Medical Office Assistants and Medical Administrative Assistants play an important role in the day-to-day operation of healthcare facilities. They combine administrative, communication and healthcare-office skills to help medical professionals manage appointments, patient information, billing, records and other essential office functions.
Medical Office Assistants may be among the first people patients interact with when contacting a medical clinic or healthcare facility. Their work helps maintain an organized office environment while supporting communication between patients, healthcare professionals and other organizations.
If you are considering a Medical Office Assistant job in Canada, it is useful to understand the qualifications, responsibilities, salary expectations and career options associated with the occupation.
What Does a Medical Office Assistant Do?
Medical Office Assistants perform administrative duties in doctors’ offices, hospitals, medical clinics and other healthcare environments. The exact responsibilities vary according to the employer and workplace.
Common responsibilities may include:
- Scheduling and confirming patient appointments
- Registering patients and updating information
- Maintaining confidential medical records
- Answering telephone calls and patient inquiries
- Preparing forms, correspondence and documentation
- Processing insurance and healthcare-related forms
- Supporting OHIP billing procedures
- Using medical office and healthcare information software
- Ordering supplies and maintaining inventory
- Supporting established medical-office procedures and routines
Educational Qualifications for a Medical Office Assistant
Education and hiring requirements can vary between employers. In Canada, medical administrative assistant positions commonly require post-secondary education, relevant training or a combination of education and workplace experience.
A Medical Office Administration program can help students build specialized knowledge that is difficult to obtain through general office-administration training alone.
The
Medical Office Administration program at Pharma College
is currently a one-year Post Secondary Diploma.
Students develop skills in areas such as:
- Appointments and scheduling
- Clinical and medical procedures
- Medical terminology
- Basic human anatomy
- Medical office software
- Patient registration and record management
- Insurance and claim forms
- OHIP billing
- Confidential medical records
- Microsoft Office applications
- Interpersonal and professional communication skills
Medical Office Assistant Salary in Ontario
Government of Canada Job Bank wage information for Medical Administrative Assistants provides a useful current benchmark for this occupational group.
$17.60/hr
$25.00/hr
$32.70/hr
Wage figures are based on Government of Canada Job Bank data. Actual compensation varies according to employer, location, experience, qualifications and responsibilities.
Medical Administrative Assistant Job Outlook in Ontario
The employment outlook for Medical Administrative Assistants in Ontario is currently rated Very good for the 2025–2027 period by the Government of Canada’s Job Bank.
Factors contributing to this outlook include employment growth, positions becoming available through retirements and relatively few unemployed workers with recent experience in the occupation.
Most workers in this occupational group are employed in physician offices, hospitals and other healthcare environments. Knowledge of medical office administration and healthcare information software can also improve employment readiness.
Medical Office Administration Career Options
Medical Office Administration training can prepare graduates to pursue several healthcare-administration roles. Actual hiring requirements depend on the employer and position.
Support medical-office administration and patient services.
Coordinate administrative functions in healthcare offices.
Provide administrative and documentation support.
Assist with scheduling, records and office operations.
Work with medical documentation and terminology.
Support reception and administrative operations.
Where Can Medical Office Assistants Work?
Medical administrative skills are used across a variety of healthcare environments. Potential workplaces may include:
Medical Clinics
Hospitals
Specialist Clinics
Long-Term Care Facilities
Dental Offices
Community Health Centres
Healthcare Organizations
Medical Office Administration Training at Pharma College
The
Medical Office Administration Post Secondary Diploma
at Pharma College is a one-year program designed to develop practical administrative and healthcare-office skills.
The program includes medical terminology, clinical and medical procedures, basic anatomy, computerized healthcare applications, OHIP billing, Microsoft Office applications, communication skills and other areas relevant to medical-office administration.
Graduates can also access optional
job assistance and career-support services
designed to help with resumes, interview preparation and employment readiness.
Explore Financial Support Options
Students interested in Medical Office Administration can review available
financial services and funding options
.
Eligible students may also explore
Better Jobs Ontario
to determine whether financial assistance may be available for career training.
Start Your Medical Office Administration Career
Explore the Medical Office Administration diploma, curriculum, admission requirements and career opportunities at Pharma College.



