learners also study online.
Students may pursue a healthcare documentation specialist certificate through web-based learning. The certificate consists of 30 credits. In addition to an introductory English or communications course, students learn the technical details of working in a medical office. They take courses in keyboarding, documentation, and general medical office procedures.
Each applicant should possess either a high school diploma or a GED certificate. They must also take an ACCUPLACER test as a part of the admissions process. Incoming students may transfer in previously earned college credits.
Courses Include
- Anatomy and physiology disease conditions
- Medical office procedures
- Healthcare documentation
- Legal and ethical aspects of health information
- Pharmacology
Unique Features
- Cost: $7,087
- Credits Required: 30
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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7. Trinity Valley Community College
Based in Athens, Texas, TVCC offers several courses meant to prepare students for four-year degrees at upper-level institutions and equip them with workforce skills. Individuals hoping to become medical assistants can pursue basic or advanced medical assistant certificates.
The basic certificate consists of 24 credits and prepares learners for the certified medical assistant exam. Students take a laboratory procedures course, but they do not enroll in clinical courses. They must also pass a two-credit capstone course.
The advanced certificate requires 32 credits of coursework. This program digs deeper into outpatient care and long-term direct patient care in hospitals and nursing homes. Students in this program take two more clinical courses than basic certificate-seekers. Once graduates complete the program, they can take either the certified nurse aide or certified phlebotomy technician exams.
For both of these programs, TVCC offers some — but not all — of the required courses online. In addition, students may enroll in these programs while still in high school, and earn dual credit.
Courses Include
- Nurse aide for healthcare (long term patient care)
- Body systems
- Procedures in a clinical setting
- Technical (medical) calculations
- Medical administrative support
Unique Features
- Cost: $108/credit
- Credits Required: 24 for the basic certificate; 32 for the advanced certificate
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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8. Dakota College at Bottineau
DCB, part of the North Dakota University System, teaches about 1,000 students each year in various programs, including a 37-credit medical assistant certificate.
Students can pursue this affordable medical assistant certification online. The curriculum follows a two-semester plan, with distance learners enrolling in courses covering medical coding, managing documents, and assisting in basic surgical procedures. A certificate-seeker may opt to take nine additional courses to earn an associate degree.
At the end of the program, students may sit for the nationally certified medical assistant exam from the National Center for Competency Testing. Certificate-holders go on to work at outpatient clinics, hospitals, surgical centers, and private practices.
Courses Include
- Medical disorders
- Human structure and function
- Clinical procedures
- Medical transcription
- Lab and diagnostic procedures
Unique Features
- Cost: $277/credit
- Credits Required: 37
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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9. Century College
Century College offers several two-year degrees, diplomas, certificates, and non-credit programs. The medical assistant diploma at Century College trains students in clinical procedures and medication administration at healthcare facilities.
The diploma requires 51 credits, which includes both general education and healthcare courses. Students must take general education courses in composition, communication, biology, and psychology.
The medical assistant courses focus on clinical assisting skills, laboratory techniques, and pharmacology knowledge. Each student must also complete an externship to gain supervised work experience in a clinical setting. This externship consists of six credits and requires 300 contact hours.
Interested individuals may apply for this program if they possess either a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Century College allows incoming students to transfer previously earned college credit.
Courses Include
- Medical terminology
- Laboratory techniques
- Clinical assisting
- Administrative procedures for medical assistants
- Pharmacology for medical assistants
Unique Features
- Cost: $11,522
- Credits Required: 51
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs