Medical Administrative Assistant Associate Degree
Find out what it takes to earn an associate degree in medical administrative assisting. Learn the median salary and employment outlook for medical administrative assistants.
What Is an Associate Degree Program for Medical Administrative Assistants?
Associate degree programs in medical administrative assisting take approximately two years to complete. You can find this course of study on traditional college campuses or in distance-learning formats. If you choose to enroll in an online program, you might use Internet-based classroom software to interact with your professors, access course materials, turn in homework and take tests. After graduating, you could be eligible for entry-level administrative careers in healthcare environments.
| Online Availablity | Fully online programs are available |
| Common Courses | Medical documenting, medical transcription, payroll accounting, medical office procedures; an internship may be required |
| Admission Requirements | High school diploma or equivalent; prerequisite courses and a minimum GPA may be required |
| Median Annual Wage (2020) | $37,350 (for medical secretaries)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Is the Curriculum Like?
Coursework in associate degree programs in medical administrative assisting combines training in fundamental business skills with training in basic medical science. For example, you could learn about document processing, bookkeeping and spreadsheet software while also learning about diagnostics and medical terminology. Some programs may include clinical, laboratory or internship requirements. The following are examples of classes you might find in the curriculum:
- Basic accounting
- Medical documenting
- Keyboarding
- Medical terminology
- Medical office procedures
- Customer service
- Medical transcription
- Professional communication
- Payroll accounting
What Are the Admissions Requirements?
You need at least a high school diploma to be considered for admission into associate degree programs in medical administrative assisting. Some programs will also accept a GED. You may also have to meet educational prerequisites to matriculate; for example, you may need to have taken certain classes, or you may need to meet a minimum a GPA requirement. If you want to prepare for this program in high school, you could consider taking classes in keyboarding, computer science, biology, business or communication.
What's the Job Market Like?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical secretaries earned a median annual salary of $37,350 as of May 2020 (www.bls.gov). The BLS also reported that this field is expected to experience an employment growth rate of 10% between 2019 and 2029.