The thought of spending many years in college or in a university graduate program just to work in a rewarding healthcare career field may seem disheartening to some people that have an interest in healthcare. There are careers available in other areas of healthcare besides working as a physician, or a nurse, that requires less time spent in education or training programs. Earning a medical office administration certificate online is one potential great option.
Top 5 Medical Office Administration Certificate Online
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia |
2 | Surry Community College | Dobson, North Carolina |
3 | Craven Community College | New Bern, North Carolina |
4 | Gaston College | Dallas, North Carolina |
5 | Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson, North Carolina |
The Work Environment and Future for Medical Office Administrators
One exciting healthcare career opportunity that does not take years of advanced education and post-graduate training is the medical office administrator. A medical office administration program is frequently offered as an online certificate program.
Earning an online certificate to become a medical office administrator prepares graduates to start working in a rewarding career field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists the job growth for both medical records and health information technicians and for medical and health services managers as “much faster than average” through at least the year 2029. This is particularly true for the medical and health services managers, a field that is expected to add more than 133,000 new jobs through the next few years. The education stated by the BLS is not always the required education for all jobs in the field.
The Institute of Medical and Business Careers (IMBC) considers medical office administrators as “the backbone” of medical and healthcare facilities and offices. Some duties include:
- Checking patients in at the front desk
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Using office equipment and computer software
- Managing patient medical charts and records
- Processing insurance claims
Some duties may vary depending on the work environment, such as whether the work setting is at a clinic, private physician office, or hospital. Skills needed, that are taught during medical office administration certificate online programs include data entry, customer service skills, communication skills, and organization skills.
These medical office administration certificate programs are all offered online. The listed tuition is for one hour of study at the resident rate. Students are responsible for knowing the tuition if a school requires additional costs for tuition, fees or other expenses when students reside outside the state where the school is physically located.
Best 14 Medical Office Administration Certificate Online
Kennesaw State University
Complete the Administrative Medical Specialist Certificate – Online program at Kennesaw State University features the medical billing and coding track. Students learn to screen and take appropriate messages, to discover the importance of the medical record, to safeguard patient confidentiality, and learn practice management software. The program curriculum also offers students knowledge of different types of patient scheduling systems and to reduce occupational hazards in the workplace.
Students gain the skills to work in a medical office setting as an administrative medical specialist, medical office manager, medical billing specialist, or medical coder. Graduates are prepared to sit for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exams.
School Overview
Surry Community College
The online medical administration certificate options at Surry Community College include a diploma program, the associate’s degree program, and the online certificate program. Students gain the skills to work in a variety of settings.
The curriculum focuses on medical office management, medical insurance and billing, medical terminology, computer applications, and medical legal and ethical issues.
School Overview
Craven Community College
Craven Community College offers several programs in medical office administration, including an online medical office administration certificate program. Students learn the most current knowledge and skills because the school periodically updates their curriculum to ensure that graduates are well-prepared for their career. Topics covered include medical terminology, computer skills, medical office procedures, and medical insurance and billing.
Students have the opportunity to continue their education to complete the associate’s degree in medical office administration.
School Overview
Gaston College
Gaston College offers the medical office administration certificate program online for students that are potentially interested in continuing their education. The credits from the certificate program may be applied towards the Associate degree in Medical Office Administration program.
Students complete 15 credit hours in medical terminology, medical insurance and billing, medical office terms, and medical legal issues.
The school has seen a considerable increase in its retention rate over the past several years, with 89 percent of students planning to re-enroll the following year.
School Overview
Vance-Granville Community College
The Medical Office Administrative Assistant certificate program at Vance-Granville Community College prepares students for a career in a busy front-office setting at a medical practice or other healthcare setting. Students have the opportunity to follow the Medical Office Administration – General track or the Medical Office Administration – Coding Specialist track.
The curriculum consists of courses in insurance and billing, advanced medical terminology, and computer and keyboarding proficiency.
School Overview
Guilford Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College offers students the opportunity to earn the Medical Office Administration – Electronic Medical Records online certificate. Graduates are proficient in both manual and electronic medical records, and how to manage those records. Students also gain skills in medical terminology and to use a variety of reference materials.
School Overview
Green River College
The Medical Front Office Certificate program at Green River College provides students with the opportunity to apply some credits to other programs, if they choose to continue their education after completing the certificate program. Some courses include Medical Office Procedures, Advanced Word, Medical Terminology for Office Administration, and Records Management.
School Overview
Quinsigamond Community College
The Medical Office Certificate program at Quinsigamond Community College may be complete in a 100 percent online format. The program curriculum provides students with necessary clerical skills and specialized knowledge needed to work in a medical or dental office setting. Students learn keyboarding skills, communications skills, medical billing and coding, patient billing systems, appointment scheduling, records management, and a variety of other essential skills to work in medical office administration.
The tuition cost includes the educational services fee.
School Overview
Grantham University
Grantham University offers students in the Medical Administrative Assistant online certificate program the opportunity to have a great start in a growing healthcare career. Students gain a strong foundation in front medical office functions and procedures, financial, and risk management for back offices.
The certificate program prepares students that want to continue their education for entry into the associate’s degree program. Students in both the certificate and degree program have the opportunity to sit for the Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (CMAA) exam. An impressive 95 percent of students indicated that they were satisfied with their studies at the university.
The school offers a tuition discount for military and veteran students.
School Overview
CUNY – Staten Island
The City University of New York (CUNY) at Staten Island offers an online Medical Administrative Assistant program that prepares students for careers in medical office administration. The program focuses on medical terminology, medical office administrative duties, and medical billing and coding skills.
Graduates may sit for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam, and the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam.
School Overview
Institute of Medical and Business Careers
The Institute of Medical and Business Careers online medical office administrator diploma program prepares students for their career through providing skills and knowledge in a variety of medical office administrative duties and activities.
The program focuses on administrative and clerical skills, along with organizational, customer service skills and patient confidentiality in the program that lasts approximately 12-months.
Tuition does include the cost of some fees at this school.
School Overview
The College of Health Care Professions
The College of Health Care Professions offers an online Medical Office Specialist Certificate program. Students learn both administrative, non-clinical duties in healthcare settings. Maintaining medical records, processing billing and insurance, organization and interpersonal skills are some areas covered in the program. It also focuses on medical terminology, medical law and ethics, pathology, and other administrative skills.
School Overview
Carrington College
Complete the Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate program at Carrington College in an online format in as little as nine months. Students learn to interact with physicians and other healthcare professionals, with patients and family members on a regular basis, and learn to manage, maintain, and update patient records. The program also prepares students with the knowledge and skills to use and to maintain automated systems that are crucial to medical office functions, and to evaluate and launch new technological innovations.
School Overview
Pima Medical Institute
Students enrolled in the online Healthcare Administrative Assistant program at Pima Medical Institute learn to triage appointments, verify medical insurance, assist physicians with reports and other documents, and to perform medical billing and coding tasks. The curriculum also focuses on teaching students how to ensure that the front office runs smoothly in a variety of healthcare settings.
School Overview
Methodology
We developed our list of the best medical office administration certificate online programs by searching for schools that offer affordable tuition, and that are accredited programs. We searched programs across the country for programs that offer a potential path to excellent career opportunities, or the opportunity to continue education to an accredited degree program.
Would you like assistance with finding the right college for your needs? We can help you with that, based on the program that you select.
If you would like to have your college or university included in our rankings, or need to update the information that we have for your school, please let us know, and we can help you.