Whether you are heading back to school or are a recent high school graduate, it is important to understand all your post-secondary education options. Though enrolling in a four-year school has been the most popular option historically-speaking, the alternatives are quickly gaining in popularity. This is especially true considering the current pandemic, which has caused the education industry to pivot hard into e-learning options. With in-person learning facing uncertainty, now is the time to consider earning your degree online.
Enrolling in an online degree program gives students the flexibility they need without compromising education quality. If you are already convinced, all that is left is to pick a program. Unfortunately, with all the options available it can be challenging to determine which online degree is right for you. Luckily, we put together this list of the four best online degrees to earn. Let’s dive in.
Business Administration Online
Reaching sales goals is an essential aspect of any business’s success. Marketing and advertising professionals help make this success a reality. Marketing professionals and managers help businesses grow through various campaigns, achieve sales goals, manage customer relationships, and evaluate campaign performance. In short, marketing and advertising professionals help to ensure that the business can effectively showcase its offerings to the right audience.
You can earn an associate of specialized business (also known as an A.S.B.) in marketing and management from the Institute of Medical and Business Careers online.
An individual who will excel in this field is someone with an interest in all things sales and marketing. You love advertisements from commercials to magazines, and you want to have a hand in creating your own. As an entry-level marketer, you will have a wide range of duties, from updating social media pages to reaching out to new advertising leads. Computer literacy, customer relationship management, and software suite knowledge for programs like Microsoft Office are required skills you’ll learn in such a program.
To be successful in this role, you will need to enroll in a Business Administration: Marketing and Management program to earn your Associate in Specialized Business (A.S.B.) degree. When earning your degree, you will be gaining hands-on experience in marketing and advertising. As you will be earning an associate degree, expect to take some general education courses, such as psychology and English.
TLDR: We like this program because of the versatility it gives you for entering most industries.
Medical Office Administrator Online
In the role of a medical office administrator, you will be responsible for handling various administrative duties in a medical office. This may include keeping inventory stocked, managing mail, record keeping, and scheduling. In some cases, medical office administrators interact with patients to help them schedule and make arrangements for services, so it is crucial to have excellent customer service skills and enjoy interacting with people of all types.
You will learn to perform all the essential clerical and administrative duties that the role requires when you earn your diploma. These duties include precise data entry, maintaining confidentiality, and supporting patients’ administrative needs. You can earn your diploma in as little as one year through IMBC’s 48-week Medical Office Administrator program.
A medical office administrator should be a people person who can multitask and be a team player. You will have to attend to many different tasks in this role, so you will need to be willing to help out with any and all of them. You will also need to have a keen eye for detail to identify things that need to be done and take the initiative to complete them. In short, medical office administrators have a lot of responsibilities to handle and require an attentive can-do attitude to juggle them all.
TLDR: A program you can complete online in under a year for someone who enjoys variety but prefers stability.
Medical Insurance Billing and Coding Online
Professionals in the medical insurance billing and coding industry are responsible for classifying and managing diagnoses and medical procedures via ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, and PCS codes. This information is used to determine billing and payment reimbursement. Don’t worry about all these terms and abbreviations, you’ll learn them as part of your program!
Due to the data-centric nature of the position, medical insurance billing and coding professionals must have an eye for detail and computer literacy skills. To enter the medical billing and coding industry, you will need to earn your medical insurance billing and coding diploma. At IMBC, you will be able to earn your diploma online in about a year, without needing to take general education courses such as English and psychology.
Upon earning your diploma, you will be qualified to find entry-level positions as a medical billing and coding clerk in medical offices or similar settings in your area, including nursing care facilities, insurance companies, hospitals, and clinics. Luckily, the medical billing and coding industry is growing at an incredible rate, with 65,000 new jobs projected by 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
You can increase your chances of landing one of these jobs by earning your certification as a Nationally Registered Certified Coding Specialist (NRCCS). The examination for this certification is offered by NAHP, an authority in the industry. Better yet, if you meet IMBC guidelines and qualify for the exam, we will cover the cost for you.
TLDR: An online program for someone looking to join a healthcare organization but doesn’t necessarily want to perform clinical tasks (like patient exams.)
Medical Records Technician Online
Medical records technicians (MRTs) are responsible for managing and organizing medical records, including lab test results, patient medical history, and x-rays. Their duties include evaluating the accuracy of records, maintaining the confidentiality of records, and keeping electronic health records (EHRs) secure and accessible.
Additionally, medical records technicians must demonstrate computer literacy, as medical records are digitally stored and accessed. Fast and accurate typing skills are a must-have in this field, as well as the ability to navigate EHR software.
Medical records technicians will regularly interact with nurses and doctors to confirm the accuracy of the data, so it is essential to have solid communication skills and attention-to-detail. In the medical field, miscommunication can have significant repercussions.
To become a medical records technician, you will likely have to earn an associate degree. You will be among the many individuals who are clamoring to earn their Medical Records Technician A.S.T., as the number of available positions is projected to grow by 8% in the next ten years. As you will be earning an associate degree, you will be taking some general education courses, such as English or psychology, during your one-and-a-half to a two-year course of study.
Medical records technicians can earn professional certifications through examinations like the Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) from the NHA, and the Nationally Registered Certified Coding Specialist (NRCCS) from the NAHP.
TLDR: You are seeking a program that values organization and computer skills, in a healthcare setting.
Key Takeaways
Regardless of the degree you choose to pursue, enrolling in an online program can set you on the path to career success. That is why choosing the right online school is essential.
At IMBC, students are given a clear path to success, along with the necessary resources to help them achieve their goals. Each program at IMBC has been designed to teach students the skills necessary to perform at a high level and provide support throughout their academic journey. If you are interested in getting the most out of your education, then IMBC is an excellent choice.
Get the most out of your education at IMBC. Discover your S.P.A.R.K. today.