Medical Office Assistant Diploma

The Medical Office Assistant Diploma prepares students with the administrative, communication, technical, and introductory clinical skills required to support the daily operations of a medical office or healthcare facility.

Students learn how to use medical terminology, schedule and confirm appointments, communicate with patients and healthcare professionals, prepare medical documents, maintain confidential files, process billing information, and work with electronic medical records.

The program also develops practical skills in Microsoft Office applications, accounting procedures, customer service, medical transcription, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, inventory management, and medical office procedures.

Strong emphasis is placed on professionalism, confidentiality, interpersonal communication, organization, attention to detail, multitasking, prioritization, teamwork, and maintaining a professional telephone manner.

Salary & Outlook

Graduates enter a high-demand sector with competitive wages across Canada. Health and social community services represent one of the fastest-growing job segments.

23.59

Average Wage/HR**

31.30

High Wage/HR**

*Source: Government of Canada Job Bank wage reports for similar classifications 2024-2025.

Curriculum Details

Course Information

1 Course Outline

This program is structured into clear, actionable modules that build your knowledge from fundamental principles to advanced strategies. Expand the modules below to see what you will learn.

CMPT 107 – Computer Business Applications I (160 hours)

This course introduces computer applications commonly used in business and medical-office environments. Students develop practical skills using Microsoft Office applications to create, organize, edit, and manage professional documents, spreadsheets, presentations, files, and administrative information.

CMPT 113 – Keyboarding Skills Development (20 hours)

This course develops keyboarding speed, accuracy, and proper technique. Students practise entering information efficiently while improving the accuracy and productivity required for medical documentation, correspondence, scheduling, billing, and data entry.

MDCL 101 – Medical Anatomy, Physiology & Terminology (80 hours)

This course introduces medical terminology and the structure and function of the human body. Students study terminology related to the digestive, urinary, reproductive, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, blood, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, integumentary, sensory, and endocrine systems.

MDCL 131 – Basic Pharmacology (80 hours)

This course provides an introduction to pharmacology and terminology related to medications. Students develop an understanding of common drug classifications, medication documentation, prescription-related terminology, and the role of accurate communication in medical-office environments.

ENGL 109 – Medical Word Processing (40 hours)

This course develops the word-processing skills required to prepare professional medical documents. Students practise creating and formatting correspondence, reports, case histories, forms, and other healthcare-related documents while applying appropriate medical terminology and confidentiality standards.

BUSM 112 – Administrative Skills (80 hours)

This course introduces the administrative procedures required in a professional office environment. Students develop skills in organization, scheduling, records management, filing, communication, document preparation, inventory control, prioritization, and the coordination of daily office responsibilities.

BUSM 334 – Customer Service Strategies (80 hours)

This course develops professional customer-service and interpersonal communication skills. Students learn how to communicate respectfully with patients, healthcare professionals, coworkers, and the public while managing telephone calls, messages, questions, concerns, and sensitive situations.

ACCT 101 – Accounting I (80 hours)

This course introduces fundamental bookkeeping and accounting procedures used in office environments. Students learn about business transactions, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, balance sheets, income statements, financial records, and basic accounting applications.

MDCL 201 – Medical Billing – Manual (80 hours)

This course introduces manual medical-billing procedures. Students practise organizing patient and service information, preparing billing documentation, completing claim forms, and applying accurate recordkeeping procedures related to medical services and insurance claims.

MDCL 202 – Medical Billing – Software (80 hours)

This course develops computerized medical-billing skills using medical-office software. Students learn how to enter patient and billing information, process claims, retrieve records, manage billing data, and complete electronic billing procedures.

MDCL 151 – Medical Transcription (40 hours)

This course develops introductory medical-transcription skills. Students practise listening to dictated medical information and producing accurate reports, correspondence, case histories, and other healthcare documents using appropriate formatting, spelling, grammar, and medical terminology.

