Medical Office Specialist

Program Description

Graduates of the Medical Office Specialist program find employment in individual physician’s offices, clinics, outpatient clinics, health insurance companies, laboratories, medical supplies and equipment companies, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and public health departments.

Medical Office Specialists combine medical office skills with computer skills. Necessities for the field are strong ethical values and confidentiality standards. Strong human relations skills are important when dealing with the needs of patients on a daily basis.

Major skills learned in the program include:

• Medical Terminology
• Health Insurance/Coding
• Legal and Ethical Compliance in the Healthcare Setting
• Customer Service
• Medical Billing, Scheduling, and Electronic Medical Record Software
• Problem Solving
• Applications Software (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Medical Transcription of Medical Documents

High school courses helpful in preparing for the program are Medical Terminology, Anatomy, keyboarding, computer software and English

Statewide Salary Range for Recent Graduates

$24,646 $25,582

Approximate Costs

• $111.85 per credit (resident)
• $167.80 per credit (out-of-state resident)
• *Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.

Program Outcomes

• Apply coding manual data to the billing process.
• Apply customer service skills.
• Establish criteria for using medical reference sources.
• Research medically specific data.
• Develop a system to maintain provider schedules.
• Establish and maintain patient charts and electronic medical records.
• Utilize telecommunications equipment in a medical setting.
• Compose medical correspondence.
• Perform medical billing, analyze patient accounts and apply collection procedures.
• Prepare insurance claims, referrals and prior authorizations.
• Practice confidentiality, legal and ethical standards.
• Identify body systems and diseases AND identify component parts of medical terms.

Career Opportunities

• Medical Office Specialist
• Medical Office Specialist/Specialized Medicine
• Insurance Specialist
• Medical Billing Specialist
• Customer Service Representative
• Medical Receptionist
• Medical Research

Entrance Scores

Admission Process

• Submit the college admission application.
• Submit the $30 one-time fee.
• Submit high school and other official college transcripts.
• Take the college assessment test (ACCUPLACER, ACT or other). The ACCUPLACER assessment can be taken at MPTC.
• Meet with Admissions to discuss order of courses and prerequisites (required for this program).
• Health Requirements need to be met and a Criminal Background Check is required.
• Check with Admissions if any additional steps are required.

Gainful Employment

The information below is provided as a federal requirement in an effort to help students make informed educational decisions. Specifically, Gainful Employment aims to provide information related to future potential debt burden in comparison to the expected earnings in a chosen program or field.