Accreditation for Online Health Science Associate Degree Programs
Accreditation for Online Health Science Associate Degree Programs
Schools can be accredited by independent organizations
approved by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Assembly for Higher
Education Accreditation (CHEA). Some of these include the Middle States
Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the Higher Knowledge Command (HLC) and
the WASC Older College and University Commission (WSCUC). Programs can also be
accredited. For example, a nursing program can have programmatic accreditation
granted by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Health science associate programs are usually not granted programmatic accreditation because their curriculum is more general. Instead, you should look for health science associate programs that are at schools that receive institutional accreditation.
Accreditation is an important thing to watch out for. It not
only ensures you are getting a quality education, but it also qualifies to take
part in federal financial aid, meaning you can get federal money to pay for
school. It's also important to check for accreditation because if you need to
transfer credits, the school you are transferring to may not accept them all if
your past school has no accreditation.
Pardon is the Difference Between a Medical Assistant and a
Medical Secretary?
Medical assistants and medical secretaries sound like they
may be the same thing, but they are not. Medical secretaries deal with
administrative tasks in medical offices such as managing medical charts,
communicating with patients, and scheduling appointments. Medical assistants
perform some of the same tasks, but their duties are expanded to include more
clinical ones that directly handle patient care. Some include administering
medication, drawing blood, and checking vitals. The education and training
differ for these two professions. Medical secretaries only need to have a
certificate in medical administrative assistant studies or a similar area,
while medical assistants need a diploma and on-the-job training to learn
patient care skills. Many 2-year programs that medical assistants can take
require laboratory work as well.
Transfer Options After Completing an Online Health Science
Associate Degree
Depending on where you are located, you could transfer from
an online program to an on-campus one, or you could continue your studies
online. Some community colleges partner with universities to form a transfer
program to make the transition easier for students.
There are many health, science, and medical-related bachelor's
degrees students can transfer to. A few common ones include nursing, public
health, exercise science, health sciences, healthcare administration, school
health education, and more. If you are absorbed in transferring to a bachelor's
program at the same school or a different school, it's important to know ahead
of time what classes you'll need to take. An academic advisor at your current
school can answer questions you may have, but it's a good idea to also look at
the curriculum and transfer requirements of the schools you want to transfer
to.
Online Certificate Programs in Health Science
Health science certificates allow students to study a
specific area within the health science field and learn skills for a certain
job. These programs may last for a few months or up to a year, and depending on
the type of certificate and school it's earned from, they may be done alone or
alongside a degree program. A few programs can include dental assisting,
respiratory care, dietetics and nutrition, healthcare quality, patient care
technician, and correctional health administration, among others.
There are also health professions programs at both the
undergraduate and graduate levels that award a certificate.
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Health Science Online
Associate Degrees
Financial aid is available for students to help pay for
college through federal programs, school programs, and awards offered by
national, state, and local organizations. Federal aid, which is most commonly
loans and grants, can be obtained by filling out the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid applications can vary in criteria,
ranging from financial need to major-specific or population-specific
requirements, among others. There are plenty of scholarships available to
health science students, online students, associate degree-seeking students, or
a combination of the three.
The Basil L. King Scholarships Foundation awards
scholarships to residents of St. Lucie County who are studying health science
at 2-year and 4-year colleges; they do not have to study in the St. Lucie
County area.
The 1,000 Dreams Scholarship Fund awards educational
assistance to female high school, 2-year, 4-year, and graduate-level students;
tuition is not covered.
Similarly, the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund
awards scholarships to women over 35 who are pursuing a vocational, associate,
or bachelor's degree and are classified as low-income.
