Having an administrative assistant degree could set you apart as a competitive candidate for secretarial or administrative jobs.
At administrative assistant colleges, you can learn essential business skills for the modern workplace and become a well-developed professional who can handle a variety of office responsibilities.
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College courses could be the key to long-term success in this field. Professionals with an administrative assistant education may even have the potential to become administrative managers or other office leaders someday.
Online Administrative Assistant Degrees
Many organizations hire administrative assistants, and most appreciate trained professionals who know just what to do in an office setting. You can gain that sort of training in a college program for administrative assistants. Your degree can assure hiring managers that you’re qualified and trained for office work.
Select the program that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:
The program that’s best for you will depend on your personal interests and professional goals.
Associate’s in Administrative Assistant Degree
When searching for a college degree in administrative assistant, you’re most likely to come across associate degree programs. These usually require around 60 credits and may take up to 2 years of full-time study to complete.
The main focus of your classes will be on the essential skills needed in business settings. You may take courses that cover topics like word processing skills, customer service principles, and filing systems. An associate degree may later transfer into a bachelor’s degree program.
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Your administrative studies could serve as a good foundation for a more specialized bachelor’s curriculum. For example, some students transfer into health administration or business administration programs. Depending on your career goals, though, a bachelor’s degree may not be necessary. An associate degree is sufficient for many administrative or secretarial jobs.
Depending on your specialization, an administrative assistant associates can prepare you to work in legal, medical, business, or school offices without requiring much on-the-job training.
Bachelor’s in Administrative Assistant Degree
Although specific administrative assistant bachelors degrees are less common, a bachelors degree could offer worthwhile preparation for this type of job. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics points out that a degree may be a requirement for some executive assistant roles.
Related majors that could prepare you for administrative positions include communications or business administration. Secretaries in law offices may want to major in legal studies, and medical secretaries could pursue healthcare administration.
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Your coursework will depend on whether you end up in an administrative assistant bachelor’s program or a related field. Common courses for any of these programs, though, might cover communication, business law, and office technology.
Having a bachelor’s degree could expand your job opportunities. For example, high-powered executives may depend on the expertise of college graduates with a business background. Degree holders may also be trusted as administrative managers who supervise office staff.
Common Administrative Assistant Associate Degree Concentrations
All administrative assistants need to know about office software and effective communication. In some offices, you’ll also need to understand your organization’s particular niche. Two industries where that’s especially important are law and healthcare.
- Legal Administrative Assistant. This program could help you enter the legal field as a paralegal, a legal assistant, or a legal secretary. Your classes will cover topics like legal terminology, software for law offices, and procedures for transcribing recordings.
- Medical Administrative Assistant. A healthcare-focused program may be the way to go if you want a job as a medical secretary, a medical administrative assistant, or a receptionist in a doctor’s office. You can learn about healthcare terminology, patient privacy, insurance reimbursement, and quality management.
By increasing your expertise in one of these fields, you can have a better understanding of what goes on in your workplace. You can also be equipped to answer clients’ questions and support your colleagues.
Administrative Assistant Careers and Salaries
Administrative assistant graduates often work in office settings. The job title often involves “secretary” or “administrative assistant.” These professionals may handle office communications, data management, scheduling, or bookkeeping tasks.
Some administrative assistants work in general office settings, but others have a specialized niche. For example, medical or legal secretaries may need to know details of their particular fields. Specific training courses can provide the necessary knowledge.
Education and experience may lead to administrative roles with greater responsibility. Some people become executive administrative assistants who support high-level business executives. Others’ skills may qualify them to work as administrative services managers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, office and administrative support jobs bring in a median annual salary of $38,050.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Administrative Services and Facilities Managers | $99,290 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $62,060 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $47,710 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $45,560 |
| Financial Clerks | $44,760 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and and Executive | $37,880 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $37,450 |
| Information Clerks | $37,450 |
| General Office Clerks | $37,030 |
| Receptionists | $29,950 |
Administrative and secretarial skills can also be useful in a variety of related positions. For example, office receptionists are responsible for answering phones and greeting visitors. Clerks handle administrative and organizational tasks. They may keep records, process payments, or answer phones. Clerks are often responsible for tasks related to finance or bookkeeping.
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Customer service, collections, and medical transcription may be other fields for administrative assistant school graduates to consider.
Administrative Assistant Curriculum and Courses
Administrative assistant programs online offer a variety of classes to prepare you for working in an office setting. The following are examples of courses you may come across:
- Billing Practices: You can learn how to bill customers, receive payments, and deal with insurance companies.
- Business Foundations: This introductory class will set the stage for your studies by familiarizing you with business concepts and terminology.
- Communication for Offices: You’ll study oral and written forms of communication and discuss how you can get your messages across clearly and effectively.
