In this Article
By: Paige Cerulli
Becoming a medical assistant can be a fulfilling and rewarding career, and earning a medical assisting (MA) degree is often the first step toward entering the career field. Some employers accept candidates with a high school diploma, but many want candidates to have at least an associate degree or MA certificate. Having a degree in the field may make you a more competitive candidate, plus you’ll be prepared with the foundational knowledge needed to pass medical assistant certification exams.
As you start your search for MA programs, you’ll see that many programs are available on a part-time or full-time basis. Determining which study pace is right for you is a personal decision, and you’ll need to consider several factors. This guide covers the pros and cons of each format so you can decide which will work the best for your life.
Key takeaways
- The largest difference between full-time and part-time medical assisting programs is the time they take to complete (nine to 12 months versus up to two years) with minimal differences in curriculum.
- Full-time programs may work best for students who can fully commit themselves to their studies and complete the program as soon as possible, whereas part-time programs can be easier for working adults who need to balance school with other obligations.
- The two biggest factors in deciding the program pace that’s best for you comes down to weighing your scheduling constraints and budget.
Quick comparison of full-time vs. part-time MA programs
| Key differences | Full-time programs | Part-time programs |
|---|---|---|
| Average program length | Nine to 12 months | 18-24 months |
| Weekly time commitment (not including homework) | 12-15 hours of class per week | Typically less than 12 hours of class per week |
| Cost | Same cost overall, but more costs upfront | Same cost overall, but payments are spaced out over a longer period |
| Eligible for certification? | Yes | Yes |
| Online or hybrid options available? | Yes, check program for details | Yes, check program for details |
The length of common MA programs
Before you start comparing full-time and part-time MA programs, take a look at the length of the programs themselves. Several types of programs exist, each with a unique duration:
- Self-paced online programs can be quite short, taking just five or six months to complete.
- Many certificate programs take about a year to complete.
- Associate medical assistant programs take about two years to complete at a full-time study pace.
Do both types of programs qualify students for certification?
All of these programs typically prepare students to take a medical assistant certification exam, like the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association or the Certified Medical Assistant exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Certification is required in some states, so review your state’s medical assistant requirements to determine if you’ll need to take this extra step before becoming a medical assistant. Even if your state doesn’t require certification, getting certified can demonstrate your dedication to your career, and it may help you earn a higher salary than non-certified medical assistants.
Pros and cons of full-time MA programs
Full-time MA programs can take anywhere from a few months to two years to complete. A full-time study pace often involves about 12 hours of coursework per week, but you’ll also need to budget extra time for studying and completing coursework outside of school. There are several pros and cons to pursuing an MA program on a full-time basis.
Pro: Enter the workforce sooner
When you study at a full-time pace, you can complete a program about twice as quickly as you would if you studied at a part-time pace—approximately one year versus two. As a result, you can enter the workforce sooner. That’s a significant difference than when you’re enrolled in an associate program; studying full-time can allow you to pursue your career sometimes years earlier than you would if you completed an associate program on a part-time basis.
Pro: Prepare for a full-time job’s pace
Pursuing a program full-time can help prepare you for what it may feel like to work full-time as a medical assistant. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, or if you’re hoping that your first full-time job will be as a medical assistant.
Many medical assistants work five, eight-hour shifts or three, twelve-hour shifts, which is a demanding schedule. Studying at a full-time pace may help you get used to the physical and mental demands of the job and balancing your busy schedule with the rest of your life commitments.
Con: Balancing work and life commitments can be challenging
Earning your degree sooner can be appealing, but balancing a full-time course of study with other commitments can be challenging. For example, some students balance a full-time education with a part-time job, but you’ll need strong time management skills to do so successfully.
And if you’re trying to balance family commitments, work and school, pursuing a program on a full-time basis can be extremely difficult. You may frequently run into scheduling difficulties and you could experience burnout when trying to manage such a busy schedule. Trying to complete a program on a full-time basis when you really don’t have the time may negatively impact your studies, and you may get less out of the program, making it more difficult to pass your certification exam.
Pros and cons of part-time MA programs
When completing an MA program on a part-time basis, you’ll spend less than 12 hours per week in class. Most schools will require you to take about six credit hours per semester, which means you’ll spend about six hours per week in class. Additionally, you’ll spend time studying and completing coursework outside of your class time. There are several pros and cons to this part-time study pace:
Pro: Balancing school and life is easier
When you’re going to school part-time, you have more scheduling flexibility to accommodate other life commitments, such as family responsibilities or a job. Part-time study might be an ideal choice if you need to work while you’re in school, or if you need to be available to care for your children or family.
