Layla asked:
I’m looking up career opportunities and I see that there are two options for Medical Assistants programs: Diploma and Associates Degree. What’s the difference? Is one a longer, better paying program?
What is the difference between medical assistant associate degree and medical assistant diploma?
A degree takes about 2 years to earn and the lowest level is the Associate Degree. A diploma is less than a degree in stature and takes less time to earn. Most diploma and/or certificate programs take about a year to complete. As far as pay goes, it just depends. A doctor wants to know can you do the job and then experience will come into play. In some fields a degree carries much more weight over a diploma, but in other fields it doesn’t matter as much. The good thing about a degree is that you can continue on w/ it in the future and get higher degrees. However, the benefit of a diploma is that you get working FASTER than if in a degree program and by the time your degreed counterparts are graduating, you would have a year of experience in the field and be making near what they would anyway. Good luck to you.