Medical Office Assistant Degree

The medical office assistant program at Elgin Community College is an area of study blending the medical demands and administrative support. Combining front-end administrative duties and medical billing are common job duties among professional medical office assistants. Get more details below including other Illinois colleges that offer medical office assistant degrees.

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Elgin Community College

600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL

About

Elgin Community College, located in Elgin, Illinois, was founded in 1949 as a part of the Elgin Area School District U46. The school was given its own community college district two decades later, about a year after the Illinois Public Community College System was founded. The school serve a majority of Kane County, and parts of DeKalb, Cook, McHenry, and DuPage counties. The school originally held classes at Elgin High School, and was later given a 145 acre campus that was once a farm colony. Recently the school received funding to expand the campus in order to meet increased enrollment and renovate previously existing building.

Academics

Elgin Community College offers a variety of programs that allow for career development or academic transfer. Students may choose the program that best assists in the realization of their goals. Career programs provide training and education in a specific field, allowing the student to develop the skills and abilities necessary to enter the workforce as a qualified professional for long term employment. These programs typically mix traditional classroom education with practical education that allows students to utilize and perfect methods and techniques used within their field. Programs take between one and two years to complete and result in a certificate or associate degree which demonstrates competency to employers when seeking entry level employment.

Academic transfer is accomplished by enrolling in a program that covers the first two years of a four year education, followed by applying to a college or university to continue their education and complete the final two years of their bachelor's degree. Students will have an easier time transferring to public schools in Illinois through preexisting transfer agreements, though it is possible to transfer credits to out of state or private institutions. Students should meet with an academic advisor to discuss transfer requirements and develop a curriculum that best meets the needs of the desired school or schools.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Dental Assistant
• Nursing
• Paralegal

Admissions and Financial Aid

As an open enrollment institution, any individual wishing to enroll at Elgin Community College may do so by meeting the minimum admissions requirements, submitting a completed application, and paying all fees. Students should also supply transcripts and standardized test scores, and may be  required to take a standardized test score. Students should also participate in orientation and meet with a counselor to discuss program enrollment and curriculum.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and is awarded based on need. Students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which determines the extent of need when constructing the student's financial aid packet. Aid should be applied for prior to each academic year due to shifting financial circumstances from year to year. Students should also apply for aid in a timely manner in order to ensure funds are disbursed when needed.

Career Options for Graduates

Medical Assistants

Description

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, medical assistants employment is expected to grow at a rate of 23.5% from 2014 to 2024

Medical Secretaries

Description

Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, medical secretaries employment is expected to grow at a rate of 20.5% from 2014 to 2024

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).