Top Online Medical Assistant Programs in Nebraska: Discover the One for You

If you’re thinking about a career in Nebraska as a healthcare professional, and are looking for solid earnings and big opportunities for growth, then you’ll want to consider a start as a medical assistant. Medical assistants play a key role in providing quality care to patients by assisting physicians and other healthcare professionals both in the exam room and at the front counter.

Medical assistants are also in high demand, garnering respectable salaries and enjoying career growth potential that’s nearly four times that of all other occupations. And, becoming a medical assistant can open up a number of future career options including a move up the career ladder to become an LPN. Another big plus to MA training is that there are a number of quality, accredited online medical assistant programs in Nebraska from which to choose, all offering study flexibility and convenience at affordable prices.

This guide will introduce you to your best online program options. You’ll also find plenty of useful information and advice below on how to select right program for you, including what it’s like working as a medical assistant. We’ve also included detailed information and data on those solid earnings and job opportunities we mentioned earlier.

Sound good to you? Then let’s get you started on your way to a great healthcare career through one of today’s best online medical assistant programs in Nebraska.

Nebraska’s Popular Online Medical Assistant Programs

Let’s start with spotlights of three of the top online medical assistant programs in Nebraska. We’ve selected programs that have a number of program elements popular with MA students. Those attributes include affordability, generous admission requirements, study convenience, academics that provide you the skills you need, quality student support services, and eligibility for graduates to obtain important medical assistant certifications. Here’s who’s leading the pack in online medical assistant programs in Nebraska today.

Southeast Community College

Community colleges are a great source of quality, affordable online medical assistant programs in Nebraska. An excellent example is the Medical Assisting Diploma program at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. The course of study is presented in a blended format that includes online theory classes, on-campus labs, and in-person hands-on practicum experiences at program-approved healthcare facilities in Lincoln or the student’s hometown. Practicum/clinical experiences require a minimum of 225 clock hours and are attended in the last term.

The program is designed to be completed within one year of full-time study, but part-time options are available. Students complete the American Association of Medical Assistants’ certification exam prior to graduation. The program can be started in the fall, spring, or summer term.

The estimated total cost (including tuition, fees, books, and supplies) for this 30-credit program is $6,600 for Nebraska residents and $7,400 for non-residents. Students have the option of adding a 3-credit limited radiography course. SCC is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its Medical Assisting Diploma program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Study convenience and flexibility are key features of many online medical assistant programs in Nebraska. A prime example is the online medical assistant program offered in Omaha by the Mercy College of Health Sciences, a private Catholic-affiliated school headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.

The program is accredited by the CAAHEP and is presented in a hybrid format. This consists of 100% online didactic coursework and two hands-on skill “boot camps” (six hours each) with a program-approved instructor. You also complete a 160-hour (typically 40 hours per week over four weeks) in-person practicum attended at a program-approved healthcare facility in the student’s local area.

The entire program is completed in one year over three quarters. Start dates are available annually in the fall, spring, and summer. Admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED, and SAT/ACT scores are not required for enrollment. The current program cost is $3,643 per semester. A number of financial aid opportunities are available to qualifying students, including scholarships and tuition reimbursement programs from program-partner healthcare providers.

Union Adventist University

Union Adventist University — a private, Seventh-day affiliated college in Lincoln — offers a fully-online medical assistant program that is completed in just 28 weeks. Content is delivered 100% online in an asynchronous format that allows students 24/7 access to course materials. Student support services include both personal advisors (via text, phone, and email) and career coaching (with exams and soft-skills training).

Program graduates are qualified to take both the National Healthcareer Association’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exams. Admission is open to applicants with a high school diploma or GED. Students can begin their studies at any time.

The current total program cost for Union Adventist’s MA program is $4,000. That includes all video-based coursework, e-books, materials, fees, and tests. Also included is the exam fee for one national certification. Full payment and financing options are available, including employer tuition assistance and long-term and short-term loans.

Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Assistants in Nebraska

Two big considerations for anyone searching for a healthcare career are earnings and growth potential. That’s why we’ve included the following U.S. Department of Labor salary and job growth figures for medical assistants employed in Nebraska. In the table below are recent average annual salary figures for medical assistants in the U.S. and Nebraska overall, and for three major metro areas in the state.

