Medical Assistant Education
Choose the medical assistant degree that's best for your goals and lifestyle.
Choosing Medical Assistant Education and Degrees
Choosing between medical assistant degrees is a very personal process.
Should you take the quickest and most direct route to the job market with a certificate or diploma, or take your time in an associate's degree program? Neither timeframe for medical assistant training is inherently better than the other, so the question becomes, which is right for you? For many prospective students—especially working adults—the choice involves a tradeoff between their lifestyle requirements and their career ambitions.
Ask Yourself These Questions First
Deciding which medical assistant degree to pursue is only part of the process. You'll also need to find a school that meets your needs, so consider the following questions:
- Are you willing to relocate to attend medical assistant school?
- Will you have to work and support a family while in school?
- What kind of financing options are available?
- Is a medical assisting degree your ultimate goal?
- If no, do you envision yourself pursuing further education in the future?
- Does the school have career placement services? If so, what is their placement rate?
The answers to these questions can help you narrow down your options. If you will need a flexible schedule, you may want to search for online medical assistant programs or schools with evening classes. Determine your priorities for program features, and select a medical assistant school that meets your needs.
Certificate or Diploma
Length of program: 9 months to a year to complete
Where the programs are offered: Career colleges and community colleges. Career college programs usually have a faster time to completion.
What the program offers: A certificate or diploma in medical assisting will give you the essential skills you need to enter the workforce with confidence. Your studies will be tailored specifically for a medical assistant career and won't take up your time with liberal arts classes that don't directly apply to your career goals.
Associate's Degree
Length of program: Associate-level medical assistant degree programs last 2 years
Where the programs are offered: Career colleges and community colleges.
What the program offers: You'll learn the basic skills you'll need to be a medical assistant, but beyond that, your studies will include other general education curriculum that will improve your overall knowledge and marketability with prospective employers.
One of the main advantages of an associate's degree in medical assisting is that it will give you a good foundation to pursue more education in the future. The credits you earn in your associate's program will count toward earning a bachelor's or master's degree if you decide that medical assisting isn't the ultimate destination on your career path.
Education Guide
Medical Assistant Training
Time to completion, classes and more...
Accreditation
Learn about the importance of accreditation.
Choosing a Degree
Diploma or associate's? What's best for you?
Student Interview
What it's like in medical assistant school.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Got questions? We've got answers.
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Career Guide
Career Intro
Find out what a medical assistant career is like.
Top 5 Medical Assistant Duties
Learn about typical medical assistant duties.
Salary Information
What to expect in a medical assistant salary.
Top 5 Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant
Learn why a medical assistant career may be for you.
Certification
90% of medical assistants are certified. Find out what's required.
Professional Interview
Read a first-hand account about a medical assistant career.
Professional Terms Glossary
The guide to sorting it all out.