Healthcare Accounting Associate Degree Online Program
Learn how to help healthcare organizations keep track of financial information.
Earn your degree online in 18 months.2
Start down a career path that combines your skills with numbers and passion for healthcare. Ultimate Medical Academy’s Healthcare Accounting associate degree online program can prepare you for entry-level positions — like accounting assistant, accounting clerk, and bookkeeping17 — in a variety of healthcare settings. Study on your time, from home, and you could get your healthcare accounting associate degree online in 18 months.2
What is healthcare accounting?
Healthcare accounting involves helping healthcare organizations keep track of financial information, checking financial data for accuracy and creating financial reports.
People working in the healthcare accounting field understand the basic fundamentals of key accounting functions and work in a variety of healthcare settings such as physicians’ offices, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and healthcare companies.
Classes start Monday, May 13, 2024
Let’s talk about it.
You have questions. We have answers.
Complete this form and we’ll email you info on how to get started at UMA, financial aid if qualified, selecting a program, and more. We’ll also give you a call to ensure your questions are answered so you can decide which program is right for you.
By clicking the Request Info button, you agree to be contacted by phone, text message, or email via automated systems by Ultimate Medical Academy about your education at the email addresses and phone numbers you provided above, including any wireless number(s). You are not obligated to agree to automated contact to enroll; instead, you may call us at 888-205-2510. Note that even non-automated calls are recorded for quality assurance.
Healthcare Accounting Career Training
When you enroll as an online healthcare accounting student at UMA, you’ll learn the fundamentals of accounting, payroll systems, accounting software applications, and more. Study on your schedule, wherever it’s convenient for you. Best of all, you could graduate prepared to pursue an entry-level position in healthcare accounting.
Typical Courses
The objective of the Healthcare Accounting associate degree program is to prepare students for entry‐level employment for accounting positions in a variety of settings. Our courses emphasize both theoretical concepts and practical skills consistent with industry expectations of professionals working within basic accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing clerk positions.
Please see the UMA Catalog for required courses in Arkansas, Kansas, and Minnesota.
Associate Degree Program
Credits: 65 Approx. time to complete: 18 months2
Core Courses (44.0 Credits)
- Principles of Accounting I 3.0 credits
- Principles of Accounting II 3.0 credits
- Accounting Software Applications 3.0 credits
- Cost Accounting 3.0 credits
- Payroll Accounting 3.0 credits
- Introduction to Diagnostic and Procedural Coding 2.0 credits
- Optimizing the Reimbursement Cycle 4.0 credits
- Healthcare Business Operations 4.0 credits
- Medical Terminology 4.0 credits
- Medical Law, Ethics, and Records Management 4.0 credits
- Healthcare Settings, Claim Cycle, and Claims Processing 4.0 credits
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I 4.0 credits
- Student Success 1.0 credits
- Career Success 2.0 credits
Additional Degree Requirements (6.0 Credits)
- Computer Fundamentals 3.0 credits
- Interpersonal Professional Communications 3.0 credits
General Education Courses (15.0 Credits)
- English Composition 3.0 credits
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 3.0 credits
- College Math 3.0 credits
- General Biology 3.0 credits
- Sociology 3.0 credits
Work Environments
Professionals in this field typically work in settings like:
- Physicians' offices
- Hospitals
- Healthcare facilities
- Healthcare companies
- Insurance companies
Why choose UMA?
When you pursue an associate degree from Ultimate Medical Academy:
- You’ll gain a strong foundation for pursuing your new career.
- You’ll have UMA staff dedicated to your success.
- You’ll have a career services team committed to getting you interview ready so you can jumpstart your search for a career.
- You’ll receive flexible online training.3
At UMA, you won’t feel like just another number. In fact, you’ll participate in classrooms with a maximum size of 25 students. Our student support teams can help you with academic support, technical assistance, job search guidance, mock interviews, financial aid if qualified, and more.
Our programs also include 24/7 tech support that helps you become comfortable with computers and in the UMA online environment. Receive guidance from your instructors and learn what it takes to pursue your career.
An associate degree can open doors to lifelong learning and set the groundwork for your newfound passion and career path. Let UMA help you change your future.
