Online Medical Assistant Programs in New Jersey: Top Schools in NJ

Understanding New Jersey’s Online Medical Assistant Programs

The process of becoming a medical assistant involves students learning how to best provide patient care in a fast-paced clinical environment while supporting other health professionals. The curriculum often combines administrative office training with details that relate more to specific patient care, including the use of tests and medications.

Commonly, medical assistant programs are a part of a university’s online learning program through sites it owns or from independent websites it has hired to host courses. Classes can either take place synchronously — tied to a time or date — or asynchronously — available any time it is convenient for you to log-in. There are often hybrid programs that feature in-person lab work or an externship.

When making a decision as big as this one, it can be difficult to know where to start. We’ve spotlighted three of the best New Jersey programs to give you an idea of what to expect, so continue on to learn about some popular school options for students like you.

Your Questions, Answered: FAQs for NJ’s Medical Assistant Students

While you may have some individual challenges or concerns about the program of your choice — or you have a found a winner for your situation — there still may be some topics where we can shed some additional light to help you. Let’s look at some frequently asked questions about online medical assistant certification programs in New Jersey.

What does an online medical assistant curriculum in New Jersey entail?

An online medical assistant program in New Jersey covers topics similar to that of many allied health courses, including medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, EKG monitoring, infection control, and phlebotomy. In addition to patient care topics, medical assisting programs offer administrative learning courses on billing and coding, communication, and patient privacy laws. Most programs, including the three profiled above, also include a medical assisting internship or other clinical component. This is ideal for a medical assistant program, so you can earn great real-world experience and put good habits and ethics into place for your career.

What are the admission requirements or prerequisites for New Jersey medical assistant programs?

Online medical assistant certification programs in New Jersey have few, if any, admission requirements beyond the submission of application materials and fees. Some programs require a high school diploma or equivalent but that varies on the program. They all note, though, that proof of a high school education is often required to be eligible for a certification exam. Absolutely no prior medical experience is necessary and that’s often the case for prerequisite courses. Although, as with admission standards, there may be variances between schools. For more information on the whole process, check out our dedicated admissions guide.

How much should I expect to pay for my program?

Medical assistant tuition can range from less than $5,000 to nearly $20,000. There are many factors that affect the overall cost of a medical assistant program, including those in online formats: the length of your program, further training or specialization, and your degree type. And besides tuition, there may or may not be book costs or other fees associated with the college or university. It’s also important to factor in variables such as travel, which can be a savings for you as part of an online or hybrid program. Going to a physical campus less — or not at all — is ideal for some students.

What are the professional organizations or networking opportunities for New Jersey medical assistants?

The largest one is the New Jersey Society of Medical Assistants (NJSMA), a non-profit organization that opens membership to all credentialed medical assisting professionals as a way to enhance their professional practice. As part of its programming, NJSMA hosts an annual convention as well as remote continuing education events on Saturdays for its members. Another great organization to consider is the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ). Open to a broad range of healthcare professionals, the group hosts a lecture series and other events tied to healthcare issues of the day that also offer opportunities to network with others in the field.

Are scholarships or grants available for online medical assistant students in NJ?

Yes, there are many scholarships and grants available to prospective New Jersey students looking at online medical assistant certification programs, and many of those are offered through the school in which you are attending. Take the time to peruse each school’s website as you do your research on programs and reach out to designated financial aid officers for more information on the programs and funding opportunities for which you are eligible. Another great financial resource is the state government website Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), which details many general scholarships and grants that you can earn.

Options in New Jersey for Certifications and Continuing Education

Even though certification is not required by the State of New Jersey, many employers will require a medical assistant to earn one before they are considered for employment. To become certified, you will need to have completed an accredited program and have met any other requirements from the certifying body. There are tests available for eligible students through the American Association of Medical Assistants, the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

After earning certification, you’ll need to take care of license renewal and continuing education requirements. Many certifying bodies require practicing medical assistants to renew their credentials periodically. Maintaining up-to-date continuing education hours is a good way to remain eligible for recertification. In order to find out what’s available for continuing education programs and credits, visit the websites of the group that administers your type of exam.

Salary & Career Potential for New Jersey’s Medical Assistants

Best Online Medical Assistant Programs in New Jersey