Medical Specialties Associate Degree for Healthcare Career Training
U.S. Career Institute’s Medical Specialties degree program prepares you for 5 healthcare careers – including Medical Assistant, Medical Coding, Medical Billing, Pharmacy Technician, and Patient Care Technician. The U.S. Department of Labor projects a continued increase in jobs by 2030 for Medical Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing, Pharmacy Technician and Patient Care Technician. Learn five different positions and give yourself a competitive advantage in the growing healthcare industry.
Growth Potential & Career Opportunities
- Opportunity for a broad range of positions
- Medical Assistant jobs increase 18% by 2030*
- Medical Coding jobs will increase 9% by 2030**
- Opportunity for management positions in the future
- Join the secure and growing healthcare industry!
Our Medical Specialties program will help prepare you to sit for eight different nationally recognized, industry certification exams.
National Certification Options for Medical Coding and Billing
- a. American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
- b. Requirements: AAPC Membership and exam fees. Successful completion of HM245 Diagnostic Coding and HM270 Procedural Coding.
- c. Recommended: Before taking the CIC, we recommend you purchase the CIC study guide.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
- a. National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- b. Requirements: Successful completion of a medical coding and billing program within the last 5 years, HS Diploma or GED and exam fees.
- c. Recommended: USCI encourages our graduates to purchase the NHA test prep materials prior to taking the exam.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
- a. American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
- b. Requirements: HS Diploma or equivalent and exam fees.
- c. Recommended: 6 months coding experience, completion of coding training program, AAS in Health Information Technologies and AAS in Medical Specialties.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
National Certification Options for Medical Assistant
- a. National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- b. Requirements: NHA Membership and exam fees. To earn certification you must possess a high school diploma or GED. You must have successfully completed a Medical Assistant training or apprenticeship program, or have at least one year of supervised work experience in the health field.
- c. Recommended: Before taking the CCMA, we recommend you purchase the CCMA study guide.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
- a. National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- b. Requirements: NHA Membership and exam fees. To earn certification you must possess a high school diploma or GED. You must have successfully completed a Medical Administrative Assistant training or apprenticeship program, or have at least one year of supervised work experience in the health field.
- c. Recommended: We recommend you purchase the CMAA study guide prior to taking the exam.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
National Certification Options for Pharmacy Technician
- a. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
- b. Requirements: PTCB exam fees. To earn certification you must possess a high school diploma or GED. You must have successfully completed a Pharmacy Technician education or training program, or a minimum of 500 hours work experience as a Pharmacy Technician. Criminal background disclosure possible.
- c. Recommended: We recommend you purchase the PTCE study guide prior to taking the exam.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
- a. National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- b. Requirements: NHA membership and exam fees. To earn certification you must possess a high school diploma or GED. You must have successfully completed HM200 Pharmacology, HM225 Pharmacy Technology or an apprenticeship program, or completed 1200 hours of supervised pharmacy related work experience within any one year in the last three years. Criminal background disclosure possible.
- c. Recommended: We recommend you purchase the ExCPT study guide prior to taking the exam.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
National Certification Option for Patient Care Technician
- a. National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- b. Requirements: NHA membership and exam fees. To earn certification you must possess a high school diploma or GED.
- c. Recommended: Successful completion of HM110 Introduction to Patient Care. We recommend you purchase the CPCT study guide prior to taking the exam.
- d. USCI Recommended: Yes
Career Development Strategies
As part of your Medical Specialties program, you’ll complete GE200 Career Development Strategies where you’ll set goals, explore career opportunities and prepare personal marketing materials (resume, cover letter and references). You’ll prepare for interviews and create a job search plan to navigate employment options.
