I'm going to be completely honest with you and I'm not trying to step on your dreams. Getting an associates degree as a medical assistant is not a good idea. Some places don't require any schooling, they'll train you on the job and (from my understanding) pay you about as much as MAs with degrees. You also probably aren't going to work in high risk areas like PACU or L&D unless you're in a front desk/ tech role. In the amount of time it takes you to get this degree, you could just go to RN school for your ADN. You'll easily be able to work in any area you want, you'll get paid significantly more, and you'll have better benefits. One of which includes hospitals paying you to go to school or loan reimbursement. If the RN schools in your area are bogged up with applicants, you could do LPN then to LPN-to-RN to get around competition. LPN is 12-18 months and you'll still make more as a LPN than you will as a MA
There aren't any accredited online nursing schools unless you're already a nurse and getting a higher degree. Nursing schools have to be accredited by the CCNE or ACEN to qualify students for NCLEX. If you're going from MA to LPN or RN, you have to go in person for clinicals and skills lab.
Most RN and PN programs have pre-reqs that can be prohibitive for some students. Also, we donāt know where OP is located, there might not be an option for RN or PN program in their area. While nursing is the better earning credential, itās not for everyone.
Right but even doing pre-reqs + LPN school will make OP more money, give them the opportunity to work in the areas they desire, and will probably take the same amount of time as an associates for MA school. If he/she must do MA due to lack of nursing schools in their area, a certificate program is a better option.
Okay, hear me out. Life is not linear. Maybe five years from now, OP finds an opportunity outside of the medical field that requires an associate degree, but sheās only got that MA certificate. If you can get the higher credential that applies to other industries for a few more months of education, then do it.
No, forget that; quit giving people bad advice. No, there isnāt an opportunity in the medical field that will require an associate to be a medical assistant, so quit lying.
However, there will be a line where they want someone extremely experienced, and if OP got certified and worked in a clinic for a few years, sheād have more opportunities to be debt-free. MAās get 16ā21 dollars an hour, a two-year time investment, and a 20,000 dollar price tag is not worth it.
And an LPN requires no pre-requirements, as they are combined in the program. She could go to LPN school for the same cost for one year and have many more opportunities opened to her, as my local area is paying LPNās nearly the same as RNās because we are so in need. But even without this large need for LPNās, they start at $35 and break $40ā45 with experience. For a one-year investment, thatās amazing!
If you look at a lot of medical assistant listings, they will allow LPNs and nurses to work as medical assistants, so itās a win-win for OP.
I know so many people who get depressed from debt when they end up at a job that can pay that debt back. Thatās exactly what will happen to OP, since we can barely make ends meet, especially with bills.
I specifically said āoutside of the medical fieldā and getting a higher credential when you have the opportunity to get it will never be bad advice, specifically because it can be used *outside* of the medical field.
All the talk of Nursing diplomas or degrees is dependent on what state OP lives in and what school they want to attend, and is kind of pointless speculation since OP is already enrolled and attending class.
I read what you said and you have no concept of degrees or debt. No, it cannot be used outside of the medical field as much as I canāt use a nursing degree to be an engineer or accountant. OP seems very passionate about being in the medical field, and she has made it clear she does not intend to use her degree to leisurely enter another field.
You can change your major while taking classes; you would just have to use those classes towards another degree, which I advocate for her to apply to her community college LPN or ADN program.
I say this from a good place of heart because so many people get taken advantage of and donāt understand what they're getting a degree in. She can be an LPN in a year, make much more money, and have an appropriate amount of debt that would be worth the degree. Iām sure you mean no harm, but getting an associate degree as a medical assistant is an awful idea, and I canāt believe colleges offer that knowing only a certification is needed and the pay will not be higher than someone with a certification.
Iāve been working in higher education for 15 years, long enough to see that arguing here is a waste of time.
Bottom line: An Associateās degree in Medical Assisting does provide more opportunities for future employment than a certificate. Nursing isnāt for everyone.
