Best Online Schools for Medical Office Administration
Students interested in online medical office administration degrees will find accredited options at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and certificate levels. A degree in medical office administration will include coursework in medical billing, medical terminology, healthcare systems, computer applications, and more. Students who go on to pursue careers in medical office administration will perform a variety of support tasks for doctor's offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.
It is important for those looking into online medical office administration degrees to take accreditation into consideration. Attending a regionally accredited institution will help to ensure that the students are receiving a relevant education, that they are eligible to receive federal financial aid, and that they can transfer credits between institutions.
ON THIS PAGE
Overview Online Certificate Associate Bachelor's Master'sMost Popular Accredited Online Schools for Medical Office Administration Degrees
Rank | School | Annual Tuition | Recommend Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Purdue University Global Learn more about how we make money. "> | $14,358 | Purdue University Global. "> 72% (470 reviews) | |
Liberty University Learn more about how we make money. "> | $11,700 | Liberty University. "> 58% (326 reviews) | |
Rasmussen University Online | Not Provided | Rasmussen University Online. "> 44% (86 reviews) | |
American National University | $8,244 | American National University. "> 17% (6 reviews) | |
Miller-Motte College Online | $24,160 | Miller-Motte College Online. "> 33% (3 reviews) | |
University of Arkansas Grantham Learn more about how we make money. "> | $8,280 | University of Arkansas Grantham. "> 56% (96 reviews) | |
Bryant & Stratton College Online Learn more about how we make money. "> | $14,834 | Bryant & Stratton College Online. "> 57% (69 reviews) | |
Davenport University | $19,338 | Davenport University. "> 100% (3 reviews) | |
National American University Online | $10,575 | National American University Online. "> 40% (75 reviews) | |
Carrington College | $34,050 | Carrington College. "> 0% (5 reviews) | |
University of Northwestern Ohio | $11,500 | Add Review | |
Ultimate Medical Academy | $15,525 | Ultimate Medical Academy. "> 84% (533 reviews) | |
Colorado Technical University - Online | Not Provided | Colorado Technical University - Online. "> 62% (307 reviews) | |
Ross College | $15,680 | Add Review | |
Brookline College | $15,008 | Add Review | |
Beckfield College | $13,295 | Add Review | |
Ross Medical Education Center | $15,685 | Add Review | |
Vista College | $15,680 | Vista College. "> 0% (4 reviews) | |
Charter College Online | $18,161 | Charter College Online. "> 25% (12 reviews) | |
Penn Foster College | Not Provided | Penn Foster College. "> 60% (219 reviews) | |
Penn Foster Career School | Not Provided | Penn Foster Career School. "> 46% (158 reviews) | |
Penn Foster - Healthcare | Not Provided | Penn Foster - Healthcare. "> 47% (15 reviews) | |
InterCoast Colleges | $25,664 | InterCoast Colleges. "> 0% (1 review) | |
Craven Community College | $6,630 | Craven Community College. "> 50% (2 reviews) | |
Edison State Community College | $8,933 | Add Review |
Overview of Medical Office Programs Online
Although medical office administration does not necessarily require any formal education, professionals who hold degrees may have more job opportunities. Online school for medical office administration can improve skill level, hireability, and further a graduate’s career.
There are four main educational pathways to consider:
1
Students can also receive an education in medical office administration without committing to a full degree program by pursuing a medical office administration certificate online. Online undergraduate certificate degrees are available and take around a year to complete.
2
An associate degree in the medical field takes about two years to complete and prepares graduates to work at entry-level positions, such as medical office assistant, medical secretary, and administrative assistant.
3
For those who are looking to hold management and leadership positions, consider an online medical office administration bachelor's degree. Over the course of four years, students prepare to work as program managers, clinical directors, office administrators, and practice administrators.
4
Online master's degree programs are also available and can be completed in two years. Graduates may go on to work in senior positions, including executive officer, hospital administrator, department manager, and healthcare consultant.
Find an Accredited Online Medical Office Administration Degree
Before enrolling in an online medical office administration degree program, students should verify that their institution is accredited.
Accreditation is important for many reasons. First of all, accredited schools have had their faculty, course work, grading systems, facilities, and student resources assessed by independent organizations to ensure that the schools provide quality education that meets national educational standards.
Only students at accredited institutions are eligible for federal financial aid programs. Additionally, accreditation plays an important role in the transfer process. Most institutions and programs will only accept transfer credits from other higher education institutions that have been accredited.
