Posted by The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing industries globally, and this has created a massive demand for qualified medical assistants. This article is about free medical assistant online courses you can take to push your professional career forward.
Medical assistants perform a wide range of administrative and clinical duties in medical facilities. If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant, taking free online courses can be an excellent way to learn new skills, gain knowledge, and enhance your resume.
This article will discuss the top 20 free medical assistant online courses that can help you become a professional in the field.
Who is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who performs administrative and clinical tasks in a medical setting.
They work under the supervision of licensed healthcare practitioners, including physicians and nurses, and are responsible for providing patient care, maintaining medical records, and performing administrative duties.
Job Outlook for Medical Assistants
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow by 15.8% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
This growth is mainly due to the aging baby boomer population, which is expected to increase demand for preventive medical services. Medical assistants who have completed accredited programs and who possess certification will have the best job prospects.
How to Become a Medical Assistant
To become a medical assistant, you need a high school diploma or equivalent. Most employers prefer to hire medical assistants who have completed postsecondary education programs.
These programs are available in vocational schools, community colleges, and technical schools, and they usually take one year to complete.
Some medical assistants pursue an associate’s degree, which takes two years to complete. Certification is not required to become a medical assistant, but it can increase job prospects.
Earning Capacity of Medical Assistants
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical assistants was $37,190 as of May 2021. The lowest 10% earned less than $26,930, and the highest 10% earned more than $50,580. Earnings vary depending on the medical assistant’s level of education, experience, location, and certification.
List of 20 Best Free Medical Assistant Online Courses
The following are some of the top free medical assistant online courses for you to take advantage of.
- Texas A & M International University
- Masshier Central Region Workforce Board
- New York City of Technology
- Online Medical Assistant at the US Career Institute
- University of Washington School of Medicine
- Minnesota State Community & Technical College
- St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants
- LifeSpan Health System
- U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Des Moines University
- Lake Land College Medical Assistant Program
- Wisc-Online
- Alison Emergency and Ambulance Care Assistant
- LaGuardia Community College
- FVI School of Nursing & Technology
- Alison Medical Assistant Certificate Course
- Udemy
- SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center
- Keiser University
- Purdue University Global.
Overview of the 20 Best Free Medical Assistant Online Courses
Medical assistants play a crucial role in healthcare by providing clinical and administrative support to physicians and other healthcare professionals.
For those looking to start or advance their career as medical assistants, there are several free online courses available that offer training on various aspects of the profession.
In this section, we provide an overview of the 20 best free medical assistant online courses that cover a range of topics, from anatomy and physiology to medical terminology and patient communication.
1. Texas A & M International University
This course provides an overview of the medical assistant profession, including administrative and clinical duties, medical terminology, and patient communication skills.
It is a 100% online course from the popular Texas A & M International University that prepares students to work as Certified Clinical Medical Assistants.
By the end of this course, you will gain the necessary skills necessary to function as a member of the healthcare team in an ambulatory setting; HIPPA rules, as well as the necessary knowledge about medical and surgical asepsis.
2. MassHire Central Region Workforce Board
MassHire Central Region Workforce Board offers a free Online Medical Assisting Course. This course is a self-paced program that covers various topics, including anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, and more.
The course also provides hands-on training and direct access to industry professionals for guidance and support. Upon completion of the course, graduates will receive a national certification as a Medical Assistant.
Interested individuals can apply and will undergo an assessment and selection process. The course is available to residents of Worcester, Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin areas in Massachusetts.
3. New York City of Technology
The New York City College of Technology, also known as City Tech, offers a free online Medical Assistant program. This program is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become certified medical assistants.
The course is self-paced and can be completed entirely online or through a hybrid format.
The program covers a range of topics, including medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, clinical procedures, and healthcare laws and ethics.
The curriculum also features practical training and hands-on experience to help students gain the skills needed to excel in the profession.
The program takes approximately 10-12 months to complete, and upon graduation, students are eligible to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.
4. Online Medical Assistant at the US Career Institute
The Online Medical Assistant program at the US Career Institute is a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of medical assisting. The program is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the field of medical assisting.