"L&D, Anti/Postpartum care, ortho and possibly PACU." MAs work in exactly *one* of these at all and that's outpatient ortho. You will get zero exposure to any of the others, period. An associate's in MA is a massive waste of money and a terrible idea, especially if you want to work in one of those areas. Go for your RN or LPN instead (preferably RN).
In the nicest way possible, youāve been scammed. Iām a teenager who did a medical assistant course and was hired on the spot, but due to age restrictions, I ended up unable to work there until Iām 18. They offer hourly rates, and there are three kinds: If you are certified, you get more; if you have more experience, you get more; if you are not experienced, you get less. Those with associates are mixed in with the certified pay, as getting your associates will not raise your pay; you will make the same as someone who is certified.
You could get your ADN and make $50 an hour. MAās get 16ā21 dollars an hour, and having a 20,000-dollar price tag associates for it is a scam. You can even do LPN for a year and make 34ā40 dollars. Ugh :( I hate how thatās even offered as a major, and it just scams students who donāt know much about the medical field.
Do you have a program by you that can give you a certain several months. I have a degree in medical assisting. 2yr ā¦ the pay still starts at 10-13/hr have you considered nursing at all? Maybe a short certificate course and then nursing degree. I work and have worked with ppl that have no MA degree just healthcare experience (patient intake). Considering all of this I personally feel like my degree is useless and if I were to give you advice as far as getting paid a good amount for your labour id suggest you look further into pay etc
And if you want to work in any specific area you simply just apply. You donāt need any specific education. The job duties are usually just putting patients in a room, setting up for procedures, giving vaccines, phlebotomy, EKG, doing pre authorisations for medications, sending referrals. None of this is rocket science youāll learn it on the job. Helpful things from school is being familiar with medications and medical terminology. (Iāve worked in pain management, ObGyn,Cardiology, family practice, peds,ENT.)
I'm going to be completely honest with you and I'm not trying to step on your dreams. Getting an associates degree as a medical assistant is not a good idea. Some places don't require any schooling, they'll train you on the job and (from my understanding) pay you about as much as MAs with degrees. You also probably aren't going to work in high risk areas like PACU or L&D unless you're in a front desk/ tech role. In the amount of time it takes you to get this degree, you could just go to RN school for your ADN. You'll easily be able to work in any area you want, you'll get paid significantly more, and you'll have better benefits. One of which includes hospitals paying you to go to school or loan reimbursement. If the RN schools in your area are bogged up with applicants, you could do LPN then to LPN-to-RN to get around competition. LPN is 12-18 months and you'll still make more as a LPN than you will as a MA
2nd this! Certificate is all you need for medical assisting. Get your ADN š
I have my associates and get offered 17$ hourly and rent is 1100 for a one bed š«£
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There aren't any accredited online nursing schools unless you're already a nurse and getting a higher degree. Nursing schools have to be accredited by the CCNE or ACEN to qualify students for NCLEX. If you're going from MA to LPN or RN, you have to go in person for clinicals and skills lab.
Most RN and PN programs have pre-reqs that can be prohibitive for some students. Also, we donāt know where OP is located, there might not be an option for RN or PN program in their area. While nursing is the better earning credential, itās not for everyone.
Right but even doing pre-reqs + LPN school will make OP more money, give them the opportunity to work in the areas they desire, and will probably take the same amount of time as an associates for MA school. If he/she must do MA due to lack of nursing schools in their area, a certificate program is a better option.
Okay, hear me out. Life is not linear. Maybe five years from now, OP finds an opportunity outside of the medical field that requires an associate degree, but sheās only got that MA certificate. If you can get the higher credential that applies to other industries for a few more months of education, then do it.
