Professional Technical Certificate

Medical Office Assisting Certificate

Area of Study
Healthcare
Program Coordinator

Rachel Pairsh
(360) 417-6414
rpairsh@pencol.edu

Program Description

The Peninsula College Medical Office Assistant Certificate program provides training for adults seeking employment in the administrative areas of medical offices, clinics, hospitals, home health, extended care facilities, and other healthcare settings. Technology skills are integrated to prepare students for medical office employment, including electronic medical billing and coding, bookkeeping and accounting, and charting in patient records. Immunizations & background checks must be completed prior to the student being placed into a local healthcare facility for their required externship/ practicum experience(s).

Program Length: 4 Quarters
Program Code: MOMOAC45

Career Opportunities and Earnings 

There is a high demand for professional medical office assistants and an increasing number of employers are seeking skilled medical office assistants. Graduates may find positions is a variety of healthcare settings including medical offices, clinics, hospitals, home health and extended care facilities. Potential positions include:

  • Admissions coordinator
  • Billing coordinator
  • Medical office assistant
  • Medical secretary
  • Patient coordinator

For current employment and wage estimates, please visit and search for Medical Secretary: bls.gov/oes.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Medical Office Assistant program, students will be able to:

  • Perform the duties of a professional medical office assistant/specialist
  • Identify legal and ethical issues related to medical office assistant duties and responsibilities
  • Use medical terminology correctly
  • Effectively communicate with other healthcare team members, patients, and physicians
  • Procure and distribute office supplies
  • Manage documents, both paper and electronic, in a medical office
  • Demonstrate knowledge and competency in ICD-10 coding and electronic medical billing of multiple insurances
  • Follow laws and regulations regarding patient privacy and confidentiality
  • Format and generate various documents required in a medical office setting

Goals

  • Prepare students for a variety of medical office related jobs
  • Offer a medical office assistant program that aligns with recommendations from local employers and industry trends
  • Meet the growing need for trained Rotating Allied Health Program Planning medical office assistants

Approximate Additional Costs

  • Placement test fee: $20
  • Books, supplies and miscellaneous fees: $250-$300
  • Tuition and fees: $6,822.75 total based on 2024-25 WA resident tuition rates (additional fees may apply)
    • First quarter (12 credits): $1,572.32
    • Second quarter (15 credits): $1,800.95
    • Third quarter (15 credits): $1,800.95
    • Fourth quarter (13 credits): $1,648.53

Sample Schedule  

This sample schedule is provided as a guide for a full-time student starting in fall quarter whose goal is to earn a certificate. The typical student schedule is based on entering the program during the fall quarter, however some programs allow students to enter in the winter or spring as well. Since not all do, please confirm with an advisor whether this program must be started during a specific quarter or not. 

First Quarter (Fall)

Catalog #
Title
Credits
2

Designed to help you succeed on college research assignments. This course will emphasize developing research questions and search strategies; searching relevant subject databases; synthesizing information from sources; and citing sources in APA format. Readings and assignments focus on issues and contexts specific to Health and Social Sciences. Students will demonstrate core 'information competencies' by developing a research project on a topic relevant to the health sciences or social sciences. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 2

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5

Study of medical terminology using a body systems approach, relating terms to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Word parts are used to build, analyze, define, spell, and pronounce medical terms, including abbreviations. Structural, directional, disease and disorder, surgical, and diagnostic terms will be covered for body structures, body systems, and specialized areas of medicine such as oncology. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 5

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5

This course gives students an introduction to managed care and insurance coverage. Students will learn medical billing practices including electronic submission and computerized billing techniques and includes ICD, HCPCS, and CPT coding. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 5

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Sub-Total Credits
12

Second Quarter (Winter)

Catalog #
Title
Credits
5

College mathematics used in professional and technical programs. Content includes mathematical modeling and applications employing numerical operations; measurements; geometry; linear and nonlinear equations; exponent, radical, and polynomial operations; functions; formulas; plane analytical geometry with graphing; and an introduction to trigonometry. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 5

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1

This course provides two year American Heart Association (AHA) Health care Provider certification in basic first aid and CPR. Students will be instructed in adult and pediatric CPR, foreign body airway obstruction, automatic external defibrillation and the basic skills necessary to provide first aid assistance in emergency situations. Class is based on nationally recognized standards from AHA and National Safety Council. Students will perform chest compressions and rescue maneuvers and should be prepared for extended stretches of time spent on the floor practicing CPR and first aid procedures. This class may include students from multiple sections.

This class has a $161.22 first aid course fee.

Credits: 1

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4

This course is designed to provide instruction in general office administration duties. Topics to be covered include telecommunications, scheduling, filing, interpersonal communications, and professional correspondence. There will be review and discussion of various machines and equipment used in the business office, as well as exercises in the maintenance of office equipment, procurement of supplies, and maintenance of inventory. Students will be instructed in the use of an educational electronic health record (EHR) system. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 4

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5

This course gives medical assisting students advanced training in procedural and diagnostic coding and medical billing practices. Topics covered include ICD, HCPCS, and CPT coding and hospital and outpatient billing and coding procedures. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 5

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Sub-Total Credits
15

Third Quarter (Spring)

Catalog #
Title
Credits
5

Develop beginning through intermediate word processing skills in Microsoft Word and associated technologies. Create, edit, format documents and tables; use themes and building blocks, illustrate documents with graphics, merge data sources and documents. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Integration with cloud computing. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 5

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4

This course teaches medical assisting students how to incorporate cognitive knowledge in the performance of psychomotor and affective domains in their practice as medical assistants, and in providing patient care in accordance with regulations, policies, laws, and patient rights. Students will be instructed in the legal implications and ethical considerations of the medical assisting profession. NOTE: Students need to have entry codes to register. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 4

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6

Final core curriculum course for students seeking to become medical office assistants or specialists. The course prepares students to perform routine administrative medical office duties in an outpatient setting. Students completing this course will be expected to develop a professional portfolio, apply for a national credentialing exam of their choice, participate in job-seeking activities, and participate in a brief externship wherein they will be expected to perform tasks relevant to the MOA job description. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 6

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Sub-Total Credits
15

Fourth Quarter (Summer)

Catalog #
Title
Credits
5

Develop beginning through intermediate spreadsheet skills in Microsoft Excel and associated technologies. Create, edit, and format spreadsheets; analyze data using formulas, manage workbook data, create and analyze table data. Interactive training and skill-based assessments are completed in a virtual environment; projects are based on real-world business situations. Integration with cloud computing. Touch keyboarding skills is recommended. This class may include students from multiple sections.

Credits: 5

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5

Active reading, effective writing, and critical thinking, using subjective and objective approaches. Introduction to research techniques. This class may include students from multiple sections. (Communication Skills)

Credits: 5

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3

Survey of workplace skills, including communication, team building, problem solving, and leadership. Emphasis on concepts of perception, attitude, motivation, and ethics.

Credits: 3

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Sub-Total Credits
13

Your personal educational plan will vary based on many factors including:  

Total Credits
55