The Peninsula College Associate of Applied Science Medical Office Assisting Program provides training for those seeking employment in the administrative areas of medical offices, clinics, hospitals, home health, extended care facilities, and other healthcare settings. Graduates are likely to find employment in these areas, while advanced degrees may provide access to a wider range of career opportunities in healthcare.
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. Graduates are eligible for one or more national credentialing exams, and will choose one to challenge and pass as part of their capstone course project. Immunizations and background checks must be completed prior to the student being placed into a local healthcare facility for their required externship/practicum experience(s).
What It's Like to be a Medical Office Assistant
Degrees & Certificates
DEGREE
Medical Office Assisting, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree
CERTIFICATE
Medical Office Assisting Certificate
How to Apply
Application to the program is required. Applicants who plan to begin the program Fall Quarter must submit their application packet by 5:00 pm on June 1st of the preceding Spring Quarter. Prospective Medical Assisting students should be aware of the fact that they will have to complete a background check and provide documentation of required immunizations prior to enrolling in medical assisting courses.
- Application Steps for the Medical Office Assisting Program
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Apply to Peninsula College and declare Medical Office Assisting as your program of study.
- Have all official transcripts forwarded to PC for review. This process can take up to 10 weeks.
- Schedule an assessment placement test. Ensure eligibility to enroll in both ENGL 101 and MATH 90/91.
- Meet with the Program Director, Rachel Pairsh to form an academic plan.
- Course registration is completed through the Peninsula College website. Students must contact Student Services to acquire a ctcLink ID # and be added to the AMOA student group, which will provide them access to the application course on Canvas.
- If accepted, complete background check and obtain required supplies and equipment.
- Register for fall quarter classes and purchase required texts.
- Attend mandatory New Student Orientation prior to start of fall quarter.
- Obtain documentation of required immunizations by or before 3rd quarter in program.
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- Medical Office Assisting Program, Student Handbook 2025–2026
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Medical Office Assisting Program, Student Handbook 2025-2026
- Medical Office Assisting Program, Application Timeline 2025–2026
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Medical Office Assisting Program, Application Timeline 2025-2026
Program Requirements & Prerequisites
- Program Requirements
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Course requirements are listed below, along with the typical quarter/year in which the course is completed. The typical student schedule is based on entering the program during the fall quarter. Actual student schedule may vary. Since some courses have prerequisites, actual completion time may be longer than what is indicated for the length of program on the previous page.
- Program Prerequisites
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People of all ages and experiences are invited to apply for the Medical Office Assisting Program once they have obtained a high school diploma or GED, been accepted as a Peninsula College student, and are eligible to enroll in ENGL 101 and MATH 90. You do not need to take or enroll in these courses before applying to the Medical Office Assisting Program. Eligibility to take these courses may be determined by transcript review or by placement testing.
Students entering this program should have good familiarity with computer software and hardware in the Windows or MAC environment. Placement test(s) will help determine placement level in math and English if not known. Previous coursework may also indicate placement level. Students will complete the Program’s application process in spring or summer quarters for subsequent fall quarter entry; entry codes are required to register for all MED courses.
Opportunities & Earning
- Career Opportunities
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Graduates can expect to work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and doctor’s offices and other outpatient clinics. Locally, MOAs can expect to earn between $18.21 to $23.68 or as much as $20.67 to $29.14 per hour, depending on the place of employment. National certification may be required for employment in some states.
- Potential Positions
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Potential positions include Medical Office Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Patient Care Coordinator, Patient Navigator, Patient Service Representative, Medical Secretary, Medical Office Receptionist, Clinic Registration Representative, and they can work in Medical Records and as Medical Billers and/or Medical Coders.
Out-of-State Licensure
Peninsula College has not made a determination that the curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out of state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.