2023 Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Degree Guide
Doctors have many patients and work to provide medical services to people whenever necessary. With a degree in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, you will be able to aid doctors to ensure all patients receive proper and timely treatment.
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services professionals help doctors by aiding with administrational and clinical tasks. They perform exams, give injections, and schedule appointments. In order to gain the skills to properly aid medical professionals, students take classes in medical software, terminology, procedures, office administration, and pharmacology.
There are many types of medical professions that require an assistant. Some of the areas of specialization available to students include Clinical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Assistant, Veterinary Technology, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance), Pathology Assistant, Respiratory Therapy Technician, and Radiologist Assistant among others.
A Spike in Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Degrees
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services was the 48th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 84,492 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 6,899 over the prior year, a growth of 8.2%.
This year's Best Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Schools ranking compares 654 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom medical assisting rankings further below.
Best Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Schools by Degree
Featured Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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BS in Health Sciences
Take your associate degree in an allied health field to the next level with this specialized transfer friendly online bachelor of science from Southern New Hampshire University. Learn More > |
Requirements for Getting a Degree in Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services
Medical assistants not only work with doctors, but closely with patients, as well. This means students should have strong communication and interpersonal skills to make patients feel comfortable and relay important information to physicians. Analytical skills and close attention to detail help professionals read medical charts and make diagnoses based on symptoms and tests.
A degree in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services leads to a full time job at a variety of medical centers. Assistants may work in offices or clinics that are open during normal business hours, while others assist doctors at 24/7 facilities, such as hospitals.
While no formal education is required to become an Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services professional, some students decide to pursue a degree from a community college or vocational school. Others learn skills from on the job training.
Prior Education for a Medical Assisting Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional medical assisting certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Degree Types
There are many different medical assisting degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in allied health and medical assisting services to something that takes less time like a . Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to medical assisting, with approximately 37.3% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to medical assisting tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 41.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.5% |
| High School Diploma | 14.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 10.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 6.8% |
Most workers in medical assisting have at least a associate degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in allied health and medical assisting services careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the medical assisting career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for Medical Assisting Majors
Since there are so many medical professions, Allied health and Medical Assisting Services graduates work in a variety of locations. Some locations are specialized doctors' offices, health clinics, and hospitals. It is predicted that the need for medical assistants will continue to grow, allowing doctors to care for more patients during the day.
High Growth Projected for Medical Assisting Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your medical assisting degree? Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services careers are expected to grow 21.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to allied health and medical assisting services.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 818,400 | 29.0% |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 450,100 | 11.8% |
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 187,200 | 14.0% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians | 152,900 | 19.6% |
How Much Money Do People With a Medical Assisting Degree Make?
Recently graduated allied health and medical assisting services students earned an average of $28,848 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $8,339 to as high as $178,768. As you might expect, salaries for medical assisting graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Medical Assisting Majors
Salaries for allied health and medical assisting services graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers medical assisting grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Physician Assistants | $108,430 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $60,410 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $57,750 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technicians | $51,380 |
Getting Your Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Degree
With over 3,391 different medical assisting degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased medical assisting school rankings to help you with this.
Top Ranking Lists for Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services
Majors Related to Medical Assisting
One of 30 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services has other similar majors worth exploring.
Medical Assisting Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 56,466 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 7,420 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,393 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 4,848 |
| Other Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 3,493 |
View All Medical Assisting Concentrations >
Majors Similar to Medical Assisting
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 322,592 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
View All Medical Assisting Related Majors >
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Medical Assisting Schools
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Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
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