Associate Degree
Medical Office Administration
Online Associate Degree Program
Associate Degree
Medical Office Administration
Online Associate Degree Program
Step up your allied health career with an associate degree
Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
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Transfer credit | Up to 45 approved credits |
Format | 100% online classes, with capstone course or internship |
Certification | Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam prep – we pay for your first attempt! |
Pathways | Degree pathways to continue advancing your allied health career, including health sciences, healthcare administration and health information management |
QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
![Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Medical Office Administration](/sites/default/files/styles/fp_500x300_jpg/public/2021-03/medical-coding-worker.jpg?h=c59ccc0c&itok=BLq01aaT)
Overview: Associate in Medical Office Administration
The Associate of Science/Applied Science in Medical Office Administration is a 60-credit undergraduate program which prepares you for a career as a medical office administrator/administrative assistant.
The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in medical terminology, patient privacy, pathophysiology and pharmacology, insurance claims, administrative skills, and much more.
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Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
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Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
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Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
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Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
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Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Classes Start March 4th
Learn More Today
Curriculum
Medical Office Administration degree classes & curriculum details
The online associate degree program expands what is learned in the diploma level with the general education courses required for an associate degree. It offers more career flexibility and provides the foundation needed for those who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree at any point in their careers.
All classes are delivered online with a required capstone or internship.
Programs | Monthsi | Credits |
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Associate and Associate of Applied Science in Medical Office Administration | 20 | 60 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program
Program availability varies by location.
Required Courses
All courses, 15.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Anatomy and Physiology Course
◊ 4.00 semester credit hours are required. (3.00 of these semester credit hours will satisfy general education requirement)
Required Internship or Research Project
4.00 credit hours are required.
Open Elective Courses
A minimum of 15.00 semester credit hours of open electives is required.
General Education Requirements
Students enrolled in this associate's degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education (◊ includes 3.0 credit hours from Anatomy and Physiology listed in above required) distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences ◊ Science Semester Credit Hours are satisfied through Anatomy and Physiology requirement listed above.
Personal and Professional Development Courses
1.00 semester credit hours are required.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
When you accept the 10% tuition discount from our Financial Commitment Scholarship, the cost of tuition for the Associate of Science in Medical Office Administration program is $464 per credit.1
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10% tuition discount or tuition reduction to $250 per credit.
i. Financial Commitment Scholarship eligibility requirements: Recommended that students limit student loan borrowing to only what is needed to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Students may borrow up to $2,000 in student loans in excess of tuition and fees to cover their cost of attendance and retain eligibility for this scholarship. Excess loan eligibility dependent on individual student situation.
Requirements
Medical Office Administration degree enrollment requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Medical Office Administration associate degree program include:
- Completion of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent
- Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
- Complete an enrollment application
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
Classes Start March 4th
Waived Enrollment FeeWhat can I do with a degree in medical office administration?
Earning a medical office administration associate degree positions you best to apply for many different types of jobs in a medical office, including titles such as:
- Medical Office Administrator
- Medical Secretary
- Medical Receptionist
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Office Specialist
- Unit Support Representative
Every job will come with a unique set of specific responsibilities. Most jobs in medical administration involved answering phones, scheduling appointments, organizing patient records and customer support. Getting educated familiarizes you with medical terminology and processes necessary to prepare you for success in these positions right off the bat.
Job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical secretaries is projected to increase by 7% from 2022-2032, much faster than the average across all U.S. occupations.*
Position yourself best to qualify for entry-level positions in the growing field of medical administration by earning an associate degree in less than 2 years.
How can I advance my career? There are many bachelor's degree possibilities in allied health, including health sciences, healthcare administration and health information management. Strong administrators could pursue a bachelor’s degree to continue climbing the career ladder, or consider an MBA in Healthcare Management to qualify for leadership positions in the business of healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Earning a degree isn’t always required to become a medical office administrator (or administrative assistant), although applicants holding an associate degree may have an edge over those with only a certificate or no formal training at all.
Herzing’s diploma program in medical office administration, typically completed in as little as 1 year, is built to help you get the education you need to earn your first professional job in medical office administration.
Herzing University offers several online degree pathways in the field of healthcare, including associate degrees in:
- Medical Office Administration
- Medical Assisting
- Insurance Billing and Coding Specialist
- Medical Coding
- Health Information Management
- Healthcare Administration
And bachelor’s degree options in:
Students looking to build a bachelor’s degree combining healthcare with another concentration may consider a degree in interdisciplinary studies. You can choose two concentrations to merge foundational education in healthcare administration with business, criminal justice or network security.
Our goal is to provide the educational pathway you need to discover the healthcare career you’ve always wanted.
Yes! There are many benefits to working in medical office administration, including the ability to build your skills in a growing field and open opportunities to propel your career to the next level.
With Herzing University you have a lifelong learning partner who strives to empower you to become possible.
Medical assistants typically have a greater role in patient care, and may perform tasks like taking vital signs, providing injections or medications or aiding in patient exams.
Medical office/administrative assistants practice in a clerical role rather than in direct patient care, responsible for organizing patient records, scheduling appointments, answering phones or filing paperwork.
Medical assistants can hold a variety of titles, roles and responsibilities based on the employer. There are two broad types of medical assistants:
- Clinical medical assistants. These medical assistants focus on patient care, including taking vital signs, drawing blood, visual/hearing tests, preparing exam rooms for procedures, communicating with physicians, and much more. Our medical assisting program is designed for students seeking these kinds of roles working directly in patient care.
- Administrative medical assistants. Sometimes referred to as “front office medical assistants,” administrative assistants handle scheduling, patient records, insurance claims and additional accounting/billing tasks to help the delivery of healthcare run smoothly. These types of medical assistants can specialize their education in a medical office administration program.
Experienced medical assistants, particularly on the clinical side, may specialize in a certain type of care or age group, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, cardiology, orthopedics, or many others.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical secretaries (also regarded as “administrative assistants”) earn an average salary of $41,260 per year—$19.84 per hour.*
The BLS projects a 7% increase in employment from 2022-2032.
How much you can expect to make will depend largely on the precise responsibilities of the job, your level of education & experience, and the state in which you work. Because of the many duties, responsibilities and job titles in this field, pay can vary widely.
If you like people and are detail oriented, medical office administration could be a great career field. A career as a medical office administrator could be right for you, if you:
- Enjoy helping others
- Like working in an office setting
- Are compassionate and supportive
- Enjoy working with paperwork and on a computer
- Work equally well alone or as part of a group
- Like clear guidelines
- Appreciate a common-sense approach to problems
- Have good people and communication skills
Becoming certified isn’t always required by employers, but our goal is to empower you to become as employable as possible and thrive in your new career. Earning certification can help you earn the job you really want.
The Herzing medical office administration program curriculum includes preparation for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam, offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)—and Herzing pays for your first attempt! Becoming a CMAA gives you the professional credentials many healthcare employers are searching for.
All students enrolled in the Medical Office Administration program are required to sit for the CMAA certification exam.
Specific roles and responsibilities will vary by position. Medical office administrators and assistants typically perform a variety of clerical duties, including answering phones, scheduling appointments, processing & organizing patient records, bookkeeping & accounting tasks, and other customer support.
Work environment
Jobs in medical administration are most often found in an office environment within a healthcare facility. A typical work week for full-time employees is 40 hours, Monday–Friday with the possibility of paid overtime, depending on the employer. Employers may additionally offer benefit packages which may include health insurance, paid vacation, and a retirement savings plan such as profit-sharing or 401(k). Some employers also have part-time opportunities available.
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Accreditations
Accreditations & Disclosures
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.