MDCL 203 – Clinical Procedures (60 hours)

This course introduces selected clinical-support procedures performed in medical settings. Students develop beginning competency in patient preparation, safety procedures, infection-control awareness, equipment preparation, supply handling, and the identification of common medical instruments and materials.

MDCL 204 – Medical Office Practice (60 hours)

This course applies administrative and clinical-support skills within a medical-office environment. Students practise appointment scheduling, reception, referrals, patient communication, confidential recordkeeping, electronic medical records, filing, inventory control, and daily medical-office procedures.

JOBS 111 – Job Search Skills (40 hours)

This course prepares students for the employment-search process. Students develop résumés, cover letters, interview skills, workplace communication strategies, and professional job-search techniques relevant to medical administrative and healthcare-support positions.

Program Highlights

980 hours of administrative, technical, and medical-office training
Combined and synchronous distance-delivery options
Medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology
Medical appointment scheduling and reception procedures
Electronic medical-record training
Manual and computerized medical billing
Medical transcription and word processing
Microsoft Office and business application training
Bookkeeping and basic accounting procedures
Customer service and professional communication
Introductory clinical procedures
Medical inventory and supply management
Confidential patient-record management
Job-search and employment-preparation training
Preparation for medical office, clinic, and hospital support positions

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements Heading
Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements Content

Before being accepted into the program, applicants must meet at least one of the following basic eligibility requirements:

Provide proof of Grade 12 graduation or an equivalent credential; or
Be 19 years of age or older.

Applicants must also provide acceptable evidence of English-language proficiency through at least one of the following options.

Secondary Education in English

Applicants may provide evidence that they successfully completed three years of full-time secondary education between Grades 8 and 12 in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages.

This may include successful completion of a BC Adult Graduation Program. Applicants using this option must provide transcripts showing completion of Grade 12 English with a minimum grade of C.

Post-Secondary Education in English

Applicants may provide evidence that they completed two years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English was the language of instruction in a country where English is one of the principal languages.

Approved English-Language Test

Applicants may submit verified results from an accepted English-language proficiency test. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the program start date.

Accepted minimum scores include:

IELTS Academic: Overall score of 5.5 or higher
CAEL: Overall score of 40 or higher
Duolingo English Test: Overall score of 95 or higher
TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 46 or higher
CELPIP: Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5
PTE Academic: Overall score of 43 or higher

Career Opportunities

Medical Office Assistant

Medical Administrative Assistant

Medical Secretary

Medical Office Receptionist

Hospital Receptionist

Medical Billing Clerk

Ward Secretary

Booking Clerk

Employment Opportunities

Medical offices

Family-health clinics

Specialist clinics

Hospitals

Outpatient facilities

Diagnostic and treatment centres

Healthcare administrative departments

Medical billing offices

Other healthcare and patient-service environments

Scholarship & Loan Information

Financial support options are available for qualified applicants. Students in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario may qualify for provincial student loans, grants, scholarships, and flexible repayment assistance plans.

Our financial coordinators assist with document preparation, application procedures, and evaluation of scholarship criteria to make education accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

? What does a medical office assistant do?

Medical office assistants support healthcare environments by scheduling appointments, communicating with patients, maintaining confidential records, preparing medical documents, processing billing information, managing electronic medical records, and completing administrative duties.

? What will I learn in the Medical Office Assistant Diploma?

Students learn medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical billing, electronic medical records, medical transcription, word processing, bookkeeping, customer service, appointment scheduling, office procedures, and introductory clinical skills.

? How long is the program?

The Medical Office Assistant Diploma is 49 weeks long and includes 980 hours of instruction.

? How is the program delivered?

The program may be offered through distance education or a combined format. The combined format includes 520 hours of instructor-led classroom training and 460 hours of synchronous distance education.

? Do I need previous medical-office experience?

Previous medical-office experience was not listed as an admission requirement. Applicants must meet the academic or age requirement and provide acceptable evidence of English-language proficiency.

Medical Office Assistant

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