I live in a very rural community and those old attitudes still hold true for the most part when hiring medical office personnel. However, when it comes to hiring medical office managers, they are looking for new hires with Bachelor's degrees in addition to experience. With all the new HIPAA laws and Medicare requirements, in addition to the many other federal regulations, they definitely are expecting a lot more. Most of the offices in my area have 1 of 2 situations happening: Either A) you've worked your way up to that position after 10-20 years in that office and learned as you went, or B) you're a new hire with a Bachelor's degree in tow.
I gotta say, Associate's degrees don't seem to be worth much anymore. Even the business school I went to to obtain my Associate's is now offering the Bachelor degrees instead. At the time, this business school offered primarily 12-month diploma programs with only a few 2-year Associate programs
Unfortunately, as the market becomes more and more competitive, you will find that an Associate's won't take you far. If you can, it would probably be in your better interest to go for the Bachelor's. A Bachelor's also gives you the opportunity to add a course here or there later on and end up in a new career field if you choose. Associate's are primarily geared toward only 1 career field.  |
I guess that depends on the area you're in - see message
