-
featuredOnline
Jan 5 - Jan 5, 2028
Tuition
$5,392
Scholarships available
-
Online
Jan 5 - Jan 5, 2027
Tuition
$1,812
Scholarships available
-
Sep 1 - Sep 1, 2027
Tuition
$2,715
Scholarships available
-
-
Tuition
$4,015
-
Tuition
$4,015
-
Tuition
$4,387
About
Medical professionals are busy. Whether they own their own practice or work in a hospital or clinic, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers rely on administrative staff to assist them in managing operations smoothly, to facilitate optimal patient care.
That’s why they hire a medical office administrator: a skilled professional capable of scheduling medical appointments, completing insurance claim forms, preparing bills and financial statements, maintaining patient files, and more. Responsibilities can also include training and supervising other administrative staff, managing budgets and payroll, and ensuring the office meets legal regulations.
While the duties of a medical office administrator can shift depending on their field — ranging from the intensive care unit of a hospital to a chiropractor’s clinic — these professionals are highly organized, have basic computer skills (such as creating and managing a spreadsheet), have a solid understanding of insurance, billing, and are great communicators.
While a post-secondary degree is not required to work in medical office administration, many employers will require certification. These can be obtained by taking a medical office administration course, specialized diplomas that build on general office administration certificates, which can typically be completed in one to two years. These medical office admin courses are offered through accredited colleges, universities, and private institutions throughout Canada.
While the salary expectations of a medical office administrator will depend on the specialization of their field and level of experience, Talent.com, Glassdoor, and Indeed estimate that a medical office administrator’s average salary ranges between $40,000 and $53,000. Medical office or clinic managers can expect typically salaries between $65,000 – $85,000, with administrators managing large clinical practices or hospitals potentially earning as much as $120,000 annually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What qualifications does a medical office administrator need?
To succeed in their professional role, medical office administrators need excellent organizational and communications skills, as well as discretion. Most employers expect medical office administrators to have completed at least one post-secondary program, such as a medical office administrator certificate or diploma proving proficiency in handling sensitive patient information and a basic understanding of medical terminology.
Do I need a licence to work as a medical office administrator?
No, a licence is not needed to work as a medical office administrator in Canada. However, completion of a certification program will significantly boost one’s chances of employment. These certification programs can be province or territory-specific; for example, Centennial College offers a two-year office administration diploma program specializing in health services, as does Conestoga.
What are career growth opportunities for medical office administrators?
There are lots of career advancement opportunities for a medical office administrator, including taking on specialized roles like health information management professional or medical billing specialist, or moving into supervisory roles like a clinic manager.
What does an entry-level salary for a medical office administrator look like?
According to Canada’s Job Bank, the hourly wage of a medical health administrator is, on average,$24 per hour, although this figure will change depending on a professional’s level of experience, place of employment, and educational background.
According to Talent.com, Glassdoor, and Indeed estimate that a medical office administrator’s average salary ranges between $40,000 and $53,000. Medical office or clinic managers can expect typically salaries between $65,000 – $85,000, with administrators managing large clinical practices or hospitals potentially earning as much as $120,000 annually.
Certification
Most employers require medical office administrators to have at least a high school diploma and to have completed a post-secondary education. This could be an office administration course; offered by public and private universities and colleges, such as Centennial College, these certificates are often one-year programs.
Students wanting to pursue administrative employment in a healthcare setting specifically should strongly consider further specializing their education by taking a medical office administration course or health services administration course; these are typically two-year diploma programs.
During their studies, students will gain expertise not only in administrative basics, but also how to provide patient services, handle sensitive patient files and documents while adhering to privacy legislation, manage medical billing, use electronic health records, and more. Students will learn medical terminology and office procedures unique to medical practices.
Additionally, an employer may look for candidates who have certifications from organizations like the Canadian College of Health Information Management, which operates through accredited universities, colleges and institutions.
Tuition & Completion Data
Domestic
Last updated: August 27, 2025
International
See below for the latest data on international student tuition across Canada, excluding housing costs and ancillary fees.
Source: Statistics Canada 2023
Careers
Medical office administrators will find over 40,000 job openings during the next ten years, according to the Canadian Occupational Projections System, with a balanced labour market. Even within a field as specialized as medical office administration, there are several career pathways for prospective professionals, spanning the entire healthcare industry. Roles you might explore include:
Pharmacy Clerk – $34,000 – $47,000
True to the name, pharmacy clerks (also known as pharmacy assistants) are responsible for performing tasks in pharmacies, such as preparing medication, filling prescriptions, and other clerical duties.
Medical Courier – $34,000 – $50,000
When medical items, patient records, lab specimens, and other important documents need to be transported between one facility to another, a driver with a trained background and proper certification is required. These individuals are known as medical couriers, and they are vital to the smooth-running of the healthcare industry.
Medical Receptionist/Dental Receptionist – $40,000 – $53,000
Medical and dental receptionists greet and assist patients throughout their visits, including scheduling patient appointments and answering phone calls, requiring basic computer proficiency as well as strong interpersonal skills.
Medical Coding Specialist – $50,000 – $68,000
Insurance companies and researchers rely on medical coding specialists to properly convert patient data into universal codes, which are then used for insurance purposes — ensuring accurate claims and payments – and for public health statistics. This job requires completion of a Canadian Health Information Management Association certification exam.
Healthcare Administrative Director – $52,000 – $120,000
Healthcare administrative directors run the administrative department of a medical facility. On the day-to-day, they lead teams, manage budgets, and liaise with other department heads to ensure compliance and the overall smooth-running of the organization. The salary ranges significantly for this role based on the size of the operation the director is overseeing.
Medical Office Manager/Medical Clinic Manager – $57,000 – $125,000
Medical office managers are responsible not just for the administrative side of their clinic, but also oversee other office administrative staff, ensuring compliance with workplace and broader medical professional policies. Medical office managers must have excellent communication skills to be efficient leaders, and often have previous healthcare administration experience. The salary ranges significantly for this role based on the size of the operation the manager is overseeing.
Nurse Coordinator – $73,000 – $105,000
Medical office administrators with the proper experience and certification — which may include the completion of a nursing administrative course — can work as a nurse coordinator. In this role, nurse coordinators help with budget planning, collaborate on research projects, and supervise registered nurses, overall ensuring that quality nursing care at their facility.
Salaries
The average salary for an entry-level medical office administrator in Canada is $40,969 per year, going up to $51,993 per year, based on data collected from Talent.com, Indeed and Glassdoor. More experience and specialized training increases earning potential, with significant raises in store for those who become practice managers or directors.
Here is a closer look at salary ranges based on job type and seniority:
| Role | Average Salary in Canada |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Clerk | $40,271 |
| Medical Courier | $41,528 |
| Medical Receptionist/Dental Receptionist | $46,096 |
| Medical Coding Specialist | $61,611 |
| Healthcare Administrative Director | $68,534 |
| Medical Office Manager/Medical Clinic Manager | $77,153 |
| Nurse Coordinator | $84,927 |