Medical Office and Billing Specialist Online Programs
Learn to work in a front office and process medical claims.
Earn your diploma in 11 months or degree in 18 months — completely online.4
Start earning a degree or diploma and begin working toward a career path with Ultimate Medical Academy’s online Health Sciences - Medical Office and Billing Specialist degree program or Medical Office and Billing Specialist diploma program. In 11 or 18 months4, you can learn the foundational skills necessary to pursue entry-level roles in a growing field.15 Our 11-month diploma program offers a faster route toward completing your education by diving right into the core classes, and our associate degree program provides soft skills education to round out your degree in 18 months. UMA’s flexible study online curriculum is designed with you in mind.5 If you're looking for career training as a medical office and billing specialist, consider an online education at Ultimate Medical Academy.
Organization is a valuable trait in the front offices of healthcare facilities. If this interests you, and if you’re looking for a new career, UMA’s Health Sciences - Medical Office and Billing Specialist program could be what you’re looking for.
What is a medical office and billing specialist?
Medical office and billing specialists are people who work in a healthcare facility performing office duties and some billing responsibilities related to insurance for patient care. This also includes some aspects of medical coding and may involve working with patients face-to-face in non-care situations. If you’ve visited a healthcare facility, chances are you’ve interacted with these employees in the front office.
Classes start Monday, Oct 23, 2023
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.
Medical Office and Billing Specialist Career Training
As a student in either our Medical Office and Billing Specialist diploma program or the Health Sciences - Medical Office and Billing Specialist associate degree program, you’ll learn how the insurance billing process works, how to assign diagnostic medical codes, perform basic medical office duties, and more. UMA’s online courses cover a range of topics including types of insurance, billing regulations, HIPAA, and even practical skills related to handling patient encounters. Many employers need assistants with these kinds of skills, and the job opportunities in this field continue to grow.15
You’ll also receive preparation to sit for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Certification prep is an important addition to this online career training offered at UMA and can help you stand out as a job candidate.
Course Curriculum
Both UMA’s online Medical Office and Billing Specialist diploma program and UMA’s online Health Sciences – Medical Office and Billing Specialist associate degree program offer an education that gives you the opportunity to build field-relevant foundational skills. The associate program includes soft skills to help you set yourself apart when looking for career opportunities.
Please see the UMA Catalog for required courses in Arkansas, Kansas, and Minnesota.
Associate Degree Program
Credits: 62 Approx. time to complete: 18 months4
Core Courses (38.0 Credits)
- Introduction to Computers 2.5 credits
- Introduction to Healthcare Communication 3.0 credits
- Introduction to Medical Billing 4.0 credits
- Medical Terminology 4.0 credits
- Medical Law, Ethics, and Records Management 4.0 credits
- Diagnostic Coding for MAA/MOBS 4.0 credits
- Procedural Coding for MAA/MOBS 4.0 credits
- Healthcare Reimbursement and Claim Cycle 2.5 credits
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I 4.0 credits
- Diversity in Healthcare Settings 3.0 credits
- Student Success 1.0 credits
- Career Success 2.0 credits
Additional Degree Requirements (9.0 Credits)
- Computer Fundamentals 3.0 credits
- Interpersonal Professional Communications 3.0 credits
- Patient Relations 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
Diploma Program
Credits: 38 Approx. time to complete: 11 months4
- Introduction to Computers 2.5 credits
- Introduction to Healthcare Communication 3.0 credits
- Introduction to Medical Billing 4.0 credits
- Medical Terminology 4.0 credits
- Medical Law, Ethics, and Records Management 4.0 credits
- Diagnostic Coding for MAA/MOBS 4.0 credits
- Procedural Coding for MAA/MOBS 4.0 credits
- Healthcare Reimbursement and Claim Cycle 2.5 credits
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology I 4.0 credits
- Diversity in Healthcare Settings 3.0 credits
- Student Success 1.0 credits
- Career Success 2.0 credits
Work Environments
Professionals in this field work in settings such as:
- Doctors’ offices
- Hospitals
- Insurance call centers
- Long-term care facilities
- Outpatient clinics
Why Choose UMA?
When you pursue an associate degree from Ultimate Medical Academy:
- You gain a strong foundation for pursuing your new career.
- You’ll have UMA staff dedicated to your academic success.
- You have a Career Services team committed to getting you interview ready so you can jumpstart your search for a career.
- You receive flexible study online education.5
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. We are proud to have supported more than 80,000 students through graduation so far. We’d love to help you, too!
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.13 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
I want to be qualified to work in a medical office, so what programs should I consider?
Medical Office and Billing Specialist, Medical Administrative Assistant, and Medical Billing and Coding are all programs that UMA offers that prepare you to apply for medical office administration jobs in a medical office.
Do I have to be certified to work as a medical office assistant?
No. Certification for medical office assistant is generally not required. Some employers may prefer it. Certification is separate from career training and can help you stand out as a candidate for a position. For more information, see the section above entitled, “What is a medical office and billing specialist?”
What type of medical office education will I get in this program?
There is a wide range of medical office education topics covered in coursework for the Medical Office and Billing Specialist program at UMA. They include medical terminology, the healthcare claim cycle, computer systems and software applications for the medical office, medical coding and more.
What’s it like to take medical office and billing specialist courses online?
Online courses with UMA are designed to have flexible study time so you can train on your own schedule. Complete your classwork in the morning, at lunch, or in the middle of the night.5 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.
How much does a medical office and billing specialist make?
Entry-level positions for this career field typically start in the lower range of estimated salaries, with the lowest 10 percent being $29,040 or less annually. UMA’s MOBS and HS-MOBS programs prepare graduates to pursue such entry-level positions and their 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 $37,450. The top 10 percent of earners in this career field earned more than $53,630. 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.
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 listen and walk you through deciding which program is right for you. The more we understand about your unique situation, the more we can try to help. Call us at 888-213-4473. Let’s talk about you.
What should I look for in top schools for medical office and billing specialist education?
Different people have different ideas of what makes a top school. To us, top schools that offer medical office and billing specialist programs should provide personal assistance every step of the way with services like one-on-one academic support. Top schools that offer medical office and billing specialist training should also provide career services such as job search assistance. To learn about the learner and career services offered by UMA, visit our Ultimate Student Services page.
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.
Where can I find more info about medical office and billing specialists?