School of Continuing Education
School of Continuing Education
Health Care
In five short months, the Medical Office Assistant certificate program provides you with the skills to run a medical office efficiently in a clinic, hospital, health agency, or private practice. As a medical office assistant, you are often the go-to person in the office—the one who is booking appointments, assisting patients, and keeping the doctors on track and on time.
Knowledgeable instructors train you to perform clinical and clerical procedures such as scheduling appointments, filing insurance claims, taking patients’ medical histories, and preparing for basic clinical examinations. Your studies end with a practicum that provides you with valuable, real-world experience. When you graduate, you have the skills and confidence needed to manage the day-to-day operations of a busy medical practice.
Credential: Certificate
Format: Full time
Delivery: Hybrid format: online courses followed by an in-person practicum at an assigned work site
Duration: 4.5 months
Days and times: Online at scheduled times on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 pm-8:30 pm
Tuition*: $6,495
Program eligible for financial aid
Practicum required? Yes
Start dates: September
* Tuition subject to change without notice. Textbooks are not included in tuition.
You must meet all entrance requirements to be accepted to the program. View the entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.
All students entering this program are also expected to be computer literate. This means knowing how to run programs in a Windows environment, and having basic Internet, word processing, and spreadsheet skills.
Once you have applied to the program, you will need to submit the following:
1. Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening
A satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening is required for practicum. Complete the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector using access code CACJXKC5VT.
After making the fee payment, you will receive an online receipt from the Ministry of Justice. Your results are sent directly to Continuing Education.
2. Immunization Record
If you would like to complete your practicum in a hospital setting, you are required to submit the Health Practicum Student Immunization Record at the start of your program indicating that you are up to date on your vaccinations. Students seeking a hospital practicum placement must also be vaccinated against COVID-19, per PHO Order.
Medical clinic hosts may also require immunization records and COVID vaccination for your practicum placement. You must be prepared to submit evidence of your immunizations if requested by your host.
The program comprises eight modules. You complete a combination of theory and practice-related exercises before participating in a two-week medical office practicum placement. The practicum is followed by a one-week in-class final program review.
The eight modules are:
View the Fall 2024 MOA Program Schedule.
At the end of the MOA program, you will complete a two-week practicum that provides meaningful work-like experience and exposure to a medical setting. To qualify for practicum, you must successfully complete all courses within the program and meet the attendance requirements.
View the practicum webpage for more information.
MOAs serve an important role in the delivery of healthcare service and are the key link between patients, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team. It is essential that MOAs possess a high level of communication skills, knowledge of medical office procedures, and keen multitasking abilities.
Medical administrative assistants (MOAs) may find work in various medical settings, including hospitals, clinics, health insurance companies, and doctors' and specialists' offices.
The Government of Canada's Job Bank reports that currently in British Columbia, 26% of working MOAs are 55 or older. In the coming years, new MOAs will be needed to fill the vacancies arising from retirements.
Medical office assistant job boards
To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.
Phone: 604-851-6324
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441 ext. 6324
Email: continuingeducation@ufv.ca
Or ask online