Medical Office Assistant & Unit Clerk
Heritage College

Program Description

Heritage College’s Unit Clerk and Medical Office Assistant certificate program readies students to enter Canada’s growing healthcare industry. This express program gets you the education you need quicker than other Calgary-area colleges, so you can graduate and start your new career in only 26 weeks.

At Heritage College, you’ll learn from an experienced team of doctors, nurses, and healthcare experts, and master the skills today’s employers are looking for. Our instructors share their valuable, real-world knowledge and experience, preparing you to become part of a modern healthcare team.

In this program, you’ll learn to oversee healthcare organizations and assist in clinical functions. This course introduces its students to medical terminology, clinical and office procedures, Alberta Healthcare billing, Electronic Health Records, and medical transcriptions as core subjects. After completing this program, you will be prepared to aid in supervising numerous medical office procedures.

As a non-clinical member of a health care team, medical office assistants and unit clerks coordinate information from doctors, nurses, medical administration, insurance providers, patients and families. Over the length of this course, you will learn medical transcription, scheduling, admissions and discharge procedures, and other clerical duties. You’ll also be prepared to prioritize tasks, adapt to changes, and develop effective communication strategies for a medical office environment.

Heritage Career College’s 6-month Express Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk program includes three weeks of hands-on work experience in Calgary-area medical facilities, or other partner institutions across Alberta. We divide our practicum experience into two sections: one half in a clinical environment, and the other half in a long-term care facility. Graduates of our programs receive continuing support from Heritage College’s Career Services department, including help with job searches, resume and LinkedIn profile reviews, and interview preparation.

Course Overview
Graduates of Heritage College’s Unit Clerk and Medical Office Assistant program develop the office administration and medical knowledge needed to manage the front-office operations of a medical clinic, nursing home or hospital unit. Over the length of this 6-month program, students:

• Gain valuable hands-on experience in labs and practicums, including sterilization, patient preparation, basic urinalysis and the recording of vital signs
• Study medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to help identify a patient’s medical issues.
• Obtain vital experience with medical transcription, including numerous real-world practical exercises to hone this in-demand skill
• Explore medical clinics, long-term care facilities, and hospitals to discover the differences between these facilities and prepare students for careers in a variety of medical settings
• Learn the regulations and laws that govern medical practice in Alberta

How You'll Learn
Heritage Career College’s Express Unit Clerk and Medical Office Assistant certificate program has two delivery methods:

In-Class: Either five days a week (evening option) or two days a week (weekend option) at Heritage College’s Sunridge campus.

Online: Lectures and theory delivered online, with online assessments.
This program combines lectures, visual aides, hands-on learning via practical exercises, projects, exams and group discussions into an accessible learning experience. Validation of knowledge is done through through exams, practical tests, projects, and practicum evaluation. 

Medical Office Assistant & Unit Clerk Course Details