Online Health Degrees in Medical & Dental Assistant |
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Interested in a career as a dental hygienist? The following accredited universities offer online and distance education bachelor degree programs in dental hygiene.
Online Medical & Dental Assistant Degree Programs
Medical and dental assistants find themselves in ever-increasing demand at the offices of physicians, chiropractors, dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons. The job outlook for both medical and dental assistants remains excellent over the course of the decade.
Online Medical Assistant Career Training
Medical assistants perform key administrative tasks that ensure smooth operations of the offices of physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, and other health care practitioners. They may help administer or collect diagnostic tests, explain procedures to patients, or perform clerical insurance and billing tasks.
Online training programs for medical assistants may run between one and two years, culminating in a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. Coursework typically focuses on medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology, along with laboratory techniques, medical ethics, first aid, pharmaceutical principles, medication procedures, and diagnostic procedures.
Additional coursework in office operations, transcription, accounting, patient relations, and insurance coding and processing can complete the curriculum, rounding out the candidate for a wide variety of office tasks. Each state regulates the range of tasks that can be performed by a medical assistant. Some states allow assistants to draw blood or administer injections.
Exceptional Career Opportunities Predicted for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants belong to one of the fastest-growing career groups in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, jobs for medical assistant are predicted to rise by an astounding 35 percent during the 2006-2016 decade. Earnings average $13.59 per hour, growing to $18.50 with experience. An estimated 62 percent of all working medical assistant are directly employed in physicians' offices, with the balance finding jobs at hospitals, clinics, and care facilities.
SOnline Training for Today's Dental Assistant and Hygienists
Dental assistant perform a wide range of duties, including sterilizing and preparing dental equipment, preparing patients for procedures, and performing chair-side duties during patient care. They may also perform office-related records, billing, and appointments tasks. Earnings average $15.17 per hour, with a high-end salary of $21.60.
Dental hygienists clean patients' teeth, place filling material in teeth cavities and teach patients how to care for their teeth properly. Though dental hygiene professionals are not qualified to professionally diagnose diseases, they do work alongside dentists. More than half of dental hygiene professionals work part-time, earning an average of $31.12 per hour, while the upper bracket of experienced, full-time workers can earn closer to $43.07 an hour. Flexible schedules and high earnings are the major perks that come with this fast-growing occupation.
Job Requirements for Dental Hygiene Professionals
Job requirements vary from state to state, but most require that dental hygienists hold a license and a degree from an accredited dental hygiene college or vocational school. Coursework typically focuses on diet, nutrition, and odontological prophylaxis (the clinical name for dental hygiene).
Additional courses in lab work, medicine, chemistry, pharmacology, radiology, microbiology, physiology, and anatomy can also boost your chances of finding employment after graduation. And because cosmetic dentistry is becoming more popular worldwide, you should learn about the various complications associated with fixtures, caps, bridges, and crowns.
Pursue your Medical & Dental Assistant degree today.
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Virginia College
Earn your associate's, bachelor’s or master’s degree from Virginia College. Our extensive programs are offered 100% online, so you can launch the career of your choice from the comfort of your own home.
Learn more about programs at Virginia College.
What do Medical Office Administration graduates do?
Medical Office Administrators perform administrative duties in a medical office or clinic, reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. You will help with communicating with patients and other providers, billing insurance companies, code physician diagnostic comments and orders, and more. This program is designed to teach you how to work closely with doctors to organize and monitor patient care services. In short, you will be a vital part of the health care team in a physician?s office, a clinic, a hospital, a long-term care facility, or other medical office.
What classes will I take?
At Virginia College, you will only take courses that pertain to your success in the workforce. Do not worry if you are not already skilled in the areas below. That is why you are coming to school! We are experienced in giving students the training they need to become successful in their chosen careers.
You will have classes in:
- Medical terminology
- Medical law and ethics
- Medical laboratory procedures
- Medical records systems
- Accounting
- Business
- Office automation
- Customer service
In addition to training from instructors with real-world experience, you will also complete an externship in a physician's office, clinic or related health care facility under the supervision of a physician, nurse, or health services professional.
Virginia College is a senior college accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award certificates, diplomas, associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
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A.T. Still University - Online
Earn your Master of Public Health degree 100% online from The School of Health Management (SHM) at A.T. Still University.
Learn more about programs at A.T. Still University - Online.
ATSU?s School of Health Management offers an online Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program with a dental emphasis for students working in the dental field who want to learn more about the public health components of dentistry. This program prepares students for careers in dental public health services and administration. The M.P.H. ? dental is a 60-credit-hour, 15-course program. Students choose electives best fitting their interests in health program planning, health policy, geriatric health, education research, curriculum and instruction, or executive coaching.
Master of Public Health ? Dental Emphasis (M.P.H.-Dental) prerequisites
Minimum bachelor's degree & 3.0 GPA required
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), 30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602. Phone 800.621.7440.
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