Masters Degrees in Medical Assisting

Medical assistants primarily look after administration and support doctors, nurses, lab technicians, orderlies and other personnel. Their deliverables include scheduling appointments, updating patients’ records, correspondence, billing, preparing / cleaning examining rooms and equipment, checking patients’ vital signs and collecting lab tests. This role is suitable for those interested in health care and helping others.

Unlike other health care careers, a medical assistant doesn’t need to undergo long duration programs. They also don’t need extensive training or education and therefore, can become medical assistants in a year or two or even less. Certification is neither mandatory nor required for jobs though employers expect it. Most of them graduate from accredited vocational programs. However, there are several formal educational programs also available spanning Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees through campus and online modes. The latter is especially suitable for those who need to balance work and study commitments.

A Master’s degree in Medical Assisting typically takes 2 years to complete. Those who complete this program stand to gain not only from the perspective of upgrading their skills but also getting more employment opportunities in the job market. Moreover, they can benefit from higher remuneration packages on completion of a Master’s degree.

Career outlook is positive with strong growth of 35% indicated by US Bureau of Labor Statistics in this discipline through 2016. Around 62% of medical assistants in the offices of physicians with others spread out across different health care institutions. Experienced medical assistants may move up in the hierarchy as office managers from an administration perspective or can also teach medical assisting especially with a Master’s degree qualification. Median annual earnings of medical assistants were $26,290 in May 2006 as per BLS.

Top institutions offering quality programs include University of Phoenix, Strayer and Kaplan Universities followed by Argosy and Capella Universities backed by strong academic credentials.