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What is a Medical Office Assistant?

Medical Office Assistant is a field of study blending the medical demands of a healthcare facility with administrative support.  Fusing front-end administrative duties and medical billing are common job duties among Medical Office Assistants.  A Medical Office Assistant degree program will prepare students for a variety of healthcare work environments.  Examples include organizations such as: hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities, and public health departments.

Medical office assistants will perform various job duties from location to location.  Given the span of duties, medical assistants will need to take a broad cross-section of classes and training.  Courses for medical office assistants may entail: preparatory courses in medical terminology, introduction to health care, medical office systems, healthcare office systems, medical office billing, and healthcare office billing.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$31,540

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

591,300

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Medical Office Assistant Degree

Located in Hamden, Connecticut, Quinnipiac University is a private, coeducational university with over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university has more than 150 programs in the fields of arts and sciences, business, communication, engineering, law, health sciences, medicine, and nursing.  The exceptional health sciences department at Quinnipiac University has earned the school a top ranking this year in our annual study. Quinnipiac University school of health sciences offers qualified students undergraduate and graduate programs that help to develop forward-thinking scientists in the health care arena.  The success rate coupled with the graduation rate and industry growth make for an exceptional recipe for QU graduates.   

Acceptance Rate

70.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Concorde Career College - Aurora or called the Denver Metro Area Aurora campus provides career-focused healthcare programs in the fields of radiologic technology, dental hygiene, medical assisting, nursing, physical therapist assistant, and surgical technology. With its industry-experienced instructors, the college is confident and ready to help students in achieving a new healthcare career. 

The diploma in Medical Office Administration at Concorde Aurora trains students with the clinical functions of a medical office administrator in any setting in the healthcare industry. These tasks include accounts receivable and payable, billing and fee collection, payroll and taxes, records management, and insurance claims processing. After 9 months, students complete the program and are then eligible to take the state’s licensing exam. Read more at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

61.58

Tuition

$15,955 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

41:1

Operated by JEVS Human Services, Orleans Technical College is a post-secondary, nonprofit career school based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The college was built in 1974 to help individuals achieve their employment goals. Built in a student-centered environment, Orleans Tech offers hands-on and responsive training devoted to meet the needs of today’s workplace.

The Patient Services Representative Training Program at Orleans Tech provides hands-on training on tasks related to patient intake and care in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. This 6-month program teaches students the basics of managing patient check-ins, referrals, and appointments, providing patient information to doctors and nurses, and resolving patient concerns. Aside from these, required job skills are developed throughout the program including exceptional customer service, business office procedures and coding medical records, and computer skills. For more information, visit orleanstech.edu.

Acceptance Rate

60.69

Tuition

$14,938 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Midwest Institute is a trade school and training institute located in St. Louis, Missouri offering hands-on training and numerous certification programs for careers in the medical field. It currently has two locations: the North Campus in Earth City and the South Campus in Fenton. Some of its offerings are programs in Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Veterinary Technician, and Massage Therapist.  The fully accredited program at MI provide a platform for success and inspire confidence among students & healthcare professionals.  Learn more about the online degrees at Midwest Institute and on-campus programs today by collecting admissions information today.     

Acceptance Rate

76.47

Tuition

$14,680 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Concorde Career College - San Diego offers career-centered healthcare programs in different areas of dental assisting, dental hygiene, medical assisting, nursing, and many more. The college, located in San Diego, California, has several diplomas and associate degree programs to help students start a healthcare career.

At Concorde San Diego, the 9-month Medical Office Administration program involves theoretical concepts and hands-on training to create an immersive learning experience for students. The program teaches the practical aspects of providing a high level of support in various medical office job settings. Some of the concepts that students learn are accounts receivable and payable, billing and fee collection, payroll and taxes, records management, and insurance claims processing. Check the program curriculum at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

90.96

Tuition

$35,469 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

25:1

Based in California, Concorde Career College - Garden Grove offers a proper learning environment for students to succeed in different fields of the healthcare industry. With career-driven programs like dental hygiene, medical assisting, nursing, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy, students gain diplomas and associate degrees in as fast as 8 months.

With the Medical Office Administration program at Concorde Garden Grove, students learn several aspects of providing support in various medical office settings such as managing daily office operations and finances as well as serving as a liaison between patients and insurance providers. The program provides classroom theory and hands-on training to prepare students for employment in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities in just 9 months. Go to concorde.edu to view the full program description.

