Medical Assisting Programs
Online Classes/Training

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the most common places of employment for medical assistants:

• Physician’s offices
• Hospitals
• Offices of other health practitioners
• Outpatient care centers
• Retirement communities / assisted living

While practical nurses (LPN) and medical assistants often perform similar tasks, there are a few key differences to be aware of, including:

• Educational requirements
• Average salary
• Scope of practice
• Ongoing career opportunities
• Future outlook for jobs

Learn more about the difference between practical nursing and medical assisting and how to go from MA to LPN.

Medical assistants typically have a greater role in patient care, and may perform tasks like taking vital signs, providing injections or medications or aiding in patient exams.

Medical office/administrative assistants practice in a clerical role rather than in direct patient care, responsible for organizing patient records, scheduling appointments, answering phones or filing paperwork.

The online medical assisting program (both diploma & degree) feature three main components:

1. Online classes. Much of the coursework can be completed in the online component of the program.
2. Clinical labs. You will be required to complete two clinical courses and meet with a proctor outside of class to ensure you are mastering key medical assisting skills.
3. Externship. Over an eight-week period during your final term you will be required to complete 180 hours of hands-on experience in a medical clinic or healthcare facility. We can guide you in your search, but it is your responsibility to find and secure an externship site.

Our goal is to fully prepare you to thrive in your new career. The clinical and externship hands-on component of the program is crucial to helping you get the experience you need to become a medical assistant right out of school.

Beginning your career as a medical assistant is a great way to build a strong foundational education in healthcare, gain meaningful real-world experience and prepare yourself to continue growing professionally.

What is the next level after medical assistant? It depends on your strengths, preferences and overall career goals in healthcare.

Many fields in healthcare are potential landing spots for medical assistants looking to specialize or branch into a new career path, including healthcare management, health information management, nursing (you may consider going from medical assistant to RN), and more.

Herzing University offers many degree and diploma programs for practicing medical assistants to take a leap and embark on a new career path. Our health sciences degree program is designed to help you complete your bachelor's degree and advance your career to the next level.

Students in the online program will take the RMA exam during their review course – which is a requirement to pass. Herzing will pay for the exam once.

Certification is not always required, but job duties may be limited in certain states if you don’t get certified.

Even if you aren’t legally required to be certified, many employers will require certification and it will make you available for more job opportunities, better pay and greater chance for advancement.

Sitting for and passing either the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam or Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam may open many more doors to start your career as a medical assistant.

A career in medical assisting involves a diverse array of roles and responsibilities. Depending on the practice you work for and department you are in, your normal everyday tasks can vary widely.

Potential tasks include (but not limited to):

• Answering the phone and greeting patients
• Informing physicians about patient concerns
• Scheduling appointments
• Gather patient information: contact info, insurance info, etc.
• Measuring patient vital signs
• Taking blood pressure, pulse and respirations
• Setting up exam rooms for procedures
• Visual and hearing tests
• Drawing blood
• Pregnancy tests
• Making patients comfortable during an appointment

No matter what’s required in your day-to-day experience on the job, what ties everything together is your professionalism, care for patients and attention to detail. Your resourcefulness will make you a valuable resource in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Read more about a typical day in the life of a medical assistant and what you can expect after getting a job in the field.

With Herzing University, an affordable, career-focused education is within your reach. We are always striving to make college more affordable for everyone.

• Student loans & secured loans. Loans offer a way to pay for all or part of your tuition.
• Scholarships. We offer a variety of scholarships based on academic achievement, financial need or community affiliations. Contact an admissions advisor about current scholarship opportunities by calling 1-800-596-0724 or request for information online.

You can find an estimate for grant and scholarship aid using the net price calculator, and find an estimate for tuition for the online medical assisting program using Herzing University’s tuition wizard.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical assistants earn an average salary of $43,350 per year ($20.84 per hour).* As you earn more experience and gain more skills, your earning opportunity will improve.

The BLS also projects growing demand for medical assistants in coming years, predicting an 14% increase in employment from 2022-2032. It’s a good time to get your foot in the door and work towards your new career.

Discover how much a medical assistant makes by state.

Because medical assistants can wear so many different hats there are many important skills needed to thrive in different healthcare environments:

• Professionalism. In many positions you will need to handle customer service tasks, basic patient care and clearly communicate physician information to patients. Medical assistants must demonstrate professionalism and tact when interacting with patients.
• Attention to detail. Medical assistants may gather patient contact or insurance information and keep medical records organized. You must be meticulous and highly detail oriented to succeed.
• Compassion. Making patients comfortable and empathizing with their concerns is crucial ensuring patients are calm and collected for medical procedures.
• Multi-tasking. Staying organized and measured in the face of quickly changing circumstances and a lengthy “to-do” list will make you indispensable to a healthcare team.

These are just a few key medical assistant skills that will help you excel in medical assisting and beyond to many other career opportunities in healthcare.