The program is delivered entirely online, which allows students to complete the coursework at their own pace and on their own terms.
5. University of Washington School of Medicine
The University of Washington School of Medicine offers a certification program for both Medical Assistance and Medical Billing that can be completed entirely online.
The programs cover topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical billing and coding, and healthcare laws and ethics.
The program can be completed in as little as one year and provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam.
The program is designed for individuals who are looking to enter the healthcare industry, as well as those who are already working in the industry but want to expand their knowledge and skills in the field.
6. Minnesota State Community & Technical College
The Medical Office Assistant diploma program at M State equips you to assume an important administrative function in a health care team.
The course is an online, 44-credit that will equip you with skills to carry out basic administrative activities in the healthcare setting like patient registration, EHR, schedule management, as well as other interpersonal skills that are important on the job.
7. St. Augustine School of Medical Students
The St. Augustine School of Medical Students offers an online medical assistant course that provides comprehensive training in both administrative and clinical duties.
The course covers subjects such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical law and ethics, patient communication, medical billing, and coding, pharmacology, and clinical procedures.
The online course is designed for students who want to enter the medical field as medical assistants or for those who want to enhance their skills in the healthcare industry.
The program is self-paced, which means students can complete the course at their own pace and on their own schedule.
The coursework is delivered through an interactive online platform that includes multimedia presentations, interactive quizzes, and assignments.
The course also includes hands-on experience through clinical externships that provide students with opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned in a practical setting.
8. LifeSpan Health System
LifeSpan Health System offers an online medical assistant course through its Continuing Education Program. The course covers topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical office procedures, medical billing and coding, and patient communication.
The course is self-paced and includes multimedia presentations, quizzes, and assignments, as well as hands-on experience through externships.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam, which is recognized by employers across the healthcare industry.
LifeSpan Health System provides job placement assistance to help graduates find employment in a variety of medical facilities. Additionally, the LifeSpan Health System online medical assistant course is an excellent option for individuals seeking a flexible and comprehensive educational program to become certified medical assistants.
9. U.S. National Library of Medicine
If you’re interested in working in the biomedical sector as a healthcare provider, then the U.S. National Library of Medicine provides many short, online courses that you can complete.
Some of these courses teach about creating data management plans, especially for patient records, drug and chemical information, and more.
These are not direct-path Medical Assistant online courses, but they are free online courses that you can take as continuing education.
10. Des Moines University
Des Moines University offers an online Medical Assistant program to prepare students to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, specialty clinics, and hospitals.
The program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist healthcare providers in performing clinical and administrative tasks.
11. Lake Land College Medical Assistant Program
The Lake Land College Medical Assistant Program is CAAHEEP accredited and is focused on training students in both clinical and administrative roles in the healthcare setting.
However, this program is only available to those who have already earned a CMA certificate and would like to continue to earn an associate degree as a medical assistant.
12. Wisc-Online
Wisc-Online is a free online learning resource that offers a variety of courses including a Medical Assistant program. The program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed as medical assistants.
This online program is self-paced and can be completed on the student’s schedule.
The Medical Assistant program at Wisc-Online covers a wide range of topics including medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical law, and ethics.
The curriculum also includes courses covering clinical procedures such as patient assessments, vital signs, and infection control. Additionally, the program covers administrative procedures including medical billing and coding, insurance, scheduling, and electronic health records.
13. Alison: Emergency and Ambulance Care Assistant
The Emergency and Ambulance Care Assistant certificate course on Alison is a comprehensive online learning program that provides students with the required knowledge and skills to work as an emergency and ambulance care assistant.
The course curriculum covers a wide range of topics including basic anatomy and physiology, the principles of emergency care, patient assessment, basic life support, CPR, first aid, and transportation of patients.
Students who want to become ambulatory medical assistants, specifically, should consider this free course, as Alison is recognized as a global MOOC platform.
14. LaGuardia Community College
LaGuardia Community College offers a comprehensive medical assistant course that leads to a CCMA. It’s a quite unique program because its curriculum draws training elements that are credited to other medical niches as electrocardiography and phlebotomy, for example.
