Medical Assistant Associate (A.A.S.) Degree

The medical industry has been one of the fastest growing industries in the 21st century. It has been reported that the employment of medical assistants is expected to grow rapidly as the health service industry expands. Currently, medical assistants make up the largest group of allied health professionals and are considered to be key players in improving the productivity and service of medical offices, clinics, laboratories, research centers, multispecialty facilities and hospitals.

Bramson ORT College's Department of Medical & Natural Sciences offers two associate degree programs—one of which is the Medical Assistant Associate Degree in Applied Science (A.A.S.). Bramson ORT College is one of very few colleges in the tri-state area to offer this program, giving its graduates a competitive edge in high-demand professions, such as Ultrasound Technician, Radiology Technician, Registered Nurse and Physician's Assistant.

The Medical Assistant Associate Degree is one of the largest and most popular programs at Bramson ORT College. Once enrolled in the program, students are provided with the competencies and training to become successful Medical Assistants. Students will receive intensive training in courses such as medical billing and coding, medical transcription, clinical procedures (including, but not limited to, capillary puncture, phlebotomy, EKG, and other analyses), laboratory procedures, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and medical law. All courses are taught by highly experienced and knowledgeable instructors (MDs and PhDs) in modern, fully-equipped laboratories. Furthermore, the program provides all the necessary skills needed to work in the industry, including special training for OSHA and HIPAA regulations; medical office risk management; and national certification as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician and EKG Technician. Lastly, the program emphasizes strong hands-on training with a carefully monitored internship, where students have to utilize and test the skills they acquired throughout the program. There is a wide range of internship sites, from medical offices to well known hospitals.

Credits obtained by students while in the Medical Assistant program are transferable to four-year programs at other colleges and universities worldwide. In order to earn the Medical Assistant Associate Degree at Bramson ORT College, a student must complete at least 60 credits.

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in general medical care centers, as well as in specialized fields such as cardiology, pediatrics, dermatology, podiatry and chiropractic. Their duties range from scheduling and record handling, taking medical history and vital signs, and performing EKG and phlebotomy (as prescribed and supervised by doctors). Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens, perform basic laboratory tests on premises, prepare and administer medications (as directed by the physician) remove sutures, and change dressings.

Below you will find a table of average annual salaries for Medical Assistants. Salaries are listed by both position and industry/ sector.

* Salaries provided by the U.S. Department of Labor and Bramson ORT College's Career Services Center