The mean salary for medical assistants in Nebraska overall falls slightly under that for the U.S. as a whole. This is likely due to the slightly lower cost of living in the state when compared to the entire nation. It also likely accounts for the variations in salaries in the different metro areas. Nevertheless, these figures show solid earnings potential for medical assistants as they gain work experience and take jobs with larger, higher-paying employers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023

While salaries are solid, it’s in job growth where medical assistant careers really shine. The estimated job growth rates of 18.4% and 19.4% for the U.S. and Nebraska respectively are exceptionally high when compared, for example, to the projected rate of 4% for all occupations combined recently reported by the labor bureau. The importance of these high job growth estimates cannot be overstated. What they indicate is that the demand for medical assistants is high and expected to remain so for years to come. And, that means real security in both earnings and your ability to find and keep a job.

Source: Projections Central, 2020-2030

Your Questions, Answered

How long is medical assistant school?

Completion times for online medical assistant programs in the U.S. vary substantially, with some claiming a six-week arc to graduation. You won’t find any six-week options available in Nebraska, but you will find substantial completion time differences depending on the type of program you choose. For example, the minimum completion times for two credit-based diploma programs spotlighted above (Southeast Community College and Mercy College of Health Sciences) are both three terms (around one year) of full-time study. In contrast, the non-credit MA program at Union Adventist University can be completed in 28 weeks.

It’s important to keep in mind, though, that most programs offer some degree of flexibility when it comes to program lengths. So, if you are wondering how long you are actually allowed to complete a program, be sure to contact an admissions representative before you sign up.

Can a medical assistant program be entirely online?

If you’ve read this far, then you know that fully online MA programs do exist. You also know that at least one online medical assistant programs in Nebraska (Union Adventist University) is available 100% online. There are also a number of programs that feature 100% online didactic coursework along with hands-on clinical practice requirements typically attended at healthcare facilities in the student’s local area. So, while the answer to the question is “yes,” it is up to you to confirm all course requirements and understand how all content is delivered for any Nebraska online MA program you consider.

How can I check if a program is accredited?

Proper accreditation is a critical component in your search of online medical assistant programs. Accreditation is how you can be sure that a program meets important standards of academic quality. It’s also key because most medical assistant professional certification exams require applicants to have graduated from a properly-accredited MA program before participating.

You can typically check a program’s accreditation status on the school’s or program’s website. If you can’t find it there, contact the program directly. You can also check a program’s current accreditation status by visiting the websites of the two major medical assistant program accreditors: the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. You will want to additionally confirm the institutional accreditation of the school offering the MA program in which you’re interested. You will likely be able to confirm a school’s accreditation status on its website, but you can also use this accreditation search engine from the U.S. Department of Education.

How much does a medical assistant program cost in Nebraska?

Affordability is a major benefit to online MA programs, but what you’ll pay for your education will depend on the specific program and the form it takes. The three programs spotlighted above will provide you with a good idea of program costs, which range from around $3,600 for Mercy College’s program to just under $6,000 for Southeast Community College’s program.

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to your program’s cost. First, most of these programs include books, materials, and/or certification exams in their stated total program costs. Second, you’ll incur added expenses for transportation, uniforms and equipment if your program includes in-person clinical requirements. And finally, don’t forget that financial aid resources may be available to help you pay for your MA program.

Scope of Practice: What Can Medical Assistants Do?

Medical assistants do what the name implies: they help people. More to the point, they assist doctors, nurses, and other licensed healthcare professionals in carrying out a range of patient-related services. These include both clinical and office administrative tasks. And, they do so in a variety of settings such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, and pretty much anywhere else where healthcare services are needed.

While the specific tasks you perform will depend on your role and the types of health services your employer provides, they will likely include several of the following:

Clinical:

• Interview patients and record their medical histories.
• Take patient vital signs such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, etc.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients and their families. This is of major importance as it helps put patients at ease in care and treatment settings.
• Prepare patients for examination.
• Draw and label blood samples.
• Assist physicians during patient exams.
• Wound care, including preparing, applying, and changing dressings.
• Perform basic lab tests.
• Collect patient specimens for lab tests.
• Instruct patients and family members on the use of prescribed medications, home treatments, special diets, etc.
• Prepare and administer vaccinations, immunizations, and other medications under the direction of a physician or other licensed healthcare provider.
• Transmit prescription requests and refills as directed by a physician or medical professional with prescribing authority.

Administrative:

• Greet patients upon arrival for their appointments.
• Answer office-related phone calls and emails, and schedule patient appointments.
• Use computer equipment and office-related applications (for appointment scheduling, calendars, messaging, etc.).
• Manage office correspondence, bookkeeping, and billing.
• Maintain patient records.
• Take care of the coding and filling-out of insurance forms.
• Oversee the ordering and maintenance of medical and office supplies.
• Arrange patient hospital admissions and outside lab services.