- Customer Service Essentials: In this course, you can learn how to meet customers’ needs, build loyalty, and resolve issues.
- Introductory Business Math: This class will cover math skills like ratios, percents, and measurements that you may need in an office setting.
- Office Practices: The focus of this course may be on conducting yourself in a professional manner and taking care of standard administrative responsibilities.
- Records Management: Whether you need to start a new digital filing system or maintain a current paper one, you’ll be able to draw on the principles taught in this course.
- Spreadsheet Programs: During your time in this class, you’ll get hands-on practice with popular spreadsheet applications and learn some of their many features.
- Word Processing Programs: Building your skills with common word processing applications can help you create attractive, organized documents and streamline your productivity.
- Workplace Leadership: A course on leadership may prepare you to take on supervisory or managerial roles in an office.
An associate degree program will cover industry basics, and a bachelors program will also include more in-depth classes.
How to Choose an Administrative Assistant Online Program
Deciding to go to college for an administrative assistant program can be exciting. Before you begin classes, though, you’ll need to pick a college. There are many administrative assistant programs out there, so you can use the guide below to help you decide.
- Accreditation. The most credible online colleges have regional accreditation. Picking an accredited school is important so that you might have the option to transfer your classes to another program.
- Concentrations. If you want to become a medical secretary or a legal assistant, it’s strategic to choose a college with a specialized program.
- Diploma vs. degree. Many colleges offer administrative assistant diplomas or certificates rather than full degrees. A growing number even offer administrative assistant certificate online programs. Earning an associate degree will take longer, but it can help you start your administrative career one step ahead of the competition.
- Online style. Not all online programs do things the same way. You can look into what technology you’ll need, what student support services will be available, and when you’ll be expected to log in and complete your work.
- Program length. Many associate degrees take 2 years to complete. If you’re anxious to complete your studies, then you might want to choose a fast-track program that can enable you to finish sooner.
You can reach out to an admissions counselor if you want to know more about a particular school. College admissions offices are used to fielding questions from prospective students.
How to Become an Administrative Assistant
If you know you want to become an administrative assistant, then you probably have questions about the best way to achieve that goal. The following outline provides a step-by-step overview that may help you plan out your future:
- Start early. If possible, practice your typing and take vocational courses in office software during high school.
- Get a degree. College administrative assistant classes can help you develop in-demand skills for today’s office settings. Having a degree can demonstrate your high level of preparation.
- Enter the workforce. Many industries hire administrative assistants, so you might find relevant positions in small businesses, corporations, nonprofit agencies, schools, or doctor’s offices.
- Continue your education. You can build on your initial training with industry certifications that affirm your overall knowledge of administrative duties or provide specialized training opportunities. Another idea is to go back to school for a higher degree.
- Advance your career. With experience and additional schooling, you may quality for roles with greater responsibilities. Advanced roles can include executive assistants, administrative services managers, and training supervisors.
Variations on this general approach to becoming an administrative assistant are common. Although a formal degree can certainly broaden your job prospects, some entry-level roles may allow you to get on-the-job training.
Admissions Requirements
To get started with administrative assistant training online, it’s necessary to submit an application. Admissions components may include:
- Application form with your name, birthdate, and other personal information
- Fee to cover processing
- High school transcripts—plus college transcripts if you’ve taken classes before
- SAT or ACT scores (not a requirement at all colleges)
You might be required to take placement tests before enrolling in your first classes. That can help the college know whether you need any catch-up work before jumping into your administrative assistant training.
Administrative Assistant Program Accreditation
There are many administrative assistant programs online, but not all of them are of the same quality. The most credible ones are associated with regionally accredited colleges. Regional accreditation is recognized throughout the country as a mark of a quality school. It’s beneficial to go to a regionally accredited college so that your credits can have long-lasting value.
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Regional accreditation means that you might be able to transfer your course credits to another school or build on your first degree with a bachelors or masters program. Regional accreditation may also matter to employers who want to hire the most equipped candidates.
Admin Assistant Certifications
In addition to completing a degree, you might also consider demonstrating your skills by earning industry certifications.
- Certified Administrative Assistant (CAA): This program from the National Career Certification Board provides an entry-level certification option for office personnel.
- Certified Administrative Professional (CAP): Offered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals, this program is for professionals with experience.
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): To show your expertise with common productivity software, you can first become a Microsoft Office Associate and then advance to the specialist level.
You can also look for certifications specific to your particular field, such as law or healthcare.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Paying for administrative assistant school may seem challenging, but financial aid can help students who qualify.
You can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to learn about your options for government assistance. You might receive grants, loans, or both. In addition to federal programs, you may be eligible for state funding, too.
