Ranking the Best Online Medical Assistant Programs

Author: Shannon Lee, BA

Editor: Edumed Editing Staff

Reviewer:

Alexander Belkin

Alexander Belkin is an experienced medical assistant who completed medical school and now works as a physician. During medical school he developed an interest in hematology and oncology. During his free time, Alex enjoys reading books, watching movies and tv shows, and going to concerts.

Updated: 09/09/2024

Review the best online medical assistant schools and programs in 2024, get details on accreditation, and read about financing options for your training needs. Take the first step toward your medical assistant degree today.

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A smiling female medical assistant with a stethoscope around her neck stands confidently in a bright, modern medical office.

Medical assistants perform both clinical and clerical duties in a wide range of healthcare settings. On the clerical side, they record patient histories, schedule appointments, and enter patient data into automated systems. On the clinical side, they give injections, measure vitals, and prepare specimens for laboratory tests.

In May of 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median annual salary of $42,000 for medical assistants. The top 10% of professionals in the field earn $56,480. The BLS also reported an estimated 15% growth in medical assistant job openings between 2023 and 2033, much faster than average.

The path to becoming a medical assistant can be as short as a few weeks, with more rigorous programs running between 18 months and two years. Online learning has made the process even more convenient. Online medical assistant programs use a variety of distance learning tools to manage and delivery academic coursework. In asynchronous programs, students can finish their coursework when and where it’s most convenient.

If an online medical assistant program could be right for you, check out our list of the best schools for this year.

2-year Schools 4-year Schools

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Des Moines, Iowa

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Private

University of Providence

Great Falls, Montana

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Private

Spokane Community College

Spokane, Washington

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Public

Remington College-Knoxville

Knoxville, Tennessee

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Private

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

There was a time when earning higher education meant sacrificing work and family obligations to sit in a classroom. But with online learning, students can get the education they need without uprooting their family, changing their schedule, or taking time off work. And there are a ton of valuable online and school support resources for medical assistant students that can help you along the way. Here’s more on why online education for medical assisting might be right for you.

Online learning allows earning a certificate, diploma, or degree on a more reasonable timetable, which is great for those who have full-time jobs (or even part-time jobs!), family obligations and the like. Medical assistant programs teach a great deal of information that can be conveyed through online courses, thus making it one of the best options for those who want to work in the allied health field but don’t have the time to visit a campus multiple times per week.

The relatively short nature of medical assistant programs online makes them affordable by nature. Instead of paying for 2 to 4 years for an associate or bachelor’s degree, some programs can be completed in as few as 3 months. Learning online can also take commuting, parking, and similar costs out of the equation, allowing you to focus your costs on the coursework and fieldwork exclusively.

Explore today’s most affordable online medical assistant programs.

In online medical assisting programs, students learn only what they need to enter the workforce with confidence. This focus on the most important knowledge and skills is why so many programs can be completed within months. Even after accounting for the time it takes to complete a certification exam and find a job, students might be looking at a total of one year from the start of the program to getting comfortable in their new profession.

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Find Online Medical Assistant Programs in Your Area

Are you looking to enroll in an online medical assistant program near you? We have the information you need. Use one of the guides below to find top programs in your area.

Types of Online Medical Assistant Programs

There are three primary types of medical assisting programs, all of which can be taken mostly or partially online: the certificate, diploma, and the associate degree. How do you know which one to choose? That depends on a few factors, including your desired career trajectory. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the three types of online medical assistant programs available today.

Certificate

In most cases, certificates are the fastest way to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to move directly into the workforce upon graduation. Certificates can be completed in one year or less, and some programs require only a few months of study. However, they usually require an externship, which can add some time to the pursuit of the certificate. Certificates can often be earned through community colleges; if the program is accredited, students will be able to sit for a variety of exams to earn medical assisting certification.

Diploma

The diploma is often considered interchangeable with the certificate, but there are some subtle differences. Diploma programs tend to be offered through hospitals or clinics, and provide more hands-on clinical experience than certificate programs. Since many diploma tracks are hands-on right from the start, students might not have to participate in an externship or similar clinical component. It’s important to remember that those who graduate with a diploma or certificate, even if they go on to obtain certification, might not see as high of a starting salary as those who earn the associate degree.

