FAQ

Can I apply directly to this program?
There is no direct entry to the Office Administration – Health Services major. Students who have completed Algonquin’s Office Administration – General Ontario College Certificate program, or equivalent, will be admitted directly into second year. Qualified students may elect (at the start of Level 3) to participate in a one-day work placement during Level 4.

How is the program structured?
The Office Administration – General is offered each September and January. Students who successfully complete this certificate can then enroll in a major and start Office Administration – Health Services (Level 3) in the fall.

What would I learn in this program?
This program offers extensive training in the areas of: medical documents and correspondence using an EMR system in a variety of specialities; medical office procedures; insured and non-insured billing; scheduling; patient management; records management; privacy and security of personal health information (PHI); medical transcription; medical terminology; accounting practices; database and project management; time management; keyboarding and data entry; and effective communication.

Is this program accredited?
Yes! The Office Administration – Health Services program is accredited by the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM). Graduates qualify to write their Health Information – Certified Associate (HICA) national certification examination (NEC). This certification is often a requirement within organizations and can lead to greater earning potential or career advancement opportunities.

Do I need to buy textbooks?
The Office Administration programs are not part of the eText initiative. Textbooks will cost approximately $800 for Levels 3 and 4.

Will I need to purchase a computer or specialized software for this program?
This is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) program. You will be required to have a mobile computing device meeting specifications outlined by your program (please see your program webpage for details). Note: Mac computers are not supported in the Office Administration programs as software used in these programs will not run effectively (even when running via Parallels on Mac). You will have access to software required in this program.