Acceptance Rate

95.22

Tuition

$31,866 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

27:1

Concorde Career College - San Bernardino is one of the colleges of the Concorde Career College system in California. With career-driven health care diploma and associate programs, students are well-equipped in starting a career in different fields such as dental hygiene, medical assisting, neurodiagnostic technology, respiratory therapy, and vocational nursing.

The Medical Office Administration certificate at Concorde San Bernardino prepares students with the main roles of a medical office administrator such as managing daily office operations and finances as well as serving as the “middle man” between patients and insurance providers. The coursework and hands-on training in the program allow students to gain real-world experiences that prepare them for the licensing exam upon completion of the 9-month program. Explore the program at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

92.57

Tuition

$16,010 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

29:1

For over 50 years, Concorde Career College - Portland has been offering career-driven healthcare programs in the area of Portland, Oregon. The diploma and associate degrees on the campus help students build their careers in different areas such as practical nursing, dental assisting, medical assisting, and polysomnographic technology.

As the middle man in various medical office settings, medical office administrators (MOA) are in charge of managing daily office operations and finances as well as communicating with patients and insurance providers. The 9-month Medical Office Administration program at Concorde Portland trains students to be skilled MOAs by combining theoretical coursework with hands-on training for them to gain real-world experiences helpful in pursuing a job and in taking the licensing exam needed for employment. Check concorde.edu to access the curriculum.

Acceptance Rate

96.23

Tuition

$16,516 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

34:1

Concorde Career College - North Hollywood trains students for in-demand careers in the healthcare industry on its campus in California. For over 60 years, the college has been offering comprehensive diploma and associate degrees in the field of nursing, dental assisting, surgical technology, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and many more.

From day one, students enrolled in the Concorde North Hollywood’s Medical Office Administration course are immersed in the practical aspects of providing excellent support in various medical office settings. The program introduces students to the tasks involved in their future careers such as accounts receivable and payable, billing and fee collection, payroll and taxes, records management, and insurance claims processing. Upon completion within just 9 months, graduates can take the state’s licensing exam in order to be considered for employment in this field. More details are available at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

91.39

Tuition

$32,883 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

22:1

With career-driven programs focused on the healthcare industry, Concorde Career College - San Antonio helps students in building a rewarding career in the fields of dental assisting, dental hygiene, medical assisting, physical therapist assisting, surgical technology, and many more. The campus boasts its laboratories, Learning Resource Center, as well as student and career services that aid students in the learning process.

With coursework and hands-on training in accounts receivable and payable, billing and fee collection, payroll and taxes, records management, and insurance claims processing, Concorde San Antonio’s accredited Medical Office Administration program prepares students for the licensing exam which is required for employment in the field. The immersive learning experience provided by the program from day 1 trains students to become excellent medical office administrators in different settings in the healthcare industry. View the full program at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

93.86

Tuition

$17,701 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

45:1

Concorde Career College - Dallas, a branch of the Concorde campus at Aurora, Colorado, is one of the leading healthcare academic institutions in Texas. The campus offers career-focused healthcare programs that lead to diplomas and associate degrees. Some of the programs on this campus are dental hygiene, medical assisting, vocational nursing, and respiratory therapy.

The top rated Medical Office Administration course at Concorde Dallas provides comprehensive instruction and training in the skills required to provide a high level of support in various medical office settings. Students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to properly manage daily office operations and finances and communicate with patients and insurance providers. Upon completion of the program which usually lasts for 9 months, graduates are eligible to take the licensing exam to qualify for a job in the field. To view the full program description, go to concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

88.09

Tuition

$16,875 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

44:1

With over 50 years of experience, Concorde Career Institute - Jacksonville has been training healthcare professionals in several career-focused programs. The campus, located in Jacksonville, Florida offers diverse diploma and associate degree programs such as nursing, dental assistant, medical office administration, physical therapist assistant, surgical technology, and many more.  The Medical Office Administration program at Concorde Jacksonville is focused on topics such as daily office operations and finance management and communications with patients and insurance providers. The 9-month program offers hands-on training where students can gain real-world experiences that can help them in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. For more information, visit concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

76.61

Tuition

$50,048 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

38:1

Concorde Career Institute - Orlando, a branch of Concorde Career Institute - Jacksonville, is a technical career college providing quality accelerated healthcare training in different fields such as dental assisting, pharmacy technician, and medical assisting. The school offers diploma and degree programs to give students the knowledge and skills needed to become successful professionals in their chosen careers.