Associate degree

These degrees typically take two years to complete, and are usually found at community colleges. The longer time period means students not only take courses in medical assisting, but in general education, as well. The result is that they can enter the workforce upon graduation or use their associate degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree, which might allow them to move into more advanced medical positions. The associate degree also offers the possibility of making a higher starting salary, as well as an edge over other applicants who have less education.

What You’ll Learn: Key Knowledge & Skills

When you take medical assisting courses, the knowledge you obtain is often applied directly to the job. That’s why each course in a program is vitally important. Since medical assistants are expected to hit the ground running when they start a new job, it’s critical to garner the knowledge and skills necessary through each course. Here are a few of the courses you can expect to take and why they matter so much.

Medical Front Office: Medical assistants handle a variety of tasks, including billing, scheduling, and other duties in the front office. Understanding how the front office works is the first step toward a smoother experience for patients.

Medical Records: Keeping up with medical records makes a tremendous difference, and the job often falls to the medical assistant. This course teaches students all they need to know to handle the electronic health records for a typical medical office.

Anatomy: Students might take several anatomy courses, all designed to give them a firm understanding of the human body and how the systems work together during times of health and illness. Knowing the basics can help graduates enter the workforce prepared.

Insurance and Billing: When dealing with front office tasks, medical assistants will often have to know the ins and outs of medical insurance, billing practices, and coding. Several courses might be devoted to this subject, although many of the detailed tasks may be reserved for certified medical billers and coders.

Patient Examinations: Knowing how to handle a patient examination, from welcoming the patient to checking the vital signs to assisting the physician or nurse, are all important aspects of the job. Other courses might also relate to this one, such as courses in nutrition, vital signs, and common diseases.

Other courses might include phlebotomy, ethical and legal issues, a variety of laboratory tests, safety in the medical office, medical equipment and supplies, psychology, and administering medication.

How Much Does an Online Medical Assistant Program Cost?

The cost of medical assistant programs varies widely. Some programs charge by the credit hour, while others charge for the entire program from start to finish in one lump sum – this is especially true when the program is short and will be completed within the span of a typical college semester. For instance, our spotlight schools on this page range from $2,599 to $17,900 for their medical assistant programs.

Before applying to a school, take the time during your admissions process to look at all of the different costs you might incur during the program, a lot of which can be considered “hidden” costs like commuting and food.

To learn how you can finance your education, and for even more detail on cost, please visit our page on financial aid for online medical assistant programs.

How Long Is Medical Assistant Training?

The length of a medical assistant program depends upon the final outcome – whether you earn a certificate, diploma, or degree. Certificate and diploma programs usually take a year or less, with the certificate taking just a little less than the diploma. The associate degree often takes two years to complete, but might be finished faster if the student takes accelerated programs. To learn more about how long specific programs take to complete, check out the schools in our ranking list.

Financing Your Online Medical Assistant Program

Students who attend accredited medical assisting programs might be eligible for federal financial aid in the form of grants and loans. Grants are financial aid awards (often provided to those who demonstrate financial need) that do not have to be paid back. Student loans are often available for those who don’t receive enough grant money to cover their educational expenses. Loans can be subsidized, meaning the student will not pay interest until they are out of school, or unsubsidized, meaning that interest begins accruing immediately.

They might also be eligible for a variety of scholarships specifically designed for those in medical assisting or the allied health field in general. Scholarships, like grants, do not have to be paid back. However, sometimes scholarships can be quite competitive. For more info, read our full page on scholarships and financial aid options for medical assistants

Ranking the Best Online Medical Assistant Programs

Base Methodology for EduMed’s “Best Online College Rankings” for the ‘24-’25 school year.

Base Methodology for EduMed’s “Best Online College Rankings” for the ‘24-’25 school year.

Why Online School for Medical Assisting?

Find Online Medical Assistant Programs in Your Area

Types of Online Medical Assistant Programs

Certificate

Diploma

Associate degree

What You’ll Learn: Key Knowledge & Skills

How Much Does an Online Medical Assistant Program Cost?

How Long Is Medical Assistant Training?

Financing Your Online Medical Assistant Program

Shannon Lee, BA AUTHOR

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