Why Choose North Island College?

• Skills you can use. Today’s businesses need entry-level employees with a range of office skills. With a Medical Office Assistant certificate, you’ll qualify for specialized clerical and administrative assistant positions in the health care industry.
• Virtual classrooms. As part of the BC Campus initiative, courses are available online, giving you the opportunity to study whenever, wherever you wish. You can complete your coursework on your own time while continuing to work.
• Flexible schedules. Most courses are self-paced, and qualified students are admitted on a continuous basis subject to the availability of space. That means you can tailor your program to suit your ability, availability, and lifestyle.
• Credit what you know. If you are transferring from another college or institution, you may be given transfer credit for prior course work. Prior office work experience may also be eligible for credit. Check with a Student Advisor for details.

Program Highlights

The online medical courses offer specialized education in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical transcription, medical office procedures, financial recordkeeping and computerized medical billing, pharmacology, clinical procedures, office diagnostic procedures, assisting the physician, and specimen collection.

Students receive  CD video instruction in medical terminology, to best ensure that they develop skills in the correct usage, pronunciation and spelling of medical terms and abbreviations. Students will focus on Greek and Latin prefixes, suffixes, word roots and combining forms.

Career Opportunities

Employment opportunities for medical office assistants include physicians' offices, group practices, hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation, and other health care facilities. The health industry employs many assistants whose support creates efficiencies and enables professionals to see more patients. Healthcare jobs will continue to increase for many years to come as the population ages and new technologies provide the opportunity for better health.

Credit for Prior Learning

Students transferring from other colleges or institutions may be given transfer credit for course work upon presentation of transcripts provided the course credit was awarded no more than three years prior to the application for transfer credit to a maximum of 50% of the certificate's required courses. Recent graduates from high school should ensure that they meet with an advisor to determine if any of their high school credits are eligible for transfer credit. Students with office work experience wishing to enter a certificate program must contact the department chair to determine their eligibility and program planning needs.

Admission Requirements

1. Successful completion of the Office Assistant I certificate.
2. Keyboarding speed requirement is 40 w.p.m. The timing speed is based on the average of three two-minute timings with three errors or less.

To Be Successful

• Starting the program in September, January, or April offers online students the best opportunity to access courses that they require. Students are required to contact a Student Advisor to help them to create an educational plan that meets their goals and the available time needed to complete the program.
• Students will need access to a computer, the internet, and have a personal email account for correspondence. Additional supplies or equipment may be required for some courses.

Program Requirements

First 30 Weeks

• Complete the Office Assistant I certificate

Next 30 Weeks

• ABT 102 Keyboarding II
• ABT 120 Job Search
• ABT 182 Medical Terminology I
• ABT 183 Medical Terminology II
• ABT 184 Medical Transcription
• ABT 185 Medical Administrative Procedures
• ABT 186 Medical Terminology III - Pharmacology & Specialties
• ABT 187 Medical Billing Procedures - Manual
• ABT 188 Medical Billing Procedures - Computerized
• ABT 189 Clinical Procedures and Practice

Completion Requirements

• To be eligible to receive a certificate, the student must achieve a minimum of 70% (B-) in each course listed for the certificate; except ABT 102 requires exit speed of 50 w.p.m.