Medical Assistant at WGU
Are You Considering a Career as a Medical Assistant?
The healthcare industry is growing faster than ever. If you’re thinking about a job in the medical field, or ready to take the next step in your healthcare career, now’s a great time to explore your education options.
Medical assisting is a great fit for anyone who enjoys both the administrative and clinical side of patient care. Of course, if you’re passionate about healthcare and helping people, there are many other career paths to consider, too.
While WGU doesn’t currently offer a medical assistant certificate, our Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services, and Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management programs can prepare you for a career similar to medical assisting. If you’re already a medical assistant, or aspiring to be one, these degree programs can help you build on your skills and broaden your career choices. Graduation from one of these accredited programs will be crucial in helping you advance your career.
Pathways to a Career as a Medical Assistant
Similar to nurses, medical assistants work alongside doctors to do a variety of tasks from assisting with minor procedures and checking patient vitals to prepping exam rooms and communicating with patients throughout their medical journeys. However, as a medical assistant, you’ll be expected to handle more administrative tasks like bookkeeping, billing, and updating medical records. This means in addition to your clinical skills, you’ll need to possess strong organizational and clerical skills, as well as the ability to multitask.
If you’re looking for a more advanced job in the medical field, there are many degree paths that can prepare you for a career similar to medical assisting. .
Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services
This bachelor's degree program will prepare you for a career focused on helping people navigate their healthcare journeys. You’ll gain the knowledge necessary to work with patients on the administrative side to help explain medical situations and treatment plans. You’ll be able to manage patient journeys and care in a unique way with a career in healthcare coordination. Your courses will cover topics such as value-based care, care coordination, and integrated care management.
Some of the jobs this degree prepares you for that are similar to medical assisting include:
- Patient advocate
- Service coordinator
- Patient educator
- Community health educator
- Care coordinator
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
A health information management (HIM) degree will prepare you for the high-demand field of healthcare information technology and management. You’ll learn how to use data to influence decisions, improve patient outcomes, and create a better future in healthcare. Similar to medical assisting, you’ll be working with the details and administrative elements of healthcare, helping patients navigate their journeys to wellness.
Some of the jobs this degree prepares you for that are similar to medical assisting include:
- Healthcare administrator
- Case manager
- Health records manager
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Prelicensure)
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is for aspiring nurses or medical assistants looking for a path to both their registered nurse (RN) license and a BSN degree. The curriculum focuses on areas such as research, theory, leadership, community concepts, healthcare policy, therapeutic interventions, and current trends in healthcare.
If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant but want to be more hands-on with patients and expand your career in the medical field, a BSN in Nursing could be the better choice for you.
$35,850
is the average annual salary for medical assistants.
$65,785
is the average annual salary for registered nurses.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants handle both administrative tasks and patient care duties. They can work anywhere from hospitals to laboratories and handle tasks such as updating medical records, assisting with physical exams, and collecting lab specimens.
What Does a Nurse Do?
Nurses provide medical treatment and support to patients, as well as give them advice, educate them on their treatment and recovery, and offer emotional support. Their exact duties can depend on their nursing specialty or the setting they work in.
What Does a Patient Advocate Do?
Patient advocates look out for the best interests of patients. They provide them with a list of resources once they leave the hospital and can coordinate for them to receive the information they need regarding their health.
What Does a Health Services Coordinator Do?
These professionals act as liaisons to help patients interact with their care providers and even insurance companies.
What Does a Health Information Manager Do?
A health information manager works almost exclusively with data. They protect and handle patient data and ensure that the information is accurate, accessible, secure, and high quality.
What Does a Medical Records Manager Do?
Medical records managers maintain and secure all written and electronic medical records within an organization’s medical records department. They also make sure that information is accurate, complete, and available only to authorized personnel.
32%
career growth is expected in medical and health service manager positions, while employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7% from now until 2029.
Why Choose WGU?
Why should you choose a health information management or healthcare management degree over a medical assistant certificate from a medical assistant school? Here are a few reasons a WGU degree is a smart choice.
- It’s affordable. Our low, flat-rate tuition is charged per six-month term and covers as many courses as you complete in that time.
- It’s accessible. Along with our already-low tuition, our scholarships and financial aid make college even more affordable.
- It’s at your pace. Thanks to our competency-based education, you can pass courses by proving what you know instead of classroom time, meaning you can speed up your program and graduate faster.
- It’s career focused. Our degree programs are designed with your employment and success in mind, so the skills you learn will translate directly to your healthcare career.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
Which Degree Should You Choose?
Health & Nursing
Health and Human Services – B.S.
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a...
An online health degree program for students who are committed to making a difference for patients in a variety of ways.
- Time: 63% of students finish this program in 24 months
- Tuition: $4,210 per 6-month term
- Courses: 35 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Epidemiology
- Community and Public Health
- Cultural Awareness
- Pathophysiology
- Healthcare Values and Ethics
- Substance Abuse Support
This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also directly working with patients who need help.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $8,755 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Health & Nursing
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM....
A program designed for future leaders in HIM.
- Time: 61% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $4,210 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare System Applications
- Health Information Law and Regulations
- Healthcare Project Management
- Data Analytics and Information Governance
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
Frequently Asked Questions About Being a Medical Assistant
As a medical assistant, you’ll be responsible for a variety of administrative and clinical tasks, including:
- Taking vitals
- Explaining treatment procedures to patients
- Preparing patients for their exams
- Taking medical histories
- Assisting physicians
- Collecting and preparing lab specimens
- Updating medical records
- Coding and filling out forms
- Billing and bookkeeping
It depends on your interests and career goals. CNAs work directly with patients on a day-to-day basis helping them do things like bathe, get dressed, and eat meals. Medical assistants do more clerical tasks, such as keeping patient records up to date, answering patient questions, or taking medical histories.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a medical assistant is $35,850.
If your goal is to become a medical assistant, then a specific medical assistant school and certification is your obvious choice. But if you want to expand your healthcare knowledge and future career opportunities, a degree in nursing, healthcare management, or healthcare coordination could be a smarter choice.
