Online Health Degrees in Medical & Dental Assistant

Online Medical Assistant Career Training

Medical assistants perform key administrative tasks that ensure smooth operations of the offices of physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, and other health care practitioners. They may help administer or collect diagnostic tests, explain procedures to patients, or perform clerical insurance and billing tasks.

Online training programs for medical assistants may run between one and two years, culminating in a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. Coursework typically focuses on medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology, along with laboratory techniques, medical ethics, first aid, pharmaceutical principles, medication procedures, and diagnostic procedures.

Additional coursework in office operations, transcription, accounting, patient relations, and insurance coding and processing can complete the curriculum, rounding out the candidate for a wide variety of office tasks. Each state regulates the range of tasks that can be performed by a medical assistant. Some states allow assistants to draw blood or administer injections.

Exceptional Career Opportunities Predicted for Medical Assistants

Medical assistants belong to one of the fastest-growing career groups in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, jobs for medical assistant are predicted to rise by an astounding 35 percent during the 2006-2016 decade. Earnings average $13.59 per hour, growing to $18.50 with experience. An estimated 62 percent of all working medical assistant are directly employed in physicians' offices, with the balance finding jobs at hospitals, clinics, and care facilities.

Online Training for Today's Dental Assistant and Hygienists

Dental assistant perform a wide range of duties, including sterilizing and preparing dental equipment, preparing patients for procedures, and performing chair-side duties during patient care. They may also perform office-related records, billing, and appointments tasks. Earnings average $15.17 per hour, with a high-end salary of $21.60.

Dental hygienists clean patients' teeth, place filling material in teeth cavities and teach patients how to care for their teeth properly. Though dental hygiene professionals are not qualified to professionally diagnose diseases, they do work alongside dentists. More than half of dental hygiene professionals work part-time, earning an average of $31.12 per hour, while the upper bracket of experienced, full-time workers can earn closer to $43.07 an hour. Flexible schedules and high earnings are the major perks that come with this fast-growing occupation.

Job Requirements for Dental Hygiene Professionals

Job requirements vary from state to state, but most require that dental hygienists hold a license and a degree from an accredited dental hygiene college or vocational school. Coursework typically focuses on diet, nutrition, and odontological prophylaxis (the clinical name for dental hygiene).

Additional courses in lab work, medicine, chemistry, pharmacology, radiology, microbiology, physiology, and anatomy can also boost your chances of finding employment after graduation. And because cosmetic dentistry is becoming more popular worldwide, you should learn about the various complications associated with fixtures, caps, bridges, and crowns.

• AAS in Medical Office Management

• Medical Assisting, AS (Online)

• Dental Assistant
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Office Assistant

• Dental Assistant
• Medical Office Assistant

• Medical Assistant