With comprehensive coursework and hands-on training on the main functions of medical office administrators (MOA), Concorde Orlando’s Medical Office Administration program is designed to prepare students for their careers as MOAs in any type of healthcare setting. The program teaches students the basics of daily office operations, financial management, and communication with patients and insurance providers in order for them to grasp the importance of the job. Graduates are then eligible to take the licensing exam to become qualified for the position. Inquire about the program at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

84.8

Tuition

$17,005 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

45:1

Situated in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Daymar College is a private technical-vocational school that provides career-focused undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of accounting, business, criminal justice, healthcare, and office administration. With additional campuses in Tennessee and Ohio, the college has been offering more than 30 degree programs since 1963 with the option to take classes online.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration at Daymar Bowling Green is a 3-year, full-time program designed to equip students with the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary to manage healthcare organizations. The curriculum focuses on key business administration techniques in the context of managing different healthcare facilities. The degree consists of courses included in the college’s Billing & Coding Specialist, Medical Assisting, and Pharmacy Technology programs as well as other specific courses like Ethical Decision Making, Health Care Communications, Essentials of Managed Health Care, and Health Psychology. Find out more details about the program at daymarcollege.edu.

Acceptance Rate

94.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Concorde Career College - Memphis located in the state of Tennessee offers career-focused healthcare programs like dental hygiene, massage therapy, medical assisting, radiologic technology, surgical technology, and many more. Upon completion of the program which can be as few as 8 months, students receive an associate degree and diploma programs that can jumpstart their career in their chosen field.

Students interested in pursuing a career as medical office professionals can complete the Medical Office diploma program within only 8 months which provides an introduction to medical office business and financial operations. The program teaches students the basics of maintaining medical facility records, recording patient data into software on computers, setting schedules for patients’ procedures and appointments, and processing medical billing and insurance claims. Visit concorde.edu to know more.

Acceptance Rate

93.38

Tuition

$15,840 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

35:1

Concorde Career Institute - Tampa has been serving the community through career-driven healthcare programs for over 40 years. Its campus, located in Tampa, Florida, offers diploma and degree programs in dental assisting, medical assisting, pharmacy technician, surgical technology, and many more.

Providing an introduction to most medical office tasks and finance management, the 9-month Medical Office Administration program at Concorde Tampa is one of the most comprehensive programs in medical office administration. As future medical office administrators, students are trained to handle accounts receivable and payable, create bills and collect fees, consolidate payroll and file taxes, manage records and other pertinent documents, and process insurance claims. More details can be seen at concorde.edu.

Acceptance Rate

91.67

Tuition

$16,395 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

40:1

Founded by Sister Theresa Hackelmeier and the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg in 1851, Marian University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The university aims to incorporate the tradition of the Franciscan and liberal arts to provide comprehensive and excellent teaching and learning. With schools in business, arts and sciences, education, medicine, and nursing, Marian offers two-year associate, undergraduate, graduate, and accelerated online degree programs.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration at Marian University is a fully online program that prepares students for a successful administrative career in the healthcare industry in just 7 weeks of accelerated learning. The program explores various business-related topics to build a foundation in providing excellent service, treatment, support, and access to patients. Students also develop skills in communication, leadership, critical thinking, and writing which they can use in different learning opportunities such as a 120-hour internship with local health centers and hospitals across all states. To get more information about the program, go to marianuniversity.edu.

Acceptance Rate

64.61

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Initially named in 1980 as the Florida College of Medical and Dental Assistants, Concorde Career Institute - Miramar is one of the healthcare institutions in South Florida offering programs such as dental assistant, medical assistant, occupational therapist assistant, and pharmacy technician. In as few as eight months, students can finish their associate and diploma programs in their chosen fields.  Learn more about the variety and breadth of academic programs offered by Concorde Career Institute today by requesting admissions information directly via the primary web portal. 

Acceptance Rate

88.35

Tuition

$43,552 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

36:1

Acceptance Rate

94.92

Tuition

$16,805 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

34:1

Liberty University (LU) is a private evangelical Christian university based in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was established in 1971 to train individuals for employment and equip them with the values, knowledge, and skills vital for success. With a total enrollment of 100,000, most of its students utilize online learning to earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in various fields of study.