The program’s not free, however; but there are partial and fully-funded scholarships awarded to qualified candidates throughout the program.
15. FVI School of Nursing & Technology
The Medical Assistant program at FVI School of Nursing teaches students to prepare patients for physical examinations and minor surgeries, collect biological specimens, perform specialized medical tests, and process and record pharmacological data.
It also teaches students in all aspects of medical office management, including reception, booking appointments, records management, informatics, and insurance billing.
16. Alison Medical Assistant Certificate Course
The Alison Medical Assistant Certificate Course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to work as a medical assistant.
The course covers a variety of topics, including medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical law and ethics, and administrative procedures such as scheduling, billing, and electronic health records. The program is entirely online and free, but you will need to pay for the certificate.
17. Udemy
Udemy is a popular open-source platform that offers various micro-courses in areas like tech, productivity, finance, marketing, healthcare, and anything else you can think of. In this same vein, there are also free medical assistant online courses available on Udemy.
These courses are particularly recommended for those who are continuing education, or those who already have basic medical assistant training. The knowledge gained here can help supplement what you already know as a med assistant professional.
18. SUNY Bronx Educational Opportunity Center
The SUNY Bronx EOC is a vocational training school that provides courses in health areas like patient care training, direct support professional, nursing assistant, home health aide, EMT, and medical assistant.
For its Medical Assistant program, this school provides a curriculum that strictly revolves around physiology and anatomy, medical terminology, and computer skills.
The training takes 16 weeks to complete and aims to get participants job-ready at the end by equipping them with modern computer literacy skills needed by these professionals.
The course is completely free, and you can begin your application here.
19. Keiser University
Keiser University’s Associate of Science degree in Medical Assisting Science prepares students to perform clinical duties such as taking patient histories, measuring vital signs, assisting physicians with examinations, giving injections, venipuncture, performing CLIA waived laboratory tests, and performing electrocardiograms.
Students also learn clerical and administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and preparing insurance claims.
Keiser University’s objectives are to develop a student’s ability to perform clinical, clerical, and administrative duties, prepare them for employment in Medical Assisting, and prepare them for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credentialing examination.
20. Purdue University Global
At a glance, Purdue University Global’s online Medical Assistant Program consists of a 58-credit course that trains you to become adept at clinical and administrative abilities.
The program takes 1.5 years to complete on a full-time basis and costs about $371 per credit hour. Students enrolled in this, per PUG’s stipulated guidelines, will have the chance to apply for funding opportunities and reduce this tuition fee.
Finally, this program will prepare you to take your medical assistant certification exam upon completion.
FAQs About Free Medical Assistant Online Courses
What are free medical online courses?
Free medical online courses provide a flexible and accessible learning experience to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge in medicine and healthcare.
What topics are covered in free medical online courses?
Free medical online courses vary in content, from general health topics to specific medical specialties, depending on the course provider’s goals and expertise.
Who is eligible to take free medical online courses?
Free medical online courses are available to anyone with an internet connection and a desire to learn, especially those unable to attend traditional classroom courses.
What are the benefits of taking free medical online courses?
Free medical online courses provide a flexible and convenient learning experience, help individuals gain new skills and knowledge, and offer an introduction to the field of medicine and healthcare. These benefits can be beneficial for those considering a career in the field.
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Wrapping It Up
Compared to most other top positions in healthcare, medical assistants will never go out of fashion. This is simply because they are generalists.
Many of these professionals are quickly learning how to multi-skill themselves in areas that are typically peculiar to phlebotomists and nurse aides, for example.
These days, medical assistants can draw patients’ blood, and organize medical data records, which puts them at the fore of hiring decisions, especially by small-time, and middle-tier employers. But the real perk is how quickly medical assistants can finish a program from scratch (typically 6 months to one year) and advance into the working field as soon as possible. Even so, there are many free medical assistant online courses to aid that transition.
Not many other niches have this; which makes these courses highly sought after. If you’re looking for free medical assistant online courses, we’ve just shown 20 you probably didn’t know about. If you enjoyed reading this, and have questions or suggestions about content like this you’d want us to write about, feel free to leave a comment below.