The Anoka Technical College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Medical Office Specialist is a 60-credit online program that consists of administrative support and medical courses to provide graduates with strong knowledge of administrative support skills with a specialty area in medical administrative support knowledge. This program prepares students with the broad range of technical and communications skills needed for success in today’s medical office environment with specific study in medical terminology, electronic health records software, and medical office procedures. The coursework includes practice management software to include setting patients’ appointments, maintaining physicians’ calendars, billing, and messaging, as well as specific interpersonal communications skills necessary in a medical setting. Students will gain competence in word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software. Keyboarding speed and accuracy is developed while grammar, punctuation and writing skills are polished. Students study bookkeeping theory and learn general ledger software in order to prepare them for general bookkeeping or accounts receivable or accounts payable positions. Graduates are well prepared for employment in any medical office environment.

Your goal as a medical office specialist is to provide excellent customer service to patients. Medical office specialists help to keep patient and department schedules running smoothly. Job duties may include greeting and checking in patients, collecting insurance information, retrieving medical records, filing patient forms, answering phones, and scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, collecting co-pays, recording payments and scheduling any necessary follow-up appointments.

The AAS degree includes 15 Minnesota Transfer Curriculum general education credits which further enhances the educational experience and may better prepare students for advancement in jobs with employers that prefer or require a degree. The completion of a degree shows commitment and dedication and can be advantageous for students seeking jobs beyond entry level.