Pro: Part-time study can be less overwhelming
Pursuing an MA program on a part-time basis means you’ll be learning less material each semester than you would in a full-time program, so the program may be less overwhelming. If you’ve been out of school for awhile or tend to have difficulty with fast-paced programs, you might be more comfortable with a part-time program. Rather than balancing work with four classes, you could take two classes at a time, so you’re better able to dedicate the time needed to fully absorb the material.
Fully understanding the material may pay off with higher test scores, but it’s also important for career success. Finding the study pace that works best for you may help you better digest and retain the information you’ll need when you’re finally on the job.
Pro: Lower upfront costs
Any MA program is an investment, but the initial program cost can be less when you pursue it on a part-time basis. This is especially true when you’re enrolling in an associate degree program. If the cost of your program is a concern, studying part-time may help minimize the amount you’ll have to pay initially while also giving you the scheduling flexibility needed to work part-time to help pay for your medical assisting education.
Con: The program takes longer and you may lose momentum
When you pursue a program on a part-time basis, it takes longer to complete, so you’ll enter the workforce later. While a part-time course of study makes it easier to balance your education with a job, you may want to think about whether your financial situation might benefit from studying full-time so you can ultimately begin your career sooner.
Since a part-time program takes longer to complete, you may lose some momentum as well. Balancing education with other commitments can be distracting, and you may feel like you’re making slow progress toward your career goals, which may leave you feeling frustrated.
Full time vs. part time sample schedule
Full-time medical assistant programs typically hold classes most days of the week during the daytime, while part-time programs may hold classes in the evenings to accommodate working adults. Though every program is different, consider this example of what a full-time versus part-time weekly class schedule might look like:
However, many programs don’t have separate full-time and part-time schedule tracks. In these cases, whether you study full or part time simply comes down to how many classes you choose to take each academic term (for instance, only taking two classes instead of four). In these cases, it’s up to you to check each course’s schedule for the upcoming term and decide whether you can make it work with your commitments. Keep in mind that medical assistant programs typically still require you to take classes in a particular sequence.
What about clinical internships/externships?
You’ll have to complete a clinical internship or externship no matter which program pace you opt for. These typically occur during the final term(s) of your program and almost always take place during the day.
Which study pace fits your life?
Selecting between a full-time and part-time study pace is a personal decision. If you’re undecided about whether at full-time or part-time study pace is best for you, these tips may help you choose.
Tip #1: Consider your finances
Consider your financial situation. Will you need to work while you’re in school, and if so, how many hours per week will you need to work? It may be possible to balance a part-time job depending on your schedule, but if you need to work full-time, chances are you’ll need to attend school on a part-time basis.
Depending on your career goals, you may want to continue working full-time while you’re in school. If you’re already a working professional and your work experience could impact your ability to get your first job as a medical assistant, it may pay to continue working and study on a part-time basis.
Tip #2: Evaluate your schedule
Evaluate your overall schedule and consider how your education will fit into it. Do you need to be available at certain times of the day to get your kids onto and off the bus? Are you unavailable on certain days of the week? Review the class schedule for your MA program, too, and make sure it can work well with your schedule. If you need more flexibility, would an online or hybrid program work better for you?
Beyond your schedule, consider the amount of time that you’ll need to commit to all of your responsibilities. You might be able to fit your courses into your schedule, but will you be exhausted trying to manage it all? Make sure you also account for time needed for studying and completing coursework.
Tip #3: Determine your career goals
Think long and hard about your career goals and how your education will impact them. If you’re highly motivated and you want to enter the workforce quickly, then a full-time course of study can help you graduate sooner. On the other hand, if you’re already involved in a medical field and want to eventually move into a role as a medical assistant, then pursuing your program on a part-time basis might be a good choice.
Choosing the best MA program and pace
You’re the only one who can determine which MA program’s pace is right for you, so take plenty of time with this decision and weigh all of your options against your existing responsibilities. Since some programs allow for multiple study pace options and others might only be available at certain intervals, deciding which course of action meets the majority of your needs may help you narrow down your choices.
You’re the only one who can determine which MA program’s pace is right for you, so take plenty of time to make this decision.
Once you’ve decided whether you want to study full-time, part-time or in a self-paced online program, you can then research what accredited schools are out there and what programs they offer that match your needs.
