Healthcare Office Administration (Medical Office Assistant) Program

Graduate students will be able to enter the job market in a variety of entry-level positions, such as:

• Private and Public Hospitals
• Public Health Offices
• Long Term Care Facilities
• Medical Offices
• Specialists’ Offices
• Nursing Services (scheduling)
• Insurance companies
• Government Offices with medical-related departments

General Admission Requirements

• High school graduation

OR

Mature Admission Requirements

• 19 years of age before starting class; and

English Language Proficiency Requirements

In addition to the admission requirements listed above, students must also meet one or more of the following language proficiency requirements:

• Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, OR
• Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction. See Appendix A for the list of approved countries. OR
• Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: overall score of 5.5 or higher.
  • Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test: overall score of 40 or higher
  • Duolingo English Test (DET): overall score of 95 or higher
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT: Minimum overall score of 46
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):Minimum overall score: Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Minimum overall score of 43
  • Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE): Minimum overall score of 160 or “C”
  • Cambridge Linguaskill: Minimum overall B2 level
  • LANGUAGECERT Academic: Minimum overall B2 level
  • The Michigan English Test (MET): Minimum overall B2 level
  • iTEP Academic: Minimum overall score of 3.5
  • EIKEN: Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1
  • Minimum overall score: Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5

Appendix A

THE LIST OF APPROVED COUNTRIES

Upon completion of this program, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Perform medical office tasks, including scheduling appointments, and documenting and maintaining medical records, while maintaining confidentiality, managing time effectively, showing professionalism, and being ethical.
• Apply and understand commonly used medical terminology.
• Assist physicians and prepare patients for examinations, clinical procedures, and tests.
• Manage the input and retrieval of data using electronic medical record software.
• Prepare bills for visits, supplementary items, and diagnostic procedures carried out in a medical office, a hospital, or home as dictated by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British Columbia.
• Create professional medical documents, letters, and emails that are respectful to the recipients and contain proper paragraphs, proper sentence structure, correctly spelled words and abbreviations, and correct grammar.
• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving techniques to resolve issues that can be found in a medical office.
• Provides person-centred care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client.
• Communicates clearly, accurately, and in sensitive ways with clients and families within a variety of community and facility contexts.
• Interacts with other members of the healthcare team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

We offer morning and afternoon classes.

Start Dates:

Christmas break: from December 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026.

Note: Schedules and start dates are subject to availability. Please contact the school for the most up-to-date information.

Disclaimer

Completion of a program at Avalon Community College does not guarantee employment, a work permit, or immigration status in Canada. Immigration decisions are made solely by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).