Updated January 2024
Looking for a career in healthcare and think you'd make a good medical office administrator (MOA)?
Your most important first step is to find a good MOA course. You need effective, hands-on training in the computer software, clinical, and health office skills today's employers want.
The quality of your training will determine your ability to get hired after graduation. Obviously, you want to find the best possible course and make a smart investment. But there are so many MOA courses out there. How do you compare them? What key features should you look for?
This post is here to help. We outline the most important traits of a top-quality MOA program. By the end, you'll know exactly what to notice and what questions to ask admissions.
Let's get started.
1. COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN SOFTWARE, CLINICAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS
Medical office administrators need certain basic skills to get hired at a hospital or community clinic. For example, you must know how to schedule appointments, use health office software, process billing and insurance, and manage patient records.
You must ensure the MOA course you choose covers all those skills (and more).
Here are the major topics your program should include:
☑️ Healthcare software for medical/dental offices, used for billing, managing files, creating reports, etc. (such as AbelDent)
☑️ Appointment scheduling software (such as Microsoft Outlook)
☑️ Microsoft Office (including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Access)
☑️ Health office procedures, such as receiving patients, booking appointments, dealing with health insurance plans, and controlling inventory
☑️ Managing patient records, charts, and health histories
☑️ Transcription techniques
☑️ Body systems and their functions (anatomy and physiology), relevant medical terminology, and common treatment procedures
☑️ Professional ethics and effective office communications
☑️ CPR and first aid
2. AN INTERNSHIP IN A REAL CLINIC
An internship is crucial for gaining real-world experience during your medical office administrator course. You get to apply the skills you learned in class, build your confidence, and connect with a possible employer.
Make sure the MOA course you choose includes an internship that is at least four weeks long. Completing the internship should be mandatory and required to earn your diploma.
Quite a few Herzing students get hired straight out of their internship. At the very least, it's an excellent way to get experience for your resume.
3. POSITIVE REVIEWS FROM STUDENTS
It's important to hear from real students and grads, and not just from the marketing and admissions team.
When you're researching MOA courses, look for quotes or video testimonials from students and graduates. Or see if there's a Google Reviews button on the website where you can check out student feedback and course ratings.
Ask your friends and family if they know someone who has completed the MOA course or attended the college. This is also a good way to judge the school's overall reputation.
Is the college respected in your community?
4. DETAILED INSTRUCTOR PROFILES FOR THE MOA COURSE
A college is only as good as its instructors. The person who teaches your medical office administrator training can make or break your job prospects after graduation.
Check the school website for MOA instructor information. You want to learn from instructors with many years of healthcare experience who are also passionate about teaching. Information about their educational credentials (diplomas, degrees, certificates) should be clearly provided.
Don't see instructor profiles on the website? Ask admissions for this info during your research process or campus visit.
5. ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING AN MOA JOB
Find out what kinds of career services the college provides. Will you get help finding a job once your MOA course is over?
A good college offers:
☑️ Assistance with resume and cover letter writing
☑️ Help applying for MOA jobs
☑️ Mock job interviews to help you prepare for the real thing
☑️ Connections to local clinics that hire MOA course graduates
your list of questions to ASK ADMISSIONS
Once you've found a few MOA courses that look good, it's wise to reach out to an admissions advisor to learn more. They can give you more detailed information so you can determine which program is best for you.
Here's a checklist of questions you should ask admissions:
☑️ What specific skills does the MOA course cover?
☑️ Do students graduate with first aid and CPR certificates?
☑️ Is an internship included?
☑️ How much experience does the instructor have with healthcare administration and teaching?
☑️ How much career support do students get?
☑️ How much is tuition and is there financial aid?
☑️ Are there any scholarships for MOA students?
☑️ How soon can you start?
☑️ What is the class schedule?
EXPLORE THE MOA COURSE AT HERZING COLLEGE
Herzing College offers medical office administration training online. Training takes 12 months or less and includes an internship for real work experience.
Click below to explore the MOA program, learn more about careers, and chat live with an admissions advisor. We're here to help!