LU School of Health Sciences currently offers two options under its online Medical Office Assistant program: a Certificate and an Associate of Applied Science degree. The associate degree in Medical Office Assistant is a 2-year program that introduces students to the best practices for office management, systems, and procedures which includes managing medical billing, bookkeeping, and proficiency in common medical terminology. Some other competencies needed in the profession are proper usage of universal claim form CMS-1500, communication with patients and other health professionals, and filing of paperwork and patient records. The certificate program, on the other hand, can be completed within 6 months and only requires students to finish 7 courses such as Medical Office Systems and Procedures, Medical Office Insurance, Medical Office Billing and Bookkeeping, and Applied Anatomy and Physiology. Access the program curriculum at liberty.edu.

Acceptance Rate

51.06

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a public land-grant research university with the main campus in Fairbanks, Alaska, and additional campuses within the state that accommodates a total of 8,000 students. Established as the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines in 1922, it is considered the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system.  The academic reputation of UAF coupled with the broad array of academic pathways offer prospective student’s choice and confidence in the future.  Learn more about the accredited academic programs and degree pathways in the healthcare arena today by obtaining admissions information.  The certificate in medical reception is a solid, well-regarded program at UAF that is designed to help students grasp the essentials necessary in the field. 

Acceptance Rate

75.99

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Ranked as one of the top public colleges in the country, Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) is a four-year public college located in Lewiston, Idaho. It was founded in 1893 with the goal to provide academic, career and technical education, and community programs to the residents of the state and surrounding areas. Today, LCSC offers more than 130 degrees and certificate programs in the fields of social sciences, natural sciences, criminal justice, nursing, business, and technical and industrial programs.

Through the Administrative Medical Assistant degree at LCSC, students are prepared to work in medical offices, clinics, hospitals, public health agencies, or insurance companies to provide assistance to patients and other healthcare professionals and ensure the efficient operations of these facilities. The two options in the program include an Advanced Technical Certificate and an Associate of Applied Science Degree which can both provide intensive coursework and advanced-level training in different aspects of medical administration such as diagnostic and procedural coding, transcription, electronic health records, insurance billing, and medical accounting software. Students in both programs need to fulfill the general education requirements and program-specific courses to earn their respective certificates and degree. Check the requirements of both programs at lcsc.edu.

Acceptance Rate

99.76

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Baker College, formerly Baker College of Flint, is a private college with several campuses across Michigan such as Auburn Hills, Flint, Jackson, Muskegon, Cadillac, and Owosso. Formed from the merging of Baker Business University and Muskegon College in 1965, Baker College offers various certificate, associate, and bachelor degree programs that provide practical knowledge and comprehensive learning to its students.

Offered through the College of Health Science, the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration is a 4-year program that develops students’ technical knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to manage the delivery, quality, and costs of healthcare services. The program, available both online and on-campus at the Auburn Hills campus, blends general education and healthcare-specific courses to prepare students in the required healthcare management-related externship in local hospitals, medical offices, and other healthcare facilities. The college also offers 2-year associate degrees in Health Information Technology and Health Science Technology for students who want to specialize in these fields. To know more about the programs, go to baker.edu.

Acceptance Rate

73.16

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology is a 2-year private school that offers high quality education and training for its students. Last year over ninety students graduated with around 75% of students who start the program complete it. Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology offers several great programs to select from. Below is a list of the more popular programs being offered:

  • Medical Office Assistant
  • Information Technology
  • Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
  • Business Administration

To help support students, Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology may offer support services including:

  • Counseling assistance
  • Employing students to lower education costs
  • Assistance to find work

To learn more and get consumer disclosures, you can visit piht.edu.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Mayfield College is a less than two year private career college dedicated to offering a practical education for students located in and around Cathedral City. Over the previous several years Mayfield College has granted degrees to over 320 students with about 46% of those who start the program complete it. Mayfield College offers several programs to choose from. The more popular programs are shown below:

  • Medical Insurance Specialist
  • Computer Systems Technology
  • Business Administration
  • Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
  • Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

To help support students, Mayfield College may offer support services including:

  • Night and weekend classes available
  • Remedial instructional courses
  • Academic counseling for students
  • Employing students to lower education costs
  • Assistance to find work

The Council on Occupational Education has accredited the program courses of Mayfield College for over a year. Please visit mayfieldcollege.edu for more information on programs offered and consumer disclosures.

