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Continuing Education

Medical Office Assistant Certificate

Health Care

Become a key player in a medical office

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*: $6,368

Program eligible for financial aid

Practicum available? Yes

Start dates: September

* Tuition subject to change without notice. Textbooks are not included in tuition.

Entrance requirements

Entrance requirements

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.

 

Supporting documents

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. Keyboarding Assessment

A keyboarding speed of 40 net words per minute (NWPM) is required by the end of the program to be eligible for graduation. You can schedule a keyboarding assessment whenever you are ready, as long as it is completed by the time you apply for graduation.

  • If you can type 40 NWPM, you are ready to schedule a keyboarding assessment with UFV Assessment Services.
  • If you cannot yet type 40 NWPM, you will automatically be enrolled in a free online keyboarding course so you can gain the skills you need. 
  • To get an idea of your current keyboarding speed, you can take a practice test on a number of free websites such as typingspeedtests.com.

 

3. 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.

 

Program outline

Courses

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:

  • Communication Skills
  • Medical Terminology
  • Pharmacology
  • Medical Office Procedures
  • Billing
  • Clinical
  • Practicum
  • Review

View the Fall 2023 MOA schedule.

 

Practicum

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. 

 

Practicum schedule

Practicum students must follow their host organization’s operating hours and days, so your schedule will depend on where you are placed. You will complete a minimum of 30-40 hours per week, with a maximum of 80 hours in total over the two weeks.

 

Practicum location

You will be paired with a practicum host from the Fraser Valley area. While we try to place students near their city of residence, we cannot guarantee practicum placement in a specific city. For example, students who live in Chilliwack may need to travel to Abbotsford. Transportation to the practicum site is your responsibility.

You will receive one practicum site placement. If you refuse your assigned practicum site, you will need to find your own site and obtain departmental approval prior to the start of your practicum.

 

Practicums for distance students

If you live outside the Lower Mainland, you will need to locate an appropriate practicum site in your area and submit their details to the Continuing Education department for approval.

 

Missing your practicum

Completing your practicum is a requirement for graduation. If you are unable to attend or complete your practicum due to extenuating circumstances, please contact Continuing Education immediately.

Extenuating circumstances are defined as a situation beyond your control that prevents you from completing a course, program, or practicum. These are circumstances that are unexpected and/or uncontrollable and arise during the course of the program. Examples include:

  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Car accident
  • Medical emergency
  • Incapacitating illness
  • Serious personal situation

The following does not qualify:

  • Inability to achieve a passing grade
  • Unawareness of deadlines
  • Unfavorable weather conditions
  • A short-term illness
  • An unmanaged, pre-existing health condition

Please discuss any barriers that may affect your practicum assignment with Continuing Education immediately after registration.

 

Employment Facts

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.

With changes to the medical care delivery system that are afoot to help with a shortage of physicians in British Columbia, MOAs who train as Advanced Medical Office Assistants may assume additional responsibilities to provide patient support.

 

Medical office assistant job boards

Textbooks

To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.

Questions?

Phone: 604-851-6324
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441 ext. 6324
Email: continuingeducation@ufv.ca
Or ask online

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