Online medical assistant programs will involve a mixture of supervised on site clinical training and virtual classroom instruction over the internet. These online medical assistant programs will teach a prospective medical assistant the basic diagnostic procedures and administrative tasks that are needed in order to become successful in this field.
Online MA classes are normally taught through a combination of internet related technologies, such as forums, message boards and video conferencing. These classes will prepare a student for such clinical duties as taking vital signs, basic medical procedures, administering injections and administering medication. The administrative skills that are included in an online program will teach students about medical billing and coding, patient chart preparation and appointment scheduling.
One of these classes will typically take about two months to complete. These courses are usually part of a curriculum leading to the two year associate’s degree program in medical assisting. In addition to the online classes, a student will also be able to gain practical experience through clinical internships at local medical facilities. A graduate from an online program will be eligible to obtain national certification by taking the MA certification exam.
The training courses for MAs will typically take nine months to complete and are designed mainly for those individuals that are seeking entry level positions in clinics, hospitals and medical offices. The common curricula for these training courses can include basic diagnostic and lab procedures, ethical and legal guidelines and office management.
Classroom learning online is typically accomplished using live chats, message boards, video conferences and personal email. The clinical training is typically completed under the supervision of professional healthcare workers at a school approved medical facility. Many online medical assistant programs will award associate’s degrees or certificates upon completion of a course. The instruction and training that’s received in these programs will prepare a student to take certification exams offered by a number of certifying organizations.
To qualify for enrollment a program applicant will need to have a GED or high school diploma and be eligible for college level English and mathematics courses. These programs will offer some variations in course topics, however, the majority will include subject matter such as medical terminology, physiology and anatomy, clinical lab procedures, medical ethics, medical billing and coding and computer applications.
According to statistics, this profession is one of the fastest growing in the healthcare field, with a projected growth rate of more than thirty percent. Medical assistants that have obtained voluntary certification will experience better job prospects and a higher annual salary. On average, a medical assistant can expect an annual salary of $32,000 for the first two to three years in the field.