Acceptance Rate

-

Tuition

$13,188 / year

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Medical Office Assistant Degree

Career pathways to becoming a medical office assistant can vary from individual to individual. For example, earning a certificate or degree in the field can be coupled with a unique level of work experience, professional aptitude, and industry contacts to help link up with the perfect job for you.

Degrees offered through accredited universities and colleges or the NHA will be either direct or indirect programs. In other words, direct degree programs are designed by higher education institutions to provide a full range of skills and targeted knowledge to help students become a medical office assistant.

Alternatively, an adjacent certificate program or degree will teach core skills that are transferrable from vocation to vocation. Relevant career pathways may require studies in: business administration, healthcare administration, bookkeeping, accounting, data entry, supply chain management, financial support, office management, communications, and organizational behavior. Direct and adjacent paths can be important to your ultimate success when coupled with work experience, job responsibilities, and life experience.

Medical Office Assistant Requirements

As with most vocations, there is an expected span of expertise in this field. From highly qualified to entry-level, office assistants in the medical field possess a wide range of expertise. A medical office assistant with a high school diploma plus a decade of work experience may be an ideal candidate for one medical office while a college graduate with three years experience may be ideal for another healthcare facility.

Certificate programs for office assistants are highly focused programs that teach the necessary core skills to succeed in a medical setting. A certificate can be general in nature or highly targeted. For example, a targeted certificate program can teach medical terminology to help prepare a candidate for a job in an oncology ward.

General certificate pathways will provide students with healthcare basics and skills through core classes. Typical examples of such core programs include:

Skills & Abilities Required for Office Assistants

  1. Speaking
  2. Oral Comprehension
  3. Speech Recognition
  4. Critical Thinking
  5. Complex Problem Solving
  6. Instructing
  7. Reading Comprehension
  8. Active Listening
  9. Writing
  10. Oral Expression
  11. Written Comprehension

Employment & Administrative Specializations

A certificate or degree in medical office administration will prepare you for direct-hire opportunities and similar careers. After earning a degree, you may be hired directly by an outpatient clinic, hospital, or medial facility. Alternatively, you have consider similar jobs outside office administration. Examples of common jobs others pursue can include paths like: paralegal, administrative assistant, court reporter, bookkeeper, auditing clerk, medical record technician, medical transcriptionist, health information technician, medical billing specialist, registered health information technician, medical insurance coding, or medical billing specialist.

Medical Office Assistant Job Responsibilities

A medical office assistant will be charged with the responsibility to support an executive management team, medical team, and the logistical concerns of a clinic or healthcare facility. Job duties will vary from organization to organization but will consist of a combination of effective communication skills, organization, documentation, record keeping, diplomacy, critical thinking, writing skills, reading skills, and time management skills. Day to day responsibilities may include the following list:

  • Arranging hospital admissions for patients
  • Answering emails and telephone calls & communicate with appropriate staff
  • Scheduling patient tests, appointments, diagnostic consultations, and surgeries
  • Maintaining patient information, medical records, correspondence, and technical library
  • Greeting patients and visitors and direct them to the proper staff & set proper expectations
  • Routing documents and files to appropriate staff
  • Managing inventory of office from medical supplies to office products
  • Performing bookkeeping and accounting duties such as posting credits, collection notifications, financial statements, invoices, bills, and financial recordkeeping
  • Completing proper insurance or various claim forms
  • Transcribing messages, physician diagnoses, and lab results into proper medical records
  • Corresponding with physicians, nurses, and medical scientists across a medical organization

Career Outlook for Medical Office Assistants

Surveys from the DOL and BLS indicate approximately 115,000 jobs be added for medical office assistants in the next decade. Similarly, the employment growth in similar career fields are anticipated to jump. Specially, job growth for paralegals is expected to grow by 8% while health information technicians is targeted at 15% during this reporting timeframe.

The largest employers of medical office assistants is general and surgical hospitals. The next biggest employers are physician offices, nursing care facilities, outpatient care facilities, and private practices. The highest paying states for medical office assistants include New Jersey, Alaska, California, and the District of Columbia.

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