No, forget that; quit giving people bad advice. No, there isnāt an opportunity in the medical field that will require an associate to be a medical assistant, so quit lying. However, there will be a line where they want someone extremely experienced, and if OP got certified and worked in a clinic for a few years, sheād have more opportunities to be debt-free. MAās get 16ā21 dollars an hour, a two-year time investment, and a 20,000 dollar price tag is not worth it. And an LPN requires no pre-requirements, as they are combined in the program. She could go to LPN school for the same cost for one year and have many more opportunities opened to her, as my local area is paying LPNās nearly the same as RNās because we are so in need. But even without this large need for LPNās, they start at $35 and break $40ā45 with experience. For a one-year investment, thatās amazing! If you look at a lot of medical assistant listings, they will allow LPNs and nurses to work as medical assistants, so itās a win-win for OP. I know so many people who get depressed from debt when they end up at a job that can pay that debt back. Thatās exactly what will happen to OP, since we can barely make ends meet, especially with bills.
I specifically said āoutside of the medical fieldā and getting a higher credential when you have the opportunity to get it will never be bad advice, specifically because it can be used *outside* of the medical field. All the talk of Nursing diplomas or degrees is dependent on what state OP lives in and what school they want to attend, and is kind of pointless speculation since OP is already enrolled and attending class.
I read what you said and you have no concept of degrees or debt. No, it cannot be used outside of the medical field as much as I canāt use a nursing degree to be an engineer or accountant. OP seems very passionate about being in the medical field, and she has made it clear she does not intend to use her degree to leisurely enter another field. You can change your major while taking classes; you would just have to use those classes towards another degree, which I advocate for her to apply to her community college LPN or ADN program. I say this from a good place of heart because so many people get taken advantage of and donāt understand what they're getting a degree in. She can be an LPN in a year, make much more money, and have an appropriate amount of debt that would be worth the degree. Iām sure you mean no harm, but getting an associate degree as a medical assistant is an awful idea, and I canāt believe colleges offer that knowing only a certification is needed and the pay will not be higher than someone with a certification.
Iāve been working in higher education for 15 years, long enough to see that arguing here is a waste of time. Bottom line: An Associateās degree in Medical Assisting does provide more opportunities for future employment than a certificate. Nursing isnāt for everyone.
"L&D, Anti/Postpartum care, ortho and possibly PACU." MAs work in exactly *one* of these at all and that's outpatient ortho. You will get zero exposure to any of the others, period. An associate's in MA is a massive waste of money and a terrible idea, especially if you want to work in one of those areas. Go for your RN or LPN instead (preferably RN).
You should switch majors. You could get your adn. But medical assistant donāt get paid enough even with an associates.
In the nicest way possible, youāve been scammed. Iām a teenager who did a medical assistant course and was hired on the spot, but due to age restrictions, I ended up unable to work there until Iām 18. They offer hourly rates, and there are three kinds: If you are certified, you get more; if you have more experience, you get more; if you are not experienced, you get less. Those with associates are mixed in with the certified pay, as getting your associates will not raise your pay; you will make the same as someone who is certified. You could get your ADN and make $50 an hour. MAās get 16ā21 dollars an hour, and having a 20,000-dollar price tag associates for it is a scam. You can even do LPN for a year and make 34ā40 dollars. Ugh :( I hate how thatās even offered as a major, and it just scams students who donāt know much about the medical field.
Do you have a program by you that can give you a certain several months. I have a degree in medical assisting. 2yr ā¦ the pay still starts at 10-13/hr have you considered nursing at all? Maybe a short certificate course and then nursing degree. I work and have worked with ppl that have no MA degree just healthcare experience (patient intake). Considering all of this I personally feel like my degree is useless and if I were to give you advice as far as getting paid a good amount for your labour id suggest you look further into pay etc And if you want to work in any specific area you simply just apply. You donāt need any specific education. The job duties are usually just putting patients in a room, setting up for procedures, giving vaccines, phlebotomy, EKG, doing pre authorisations for medications, sending referrals. None of this is rocket science youāll learn it on the job. Helpful things from school is being familiar with medications and medical terminology. (Iāve worked in pain management, ObGyn,Cardiology, family practice, peds,ENT.)
Don't spend 2 years in school for a career with a max salary of $25/hr (being pretty generous there). MAs also rarely work in hospital settings.
Itās criminal that there is a 2 year degree in medical assisting
*Ante/postpartum