Explore the regular routine, daily tasks, and responsibilities of an MOA.
Medical Office Assistant Program
Herzing’s Medical Office Assistant Program teaches the clinical, administrative, and computer skills you need to get hired at any medical office. Start your career in just 12 months, internship included.
What is Your Role as a Medical Office Assistant?
Medical office assistants (MOAs) play a key role at hospitals and clinics. They handle scheduling, billing, reception, record-keeping, and assist with minor medical procedures.
Typical responsibilities for medical office assistants includes:
- Greeting patients and answering phones
- Scheduling appointments
- Processing billing and health insurance
- Preparing patient charts, records, histories, and reports
- Checking patient height, weight, temperature and blood pressure
- Assisting with minor medical procedures
Herzing College Winnipeg Medical Office Assistant Program
The Medical Office Assistant program will fully prepare you for work in just 12 months. Get comprehensive training in medical office software and procedures, plus real work experience with a 6-week internship.
- 12-month diploma program (20 hours per week, Monday – Thursday)
- Option to start on campus or online
- 6-week internship
- Certificate in First Aid and CPR
- Support from our Career Development team to find your first medical office job
- Multiple program start dates throughout the year
- Financial assistance may be available for students who qualify
Career Outlook
There is steady demand for medical office assistants in Winnipeg. The Government of Canada Job Bank predicts stable job opportunities in this field, for the next 10 years.
Medical Office Assistant Jobs
Medical office assistants are qualified to work in many different kinds of healthcare facilities. Common employers include:
- Hospitals
- Family clinics
- Dental offices
- Walk-in clinics
- Chiropractor offices
- Extended care centres
- Insurance provider companies
Who Hires our Graduates?
Graduates of our Medical Office Assistant program have been hired by hospitals and clinics across Winnipeg:
- Concordia Hospital
- Southwood Medical
- St. Boniface Hospital
- Assiniboine Clinic
- Pembina Medical Clinic
- Seven Oaks Hospital
- St. Boniface Cardiology
Study Topics
The Medical Office Assistant program features courses in computer software, clinical skills, transcription, laboratory procedures, medical billing, and health office procedures.
Click for a detailed description of each course:
This course covers the use of the Microsoft Office applications Word and PowerPoint. Topics include creating documents, editing text, creating tables, importing images, creating large documents, managing document sections, creating slideshows, and managing themes.
This course provides an introduction to health care offices practices and procedures. Topics include reception and booking appointments; patient records management; telephone and mail procedures; health insurance plans; financial records and inventory control; procedures manuals; and health care associations.
This course introduces the foundations of the language of medicine and develops medical vocabulary through the study of the structures, functions, diagnostic procedures, pathology, and treatment procedures of the body systems. Topics include medical terminology; the structure of the human body; and the skeletal, muscular, lymphatic, immune, digestive, nervous, and endocrine systems.
This course provides instruction in the organization and structure of the body components (anatomy) and their functions (physiology). Topics include the study of chemistry as related to the body; cell structure, tissues and membranes; and the integumentary, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems.
This course provides comprehensive CPR training for general public interest or workplace requirements. Students will learn the responsibilities of a First Aid provider and the skills to provide assistance in the event of a cardiac emergency, choking or stroke for adults, infants or children as well as 2-person CPR. Certificate issued upon successful completion.
MHFA Basic is intended for adults interacting with adults (18 years and older). This courses focuses on the four most common mental health disorders including substance related, mood related, anxiety and trauma related, and psychotic disorders. Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with their family, friends, communities, and workplaces.
This course provides instruction in medical laboratory procedures. Topics include the clinical laboratory; urinalysis; hematology and blood chemistry; medical This course is a discussion of ethics and associated ethical problems. A focus on Medical and business ethics and the legal dilemmas encountered will prepare the students for the situations they might encounter in the field. The governing bodies in medicine will be discussed as well as auditing and record keeping issues.
This course provides an introduction into provincial/territorial health care plans. Common insured and uninsured health services are discussed. Eligibility, format, and purpose of health cards in Canada are outlined. Students are exposed to the process of applying for health service coverage. The concept of reciprocal medical billing is introduced to the student. Private insurance providers and health care service benefits are identified.
A Future Trends discusses possibilities for coverage of services not mandated under the Canada Health Act.This chapter provides an introduction into the way provincial and territorial ministries process health claims. The student will be able understand the key importance of health card validation in the claims submission process. The structure of health care service, therapeutic, premium, and diagnostic codes is explained. Billing examples are provided to reinforce learning. This course also provides a detailed breakdown of physician billing numbers, group numbers, and specialty codes, and their importance in the billing process is made clear. Complexities of billing within the patient enrolment models that use a multidisciplinary approach is also discussed.
This course provides an overview and background knowledge of the Canadian health care system as it applies to a computer scheduling program. The student will be introduced to skills, practices necessary skills to schedule patients on a scheduling software program in a medical office or hospital.The ability to use a medical billing software program is a requirement of a medical assistant in most clinical offices. The student receives instruction in the operation of a medical and dental or chiropractic package in preparation for a position in a medical, dental, or chiropractic office.
This course provides training in correct transcription techniques and in the preparation of clinical documents, including patient charts, records, histories, and reports.
This course provides instruction in clinical procedures with focus on assisting the practitioner during patient examinations. Topics include medical asepsis, infection control, measuring vital signs, patient examinations, eye and ear assessments and procedures, tissue healing agents, sterilization and disinfection, minor office surgery, and emergency medical procedures.
This course provides instruction in medical laboratory procedures. Topics include the clinical laboratory; urinalysis; hematology and blood chemistry; medical microbiology; electrocardiography; radiology and diagnostic imaging; and specialty examinations and procedures.
This seminar provides an opportunity for the student to apply the techniques and processes for developing a career path and to learn lifetime career management tools and skills. Topics include career-planning, job searching, developing career search documents, refining interview skills, and preparing for a new position.
The internship component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in an industry environment. The industry shall be directly related to the student’s program of study. The internship requires full-time day attendance working in the industry setting. The duration of the internship is one month, during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 6 weeks of work experience.
Admission Requirements
What you need to get started.
- Minimum of a Canadian high school grade 12 or equivalent, or a mature student
- Pass an entrance test administered by Herzing College
- Be interviewed in detail regarding interest in the field
- Note: admission to some programs may include additional requirements
Overview
RELATED HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS:
CAMPUS
INDUSTRY
Healthcare
PROGRAM LENGTH
12 Months (20 hours/week, M-TH)
Includes 6 week internship
LEARNING MODALITIES
Online, Hybrid
EXPLORE CAREERS
TRY OUR CAREER EXPLORATION KIT
Our online kit takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
2022 Overall Graduate Employment Rate
82% of available Herzing College Winnipeg graduates were employed in a related field.*
*statistics based on most recent available
Your Next Steps
Ready to learn more about Herzing’s Medical Office Assistant program? It’s easy to get started. Choose from the following options:
- Fill out the form to ask questions via email
- Chat live with an Admissions Advisor to get your questions answered now
- Click Request Info to get started today!
Why Choose this Program?
- Caring instructors with decades of medical office experience
- Our medical office training is regularly updated to reflect the evolving needs of Winnipeg employers
- Small class sizes where every student gets step-by-step instructor support
- 6-week internship to kickstart your medical office career
- Friendly environment with students of all ages and backgrounds
- Excellent Career Development team that helps create your resume, prepare you for interviews, and apply for jobs
- Access to the Herzing Open Education Program (HOEP). Enrol in a second program or professional certificate, tuition-free