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Associate’s Degrees in Medical Assistant

Medical assistants – even those in clinical lab settings – are often tasked with handling routine, but increasingly important patient care tasks that may help better detect, diagnose, and treat patient illness and affliction.

What is this degree/subject matter about?

The role of the medical assistant varies depending on specialty, but those in a clinical laboratory setting (serving most as technicians) will be counted on to prepare specimens, perform manual tests, and complete other such tasks under the supervision of a medical doctor, lab manager, or medical or clinical lab technologist. Medical assistants and lab technicians will be expected to have strong communication skills, and understand the nature and purpose of routine laboratory testing, such as blood work, urinalysis, and electrocardiograms.

What does it take to earn this degree, and what will it result in?

Such examples of associate’s in medical assisting include an associate of science or associate of applied science option. Either degree follows a typical two-year path of study, with coursework including medical terminology, pharmacology, medical office management, coding and insurance, and professionalism in healthcare. While such a degree is obviously well suited for those seeking opportunities as medical assistants, those interested in become entry-level lab technicians may benefit as well. Median salaries, depending on area of specialty, tend to range from $31,000 to $36,000 (BLS.gov), with job growth expected to reach 14 percent in the coming years.

Online Associate’s Medical Assistant Degrees

Top Online Medical Lab Tech Degrees

For those looking to become a medical laboratory technician, a minimum of a two-year associate's degree in health science or a closely related healthcare subject is usually required to gain an entry-level position in the field. For those looking for more advancement, a bachelor's degree is recommended. There are numerous accredited online schools that offer such degrees, listed below.

AAS in Medical Assisting AAS in Medical Transcription AAS in Human Services AAS in Health IT	Kaplan University — One of the biggest online schools in the nation, Kaplan University provides many online degrees to help you begin a Medical Lab Technician career. While the degrees build a foundation in healthcare that carries throughout your career, more training may be required for your desired position. Kaplan's programs include associate degrees in medical assisting, medical transcription, human services, and health information technology.
BS in Clinical Lab Science	University of Cincinnati — The Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science offered by Cincinnati University is a perfect fit for individuals persuing a career as a medical lab technician. This program is designed to prepare students to become Clinical Lab Techs (CLTs) or Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs) in under three years.
AS in Health IT	DeVry University — Kaplan, one of the most prominent online universities in the United States, offers an Associate's degree in health information technology. The four-year program is designed to train students for a variety of HIT-based medical environments, including physician practices, home health care agencies, vendor firms, and more.
AA in Human Services Mgmt	University of Phoenix — The AA in human services management degree offered by the University of Phoenix provides students with knowledge and skills related to the management of human services organizations.
AS in Allied Health Science	South University — The AS in allied health science degree program offered by South University emphasizes life science subjects like anatomy, chemistry, nutrition, and physiology. It is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of health careers, including medical laboratory technician.
BBA in Health Services Admin	Strayer University — For students seeking medical lab technician degrees that have real-world applications, Strayer University offers a Bachelors of Business Administration in Health Services Administration that can be completed through online programs. The healthcare industry is an always-growing field with high demand for skilled individuals. This is a great way to jump-start your career in the medical field today.
BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College Online — Virginia College Online offers a bachelor's degree program in health services management. This bachelor's degree presents students with a solid general education in addition to a focused teaching of basic healthcare principles. Graduates of this program will be prepared for management positions in a variety of healthcare settings.
AS in Healthcare IT	Hodges University — The Hodges University AS in health information technology degree is designed for students who seek advanced training in the information needs of the healthcare industry. Offered online, the degree equips you with the skills required to join one of the fastest growing occupations in the nation.
AS in Health IT	Rasmussen College — Rasmussen's associate's degree in health information technology teaches students medical front office procedures, how to handle patient accounts and records, and how to schedule patient appointments. Upon completion of this program, a graduate will be prepared to begin an HIT career.
RN to BSN Program	Liberty University — Liberty University is one of the nation's largest educations with several hundred degrees available in its course catalog. In order to reflect current trends in education, Liberty has added several online programs for students who need flexibility and convenience as they pursue their career interests. This includes an accredited RN to BSN program for students interested in the medical field.
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