Medical Assisting Advanced - Associate Degree
Boost your career potential as a medical assistant by adding EFSC’s Medical Assistant Advanced Associate in Science degree.
Medical Assistants are a critical member of the patient care team, helping take vital signs, health histories, and other clinical skills under the supervision of a licensed physician, podiatrist, physician's assistant, nurse practioner, or nurse midwife.
The A.S. degree program includes general education courses to build your foundation in mathematics and communications and adds leadership and healthcare information management skills through required support courses.
Before entering the A.S. program, applicants need to have completed the courses in a Medical Assistant certificate program such as EFSC's 44-credit Medical Assistant Specialist CCC. Those credits will transfer toward the A.S. degree. Students also need to have passed a national medical assisting credentialing exam.
The market for credentialed medical assistants has grown substantially, and earning this degree will add even more options and prepare you for a bachelor degree program if your goal is to move up in healthcare management.
Medical Assisting Advanced - Associate Degree
Program Overview
- Degree Type
- Associate in Science (A.S.)
- Delivery Method
- On-Campus, Hybrid
- Location
- Cocoa, Palm Bay
- Total Credit Hours
- 65
- Academic Community
- Health Sciences
- Contact Information
-
Health Science Advising
Email Advising
321-433-7575
Medical Assistant A.S. COURSE CURRICULUM
Thanks to the 44 college credits that will transfer from the college credit certificate program, the Medical Assisting Advanced A.S. degree requires just 21 additional course credits. The classes have flexible delivery options, with some classes available online or through a hybrid format that meet on campus and online.
Medical Assistant A.S. Admissions Information
Eastern Florida’s Medical Assisting Advanced A.S. degree program can be started during any term, and requires an extra health sciences program application in addition to EFSC's general admissions process. Follow the steps below to apply.
- Meet with a Health Sciences advisor to review your eligibility for the program. That will include going over coursework from the required Medical Assistant certificate
program and discussing the required national certification, which include the Registered
Medical Assistant (RMA) credential from the American Medical Technologists organization or the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). If you hold a different national certification, discuss that with the program
advisor.
Current EFSC Medical Assistant Specialist CCC students can move on to the A.S. degree program through a major change, and should discuss this option with the advisor, who will help plan any additional requirements, such as Placement Testing explained below in item #3. EFSC graduates may also be eligible if they earned the Medical Assistant CCC within three years of starting the A.S.
Prior graduates from the College's former Medical Assisting PSAV program must meet with an advisor to discuss how to complete required medical assisting core courses that were not part of that Post-Secondary Adult Vocational certificate. The advisor will help with vital planning for this scenario, including all options based on work experience and possible course waivers.
Students with myEFSC Portal access should schedule an appointment using EAB Navigate. Future Students with no EFSC login, use the link below. You will then be contacted via email with confirmation of your appointment.
- Verify General Admissions Status: Applicants must be current students at Eastern Florida State College before they can apply to the Medical Assisting A.S. degree program. Because of the requirement to have completed the CCC program first, most applicants have fulfilled this requirement. If you are not an EFSC student, you can submit the online EFSC general application.
- Meet Placement Testing Requirements. The A.S. degree requires satisfying the Common Placement Testing (CPT) requirements with college-ready math and reading scores or qualifying for an exemption. See details on this testing requirement, including how to take a CPT such as the PERT if needed at an EFSC Assessment Center.
- Submit the Health Sciences Application. This step is only required for A.S. applicants who are not currently in EFSC's CCC program. The online Health Sciences Program Application will prompt you to log in with your Titan student email and password. (Be sure to apply for the A.S. degree and NOT the CCC). There is a $25 non-refundable fee for this application to be paid online or at a campus Student Accounts office prior to registering for classes.
- Once admissions requirements are satisfied you will be able to register for A.S. degree courses.
Medical Assisting A.S. Costs & Financial Aid Eligibility
Because of the 44 credits applied toward the degree from the CCC, the estimated tuition for the 21 added credits to earn the A.S. is just under $2,200 if you are a Florida resident.
The program is eligible for Federal financial aid and you may qualify for scholarships, including Titan Scholarships funded through the EFSC Foundation. Additionally, there are community-based external scholarships that you can explore to help cover the costs of your education.
College Courses You Would Take
As you grow as a medical assistant, the A.S. program coursework will enhance your administrative skills, including patient communications, knowledge of electronic medical records and medical insurance, and general front-office managerial, and supervisory functions. These are just a few of the courses you would take:
This hybrid course introduces health information technology, including filing, numbering & retention of patient records, release of patient information, privacy HIPPA guidelines, & much more.
This course teaches students about leadership: the process of influencing human behavior to accomplish predetermined goals. Students are given the opportunity to model leadership skills.
Explore the scientific field of psychology including research, learning, motivation, emotion, human development, personality, psychopathology, & therapeutic techniques.
Why add an associate degree to your Medical Assistant credentials?
In addition to opening up career advancement possibilities, an Associate in Science degree can prepare graduates to apply for an EFSC Bachelor of Applied Science degree. The BAS programs are designed for seamless transfer for A.S. students because the BAS curriculum includes the additional general education courses required for a bachelor degree that are already part of an A.A. degree, but not part of an A.S.
Popular BAS options for students in the healthcare field include the Applied Health Sciences BAS - Advanced Allied Health Specialization and the Organizational Management BAS - Healthcare Management Specialization.
Other Healthcare Programs to Explore
As you consider this associate degree, here are other EFSC programs you might be interested in. Discuss your career goals with a health sciences advisor who can help you chart an educational pathway to achieve them.