For a career that is actually meaningful and that allows you to help people on the job, you almost can’t beat working as a medical assistant. These professionals work alongside doctors and nurses in all kinds of medical settings to provide the best patient care. Medical assistants get patient appointments started, take vital signs and assist with procedures. It’s a rewarding career and one that you can get started without spending four years in college.
Medical Assistant Diploma vs Medical Assistant Degree
So, you want to become a medical assistant, but you are not sure what step to take next. Very few employers will hire someone as a medical assistant with only a high school diploma. It is possible to get hired this way and to receive on-the-job training, but it is becoming less common. You are more likely to appeal to employers by getting some level of secondary education, either a medical assistant diploma or a medical assistant degree. Here are some comparisons of the two options, diploma vs degree:
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Program length.
One of the most significant differences between a diploma vs degree is the time it takes to complete them. A diploma program will take a year or less, while an associate’s degree program takes at least two years as a full-time student to complete. This is an important consideration when choosing between a degree and a diploma. Ask yourself if you can afford to spend two years earning a degree, or if you need to start working sooner.
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Program cost.
With more credit hours, an associate degree program will cost more; therefore time is an important consideration when choosing between a medical assistant degree and a diploma, but don’t forget the cost. By choosing a longer, more expensive program, you will face additional expenses in two ways: a higher program cost and a longer time before you can start earning a salary as a medical assistant.
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Coursework.
Another difference to consider when choosing between a medical assisting degree or diploma program is the coursework. Both will have similar courses, but the degree coursework will include more advanced topics. Both programs cover administrative skills for medical offices, lab procedures, pharmacology, medical terminology, ethics, and basic clinical and surgical procedures. The medical assistant degree program will also include anatomy and physiology courses and more advanced and in-depth courses in general.
Either a diploma or degree program in medical assisting should prepare you for professional certification. Not all employers will require certification or registration as a medical assistant, but getting this distinction will make you a more desirable candidate for jobs. Completing either level of training program will provide you with the knowledge you need to pass a certification exam.
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Hands-on experiences.
Hands-on learning and practice are important parts of getting an education as a medical assistant. Whether you choose a diploma vs degree, you should be sure that your program includes a significant number of hours of hands-on practice as a medical assistant. This is the experience that will really prepare you to do the job and is something that employers like to see on resumes.
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Career advancement.
If you think you might want to advance your career in health care beyond working as a medical assistant, you may want to carefully consider your training program. Earning a medical assistant degree will give you greater opportunities for continuing your education later. For instance, if you want to earn a nursing degree after a few years on the job as a medical assistant, having that associate’s degree will put you in a better position to earn another degree as compared to only having a diploma.
Job opportunities are similar for those who earn a medical assistant degree or a medical assistant diploma. While many other things are different for these two levels of education, the level of opportunity is high for both. There are many positions available for medical assistants and there are no indications that this will change in the future. Just be sure that if you have a particular hospital or doctor’s office in mind where you would like to work, that you check to see if a medical assistant degree is required or if a diploma will suffice.
Become a Medical Assistant: A Fast-Growing Field
Whether you choose a medical assistant diploma vs a degree or vice versa, you will have plenty of work opportunities with training as a medical assistant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) categorizes medical assisting as a career that is growing much faster than other jobs. The agency estimates that between 2020 and 2030 the field will grow by 18 percent. This means finding a job after graduating will be fairly easy if you take the right steps.
Health care, in general, is a growing field as the population of the country ages, but allied health workers, those workers like medical assistants that support doctors and nurses, are more in demand than ever. Opportunities for people with a medical assisting degree or diploma will be numerous for years to come and job security is something that you can look forward to in your new career.
Choosing a School to Help You Become a Medical Assistant
You’ve settled your future career on medical assisting, you’re looking forward to working directly with patients, and now you just need the education to get you there. Florida Technical College (FTC) is a great choice and offers programs for both a medical assistant degree and a medical assistant diploma at several campuses throughout Florida. You can choose a campus that works for your location and also choose between earning the two-year associate’s degree and working on a shorter diploma that will help you find a position in medical assisting sooner.
There are many benefits to choosing FTC for a medical assisting degree or diploma. One is that our campuses offer programs that are designed to work for busy adults. If you have a job you need to keep while you earn your degree or diploma if you have a family to take care of, or if you have both responsibilities, you can still get your training here and work in your courses around your busy schedule.
FTC also offers assistance with financial aid, so that if you need some help paying for tuition, we can get you started on federal aid or other programs like grants and loans. FTC also offers top-notch courses with some of the best instructors around. You’ll get small classes with plenty of individualized instruction from professionals in medical assisting. You will also benefit from at least 160 hours of hands-on, real-world experience working as a medical assistant.
And, when you’re ready to find your position as a medical assistant, you can let FTC’s career services department help you. The professionals in career services will help you build and write your resume, develop a professional portfolio, practice interviewing, and find and apply for medical assisting jobs.
Whether you choose to become a medical assistant by earning a diploma or a degree, you have already made the best choice when you go with FTC. In addition to that, you have also made a great career choice by deciding to work in this exciting and rewarding area of health care. Contact FTC today to get more information about the medical assistant degree and medical assistant diploma programs.
