Medical office and office administration degrees can be pursued through community colleges. Typically, the degrees offered for these fields include Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS). The AA includes an emphasis on liberal arts courses, such as history, math, sciences and English, while also covering subjects of your major. In contrast, the AAS degree is heavily focused on courses that deal with your major. AA degrees are ideal for students who are planning to pursue a bachelor's program, since the credits are transferable. With the AAS degree, usually credits earned are not transferable and the education focuses on providing students with the knowledge required to quickly find employment and apply the newly learned skills.
Accelerated degrees in the field of medical office studies include certificate programs, diploma programs, Associate of Science in Medical Office Administration degrees and "fast-track" degrees. Most diploma and certificate programs are typically completed in less than a year and the primary focus of study is medical terminology and billing, physician diagnostic coding and accounting. Conventional associate's degrees and fast-track degrees are generally completed in two years or less, depending on the specialization.
Educational programs focused on medical office are intended to provide the necessary training for students to exercise vocational careers in the health-care industry. Responsibilities may include managing the business aspect of a medical office, hospital or clinic; being of assistance to health-care management professionals; monitoring patients; working in a physician's office or long-term care facility; or working for insurance companies in payroll and human resources departments. Additionally, a degree in medical office can prepare you for further fields of specialization, such as in health-care management or medical insurance professions.
Typical coursework for a degree in medical office administration include medical and administrative areas of study, such as: medical terminology, medical law and ethics, medical laboratory procedures, medical records systems, accounting, office automation, administrative procedures, clinical procedures, essential business calculations, first aid and CPR, computer applications, medical typing and theory, medical transcription, recordkeeping and pharmacology. These courses vary depending on the school you attend.
Basic requirements for all associate's degrees, fast-track diplomas or certificate programs in any medical office degree include completion of high school or General Education Development (GED) certificate and having basic experience working with computers. Before choosing a school, find out if the program is accredited by a national or regional accreditation agency. There are six regional accrediting agencies throughout the United States that validate the quality of education provided by colleges, universities, and distance-learning institutions.