What Schooling Do I Need to Be a Medical Office Assistant?
The preferable schooling requirement needed to be a medical office assistant is a certificate or an associate's degree in medical office assisting. Programs are offered at community colleges, universities, and vocational schools and provide training in both common administrative tasks and skills unique to medical office settings. Read on to learn more about the education requirements and program types available for medical office assistants.
Education Required for Medical Office Assistants
<p>Medical assistants who perform clinical duties require training in diagnostic procedures, laboratory techniques, basic principles of pharmacology, first aid, administering medication, and clinical procedures. While some skills can be acquired through on-the-job training, most employers prefer candidates with formal schooling in medical office assisting.
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<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3>
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<table border="1"><tr><td>Certification </td><td> Voluntary certification available through such agencies as the American Association of Medical Assistants and the National Healthcareer Association</td></tr>
<tr><td>Key Skills </td><td> Interpersonal skills, attention to detail, analytical and technical abilities</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work Environment </td><td> Physicians' and other health care practitioners' offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations </td><td> Dental assistants, nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians</td></tr>
<tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $37,190 (all medical assistants)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 16% (all medical assistants)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---ProgramTypes">Program Types</h3>
<p>There is a range of educational programs offered for medical office assistant training. Most medical office assistants complete a certificate or associate's degree program. The curriculum in these programs covers:
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<ul><li>Physiology and anatomy
</li><li>Medical terminology
</li><li>Insurance filing
</li><li>Patient records management
</li><li>Basic accounting
</li></ul><p>Some programs specialize in medical billing, preparing students for positions as coders. Certificate programs focus on skills, but degree programs integrate broader concepts with industry-specific knowledge. Clinical medical office assistant programs include training in medical procedures, such as recording vital signs and preparing laboratory specimens.
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<h3 id="section---JobDuties">Job Duties</h3>
<p>Medical office assistants use computer applications, answer phones, greet patients, and schedule appointments. They handle tasks unique to medical settings, including medical billing, insurance filing, coding, transcribing, and government compliance.</p>