Herzing Blog

When Amalia Aplaon immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2019, she already had a bachelor's degree and a caregiver certificate. But she quickly realized that without Canadian credentials, it would be much harder to find a good job in health care.

So, after spending years as a stay-at-home mom, Amalia took on the challenge of returning to school. She enrolled in medical office assistant (MOA) training, completed her practicum, and graduated just as COVID-19 was sweeping across the country.

The pandemic caused a hiring freeze at many clinics, making finding a job very difficult for new MOA graduates. But Amalia persevered and in just one and half months, she got hired as a primary care assistant.

We interviewed Amalia to learn more about her experience at Herzing and what it's like to transition from full-time mom to full-time healthcare professional.

Read on for the full story.

Updated January 2024

Do you look forward to your doctor and dentist appointments? Probably not. In fact, if you’re like most people, you find the whole process pretty stressful.  Let’s face it—the clinic isn’t really our favourite place to be.   

But a skilled and friendly medical office assistant (MOA) can make a huge difference when you're feeling anxious. MOAs are the first person we interact with at our appointments, and they can set the tone for the whole visit.  

They do a lot of important work both up front and behind the scenes to ensure the clinic runs smoothly and feels less stressful.

Your daily routine will vary a bit, depending on where you work (type of clinic, hospital, etc.). But there are certain procedures you will perform on a regular basis no matter where you work. 

Here's a look at a typical day for a medical office assistant. 

Updated January 2024

Many different factors come into play when you’re deciding on a career path. On the one hand, there are practical matters like salary, job description, and career outlook. On the other hand, there’s your interest in the role and whether doing this work will make you truly happy and fulfilled. 

Wondering if medical office administration is a good career choice for you? You need to think it through from all the angles—practical and personal. 

Updated January 2024

It’s hard to imagine how a hospital or clinic could run without skilled medical office administrators (MOAs). 

Whether they’re working behind the scenes as medical transcriptionists or right up front at clinic reception, MOAs bring order and stability to our healthcare system. 

They put anxious patients at ease and help doctors stay on schedule. They prepare medical documents and keep patient records up to date. 

MOAs help “connect the dots” between patients, nurses, doctors, and specialists. That’s why good MOAs are always in demand. 

Considering this career and wondering about employment options? In this post, we compare three very common medical office administration jobs and salaries. 

Find out where medical office administrators work and learn more about how to start a career in this field.

Updated January 2024

Want a career in healthcare that involves working directly with patients but doesn't require a university degree? Looking to work in a professional setting where you can use your excellent organization and people skills?

Medical office administration could be a good fit.

This role combines office management with front-line patient care. You can work at a hospital, private clinic, or nursing home as an important member of the health care team.

But what exactly does this position involve? What will it take to start your career?

Follow these five simple steps to learn more about the field. Find out if becoming a medical office assistant is right for you and how to get started.

Updated January 2024

Medical office assistant (MOA) is a unique role that combines administrative/office skills with patient care. 

MOAs are the link between patients and doctors and nurses. They ensure the health office runs smoothly while helping people get the medical attention they need when they need it. 

At Herzing, we’ve been teaching medical office administration students for many years. In our experience, the people best suited to this career are naturally well-organized, patient, and reliable, and have a strong desire to help others. 

Think you have what it takes?  

Explore our seven best reasons to become a medical office assistant and learn more about how to get started. 

Medical office administration instructor Ayo Adetoro has been teaching at Herzing for over 15 years

If you’re thinking about studying medical office administration, there are likely three big questions on your mind: 

1) What exactly will I learn in this program? 

2) Will I find a job quickly after graduation? 

3) Am I a good fit for a medical office career? 

In fact, these kinds of questions apply to anyone who’s going back to school and wants to make sure they choose the right program. To find your answer, you need to know what to expect in class, what skills you’ll need to succeed, and who’s teaching the course. 

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.

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.

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.