Online Certificate in Medical Office Administration
People who are not interested in committing to a full undergraduate degree program have the option of participating in an undergraduate medical office administration certificate program. This type of program does not result in an associate or bachelor's degree, yet it still delivers the education needed to begin a successful career in the industry. Certificate programs consist of 47 to 57 credit hours and students can typically complete them in a year, or sometimes a little longer.
Among the required courses are Medical Office Management, Medical Insurance Billing, Patient Prioritizing and Instruction, Medical Coding, Disease of the Human Body, Medical Office Accounting, Medical Records Management, and Medical Terminology. Depending on the program, students may also need to complete an externship that will give them hands-on experience prior to graduation.
Certificate programs are available at community colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
Admission Requirements
Below are some of the requirements when applying for a medical office administration certificate online:
- Application form
- High school diploma or GED
- Letters of recommendation
- Writing/computer proficiency test
-
What Can I Do With a Medical Office Administration Certificate ?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists several careers for individuals with a postsecondary award or certificate. These include medical secretaries, medical assistants, medical records and health information specialists, and medical transcriptionists.
Administrators and assistants are important in every field, and a field like healthcare administration involves a lot of paperwork, data, and patient information, so administrators and assistants are always in high demand.
Online Associate Degree in Medical Office Administration
Students can earn an online associate degree in medical office administration at community colleges, state colleges, and universities. Students enrolled in an online associate degree program can typically graduate in around two years by completing 60 semester credit hours.
Examples of the different courses students encounter during their studies include Keyboarding, Healthcare Systems and Operations, Insurance Claims, Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professionals, Ethics and Health Information Management, and Computer Applications. In some cases, students must also complete a case study research project as well as an internship.
Admission Requirements
Below are some of the key requirements for prospective students seeking an associate degree in office administration:
- Application form
- An essay or personal statement
- High school diploma or GED
-
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
What Can I Do With an Associate in Medical Office Administration?
An associate in office administration that's focused within the medical field prepares graduates to perform clinical and medical administrative duties. O*NET lists several career opportunities for individuals with an associate degree: health information technologists and medical registrar, facilities manager, and clinical data managers. An associate degree in medical office administration is helpful for those who want to advance into a position with more responsibility.
Administrators and assistants are important in every field, and a field like healthcare administration involves a lot of paperwork, data, and patient information, so administrators and assistants are always in high demand.
A Medical Office Administration Bachelor’s Degree
Students can pursue online bachelor's degrees in medical office administration at colleges and universities. Bachelor's degree programs help prepare students for roles in this field through around 120 credit hours of study over the course of four years.
Curriculum at this level comprises classes such as the following: Introduction to Management, Healthcare Finance, Medical Law and Ethics, Healthcare Human Resources Management, Healthcare Quality, Accounting, Leadership and Organizational Behavior, and Principles of Microeconomics. Bachelor's programs online, or in-person, may also require that students participate in an internship or complete a capstone project.
Are you still undecided about your next steps? Check out similar online degree programs at the bachelor's level in this field: healthcare administration, healthcare informatics, and healthcare management.
Admission Requirements
Below are some of the requirements for applying to a bachelors in medical office administration:
- Application form
- Essays/personal statement
- High school diploma or GED
-
- Transcripts
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
What Can I Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Office Administration?
An online medical office bachelor's degree prepares graduates for advanced positions in the field and higher salaries. The BLS lists several careers for graduates of this bachelor’s degree. These include administrative services and facilities managers, social and community service managers, and medical and health services managers. These careers overlook departments and programs in order to provide organizational plans and solutions.
Online Master's Degrees in the Medical Field: Next Steps
Our list of online schools above does not feature master's degrees because this next level of education is highly specialized. To explore the best online master's degree programs in this field, check out our articles about healthcare administration and healthcare management. You can even get a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management if you're interested in becoming a healthcare administrator, clinical research coordinator, or clinical ethicist, to name a few possibilities.
Students can typically complete their master's degree studies in two years and are required to take up to 39 semester credit hours of classes. Coursework covers such topics such as healthcare policy and law, strategic healthcare planning, project management and team leadership, healthcare consumerism and marketing, healthcare policy drivers, and human capital management in healthcare.
Bottom Line
The field of medical administration has a variety of career options that require different levels of education. Whether you’re interested in earning a certificate — and working as a medical assistant — or pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree and leading entire departments, there is an online program for you.
Related Articles
2023 Best Online Health Care Management Degrees
Pursue the best online bachelor's degree in healthcare management from our 2023 list ranked by salary score.