Scholarships provide an additional source of help for some students. Your college may offer scholarships to help offset tuition costs. You might also pursue scholarships from outside organizations. If your administrative assistant schooling could help you grow as an employee, your workplace might chip in, too.
What Is an Administrative Assistant?
An administrative assistant is an office professional who handles tasks like communication, file organization, scheduling, billing, reception, and customer service.
Administrative assistants are often called secretaries, though they might have more responsibilities than the average secretary. Specific job responsibilities vary from one company to another. Some administrative assistants handle all of the office tasks for the entire business. Others focus their time and attention on assisting one particular executive.
Administrative assistants often work for schools, doctor’s offices, law offices, corporations, public agencies, or community organizations.
Can You Be an Administrative Assistant Without a Degree?
You don’t necessarily need a college degree to become an administrative assistant. On-the-job training is an option for many positions. Some employers strongly prefer job candidates who have college degrees, though. Certifications can also enhance your resume.
A degree program may be especially beneficial if you want to become an administrative assistant in a specialty field. During college, not only will you learn general administrative skills, but you can also learn technical details about your chosen sector, such as law or healthcare.
What Can You Do with an Associates Degree in Administrative Assistant?
After completing your administrative assistant training online, you may be a competitive candidate for various office jobs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly every sector needs secretaries and administrative assistants, especially healthcare facilities, schools, and government agencies. Experience and education could potentially lead to a high-responsibility position as an executive administrative assistant. That job might entail managing communications, scheduling, and other services for a company CEO.
Related job opportunities for administrative assistant graduates could include receptionist, customer service representative, and office manager.
Is a Bachelor’s Degree for Administrative Assistant Worth It?
Yes, a bachelor’s degree for administrative assistant is worth it for many students. In a college program, you can learn essential skills for working with office software, managing records, and communicating with others.
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A degree program can be especially beneficial for learning the ins and outs of working in medical or legal offices. Having an administrative assistant bachelor degree could also help set you apart as a top candidate for job openings.
Universities Offering Online Administrative Assistant Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Bay College offers an Office Information Systems Administrative Assistant program. To graduate, students must complete 60 credit hours. The program can be completed online or in a hybrid format and is designed to allow students to transfer into a bachelor’s program at a 4 year institution. Those interested in the program may apply online through the school’s website.
Bay College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Centralia College offers an Associate in Applied Science degree with an Administrative Assistant focus. The program requires students to complete 90 credit hours over the course of 2 years to graduate. Those interested in the program may apply online or at the school’s enrollment office.
Centralia College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Chemeketa Community College offers an online program for an Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Office Professional. To graduate, students must complete 90 credit hours. Those interested in the program must submit an online application that includes a statement about the applicant’s educational goals through the school’s website.
Chemeketa Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Chippewa Valley Technical College offers an Associate Degree in Executive Assistant. The program requires students to complete 60 credit hours over the course of 2 years to graduate. Those interested in the program may apply online through the school’s website with a small admission fee.
Chippewa Valley Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Green River College offers an Administrative Assistant Associate in Applied Arts. Students must complete 90 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all classes to graduate. The school offers admission to students who have a high school diploma or a GED or are over the age of 18.
Green River College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Jamestown Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Professional. The program allows students to focus on Business or Health Information Technology and offers an internship opportunity. A total of 60 credit hours are needed to graduate. Applicants must submit an online application with official transcripts.
Jamestown Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Minnesota West Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Administrative Assistant. A total of 60 credit hours are required to graduate. Those interested in the program must submit an online application through the school’s website along with copies of their official high school transcripts or GED.
Minnesota West Community and Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Northeast Community College offers both an Associate of Applied Science and an Associate of Arts in Administrative Assistant. While the AAS degree requires 64 credit hours, the AAA degree only requires 60 credit hours to graduate. Interested applicants may apply online or send their applications through the mail.
Northeast Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Northwood Technical College offers an Associate in Administration Coordinator. The program can typically be completed in 2 years and requires 60 credit hours to graduate. Those interested in the program may submit an application along with an admissions fee. Guidance counselors are available to discuss career goals.
Northwood Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Palo Alto College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, Management, or Marketing. To graduate, students must complete 60 credit hours. Those interested in the program must submit an online application along with official high school transcripts or GED.
Palo Alto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Getting Your Administrative Assistant Degree Online
A college education can be a strategic way to learn the skills needed for success in modern office settings. In accredited classes, you can study business principles, office technology, professional communication, and records management.
Earning a degree can also showcase your abilities and enhance your reputation as a competent professional. It’s possible to earn an administrative degree online. Thanks to online studies, you might be able to fit schoolwork in around your other responsibilities.
At an accredited school, you can count on getting a quality administrative assistant education. Why not start exploring your options for an online college degree in administrative assistant today?
