You’ve decided on a career as a certified medical assistant, but are uncertain which educational path is better in the long run – a certificate or an associate degree. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, but one may be more to your advantage depending on your lifestyle needs and future career goals.
Typically, certificate programs take about 1 year to complete, whereas an associate degree takes two years. Also, some programs may not qualify you for medical assistant certification. Make sure that the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredits the type of program you sign up for. Otherwise you may be disappointed to find out that you are ineligible to take the medical assistant certification exam.