Your associate degree doesn’t need to be the end of your education; UMA maintains agreements with various educational partners who share our values and our missions. Through these partnerships, alumni with an associate degree from UMA who meet a partner’s admissions requirements have an opportunity to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in select areas of study.11 Find more information on UMA’s partner schools.
What kind of financial aid options are available?
If you qualify for applicable financial aid, we’ll walk you through the process. Multiple resources may be available to help pay for the cost of your education. Our Student Finance advisors are committed to helping you understand the options you qualify for and can assist you in applying for various forms of financial aid to see if you qualify.
To learn more about financial aid possibilities, contact a Student Finance advisor at 888-212-5421.
Not sure which program to choose?
Try our fun and informational healthcare careers quiz for inspiration. Just answer a few simple personality questions and learn which program may best suit you!
FAQs
What is healthcare accounting?
Healthcare accounting professionals understand the basics of accounting in the healthcare field. They produce financial records, complete financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.
Will I learn other skills in this program besides healthcare accounting?
Yes. UMA’s healthcare accounting program also teaches medical billing and coding concepts, problem-solving, critical thinking, and skills that may help you become a more well-rounded candidate for employment. Additionally, students gain an understanding of healthcare settings, healthcare business operations, medical law and ethics, medical terminology, coding, claims processing, reimbursement, payroll, records management, and much more.
Do I have to become certified or licensed to work in healthcare accounting?
Entry-level positions such as accounting clerk, accounting assistant, accounts receivable clerk, and accounts payable clerk may not require certifications.
Do I need experience in accounting to enroll in UMA’s Healthcare Accounting online program?
No, previous accounting experience is not required to enroll in this program. It is recommended that students are comfortable with math. It’s also helpful to be comfortable with computer technology; however, there is a Computer Fundamentals course in the program.
What would I study in UMA’s Healthcare Accounting courses?
As a UMA student, your Healthcare Accounting courses would cover a variety of subjects. Topics include introduction to accounting principles, accounting software applications, payroll, reimbursement, and healthcare business operations. For a complete list of courses in this program, see the courses section above.
What’s it like to take healthcare accounting courses online?
Online courses at UMA are designed to be flexible, so you can train for your career on your own schedule. Complete your classwork in the morning, at lunch, or in the middle of the night. It’s up to you. And UMA is here to help you every step of the way with online academic support, a student-friendly online library, 24/7 tech support, and more. Visit the UMA Online page to learn more.
What should I look for in top schools for healthcare accounting training?
Different people have different ideas of what makes a top school. To us, top schools that offer healthcare accounting programs should provide personal assistance every step of the way with services like one-on-one academic support. At UMA, we believe that providing career assistance such as interview preparation and job search help are important support services for our students. To learn about the comprehensive student support services offered by UMA, visit our Ultimate Student Services page.
What’s the best school for your needs?
Of course, you’re looking for the best school — for you. So, we recommend taking a look at your individual needs. If you’d like to talk, UMA is here to walk you through deciding which program is right for you. Call us at 888-213-4473. Let’s talk about you.
How much does a healthcare accounting professional make?
Entry-level positions for this career field typically start in the lower range of estimated salaries, with the lowest 10 percent being $29,120 or less annually. UMA’s programs prepare graduates for such entry-level positions and its median graduate salaries generally tend to be in this range, based on self-reported data from graduates shortly after graduation.
The median annual salary for all those in this career field (not just UMA graduates) is $45,560. The top 10 percent of earners in this career field earned more than $61,980. In other words, not many people in this field make more than this amount annually.
Note: Salaries may vary according to location and other factors.
Is UMA Accredited?
Ultimate Medical Academy is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES.org), a national accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Though UMA is not your traditional 4-year university or local community college, we offer online diplomas and degrees in 11 healthcare programs, some of which offer on-site externships and certification preparation — all intended to put you in a position to pursue a healthcare career after graduation.
Do I need to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?
No, you do not need to become a CPA to work in the field of healthcare accounting. UMA’s Healthcare Accounting program prepares students for entry-level employment for accounting positions in a variety of healthcare settings. While UMA's Healthcare Accounting program does not prepare students to become certified public accountants or to take the Certified Public Accountant exam, students are prepared to work in the field as a healthcare accounting clerk or bookkeeper. We are committed to providing our students all of the information necessary to make an informed decision regarding their future in this industry.