Herzing Blog

Wondering what it's like to become a medical office administrator (MOA)? Want to know more about training, careers, and getting started in this field?

Who better to talk to than Priscilla Grant? Priscilla recently completed the medical office administrator program at Herzing College Ottawa.

She went straight into a full-time medical office position after graduation and has transitioned very smoothly into her new career.

And she did it all while working part-time and caring for two children under the age of six!

We interviewed Priscilla earlier this month to learn more about her story and see how things are going at work.

Find out what Priscilla thought of Herzing's MOA program, her most and least favourite parts of training, and how she landed such a great job at Carefor Health and Community Services.

Here are the highlights from our conversation.

Pauline Hughes-Derome, Personal Support Worker student at Herzing College Ottawa

At 58 years old, Pauline Hughes-Derome figured it was too late to change careers. And at her age, she assumed going back to school wasn't even an option.

After all, she already had a stable job in accounting, years of business experience, and no reason to make a move. 

But then everything changed when her sister got cancer, and Pauline became her primary care-giver. 

Paolo Antonio Cortez, Medical Office Administrator student at Herzing College Toronto

Thinking about enrolling in a Medical Office Administrator (MOA) program? Wondering what to expect in class, or if this career is the right choice for you?

Meet Paolo Antonio Cortez. He's the best person to talk to about MOA training because he's currently taking the program at Herzing College Toronto.

 Nancy Scott RN (centre) wins the Herzing College Teacher of the Year award for her outstanding work with health care aide students

Health care aides (HCAs) are in high demand in Winnipeg and across most of Canada. Our rapidly aging population and dwindling health care budgets have long-term care facilities bursting at the seams.

Meanwhile, many seniors are opting to stay in their own homes for longer, creating a need for trained health care aides who can assist them to live safely on their own.

If you're looking for a career in healthcare that doesn't require years of training, but involves challenging, meaningful work—becoming a health care aide is an ideal option.

Personal Support Worker students pose for a class photo at Herzing College in Ottawa (2019)

Updated January 2023

Looking for a health care career that doesn't require years of training, but allows you to make a huge difference in people's lives? Becoming a personal support worker (PSW) could be your ideal choice.

You can earn a PSW diploma in just nine months. By the time you graduate, you'll have all the skills needed to get hired at a hospital, long-term care facility, or home-care company.

Updated January 2024

If you're reading this post, chances are you're seriously considering a career in medical office administration. Maybe you've already decided on a training program or are still researching options.

Either way, we're here to help you make a smart decision, based on your interests, natural skills, and professional goals. Skills lists are a great way to look ahead into the future and see what you'll actually be learning in class and doing at work.

Photo: Personal Support Worker students pose for a class picture at Herzing College (2019)

Updated December 2024

What's inspiring you to become a personal support worker (PSW)? In our experience working with PSW students, there's usually a couple of key reasons people gravitate toward this career.

One is the high demand for PSWs in Ontario and throughout many parts of Canada. If you're looking for a stable health care career, this is an excellent choice. Our aging population is expected to continue creating jobs for PSWs well into the future.

Another top motivator is the one-to-one time personal support workers get to spend with clients. If you're looking for more than "just a job" and want to make a real connection with people, PSW is the obvious choice.

But, like all careers, becoming a personal support worker comes with certain challenges. What should you know before you invest in training, and start down this path?

Take a look at the most common pros and cons of working as a personal support worker, and see if this role is right for you.

Photo: Herzing graduate Sheri Richard in her Health Care Aide uniform at Extendicare Oakview Place in Winnipeg

It's always really exciting to catch up with Herzing grads and see how much their lives have changed since finishing school and starting a brand new career.

Health care aide graduate Sheri Richard is a great example. She switched career paths later in life, when she could no longer find work in her field and needed a new direction.

Sheri knew she wanted to help people, so she started looking around for quick training options. A five-month health care aide diploma was an ideal fit.

And even though she has three children and a very busy schedule, Sheri took the leap and started the program. Turns out, it was the best decision she ever made.

Here's what she told us about heading back to school, starting her health care aide career, and where she's working now.

Updated December 2024

A career in community services is one of the most effective ways to make a real difference in your local neighborhood.

If you're looking for meaningful work—a job where you will truly help people—this is the path for you. Community services workers (CSWs) play an important role in making our society safer, fairer, and more prosperous for everyone.

Susan Zirk in her health care aide scrubs, in Selkirk, Manitoba.

Are you considering becoming a health care aide, and wondering if you'd be a good fit for the role?

Looking to switch jobs, but don't want to spend years re-training? You're definitely not alone.

Susan Zirk was working a high-pressure finance job when she started looking around for other options. She wanted to do something with more meaning - work that actually helps people and feels rewarding.

Finally, she took the plunge and signed up for Health Care Aide training at Herzing College Winnipeg.

Now she's living a completely different life, working for a home-care company that helps seniors live safely and independently in their own residences.

We checked in with Susan this week to see how her new career is going and learn more about her experience becoming a health care aide. Read on for the highlights!