Spotlight On: Medical Office Administration Careers
If you’re intrigued by the idea of a career in healthcare but don’t know if direct patient care is for you, that’s okay. Not every healthcare career takes place at the bedside, and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to keep healthcare running smoothly.
If you're organized, like some variety in your workday, and want to be part of a medical team without having to undergo years of clinical training, a career as a Medical Office Administrator, or MOA, might be worth a closer look.
What do Medical Office Administrators do?
Medical Office Administrators are the people who keep a healthcare office running behind the scenes. On any given day, that could include:
Greeting and checking in patients
Managing accounts receivable and payable
Handling billing and fee collection
Processing medical insurance claims and coding
Managing patient records
Coordinating with insurance providers on behalf of patients
It's a role that touches nearly every part of a medical office's operations, which means no day will be exactly the same. One day might be focused on insurance paperwork, and the next on patient scheduling or records management. If you like a job that keeps you on your toes without the pressure of working face-to-face with patients, this role could be for you.
Medical Office Assistants typically work in:
Physicians' offices
Dental offices
Long-term and acute care facilities
Clinics and specialty treatment centers
Hospitals
Medical insurance companies
Because the workplaces in need of MOAs are so varied, you’ll have a lot of options regarding operating hours, stress levels, and patient demographics, so you can choose a workplace that aligns with your needs and preferences.
What’s the difference between a Medical Office Administrator and a Medical Assistant?
A Medical Office Administrator focuses on the administrative side of a healthcare practice, like billing, patient records, insurance communications, and office operations. A Medical Assistant might spend time on administrative tasks, but is more likely to focus on clinical and patient-facing duties like taking vital signs, prepping patients for exams, or assisting doctors with procedures.
If you’re more interested in the business and administrative side of healthcare, a Medical Office Administrator career is probably the better fit.
Training for a Medical Office Administrator role
Programs like Concorde Career College's Medical Office Administration diploma are designed to get you job-ready in months, not years. Concorde's program, as an example, can be completed in as little as nine months and covers coursework in medical terminology, insurance claims processing and coding, medical office procedures, and computer applications, along with a virtual externship to build hands-on experience. It's also offered fully online, which can make it a realistic option if you’re already balancing work and family.
Job outlook for Medical Office Administrators
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track Medical Office Assistants as a standalone occupation, but its Secretaries and Administrative Assistants profile offers a relevant benchmark — specifically the medical secretaries and administrative assistants subcategory, which lines up closely with the day-to-day work of an MOA.
Overall, employment for secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to decline slightly through 2035, largely due to automation and administrative tasks shifting onto other employees. But the BLS projects the medical subcategory to 5 percent growth for between 2025 and 2035, adding roughly 47,100 jobs to a workforce that already numbers about 979,000 — a trend the BLS attributes directly to continued growth in the healthcare industry. The median annual wage for this group was $45,930 in May 2025.
So while general office administrative roles are shrinking as a category, the healthcare-specific version of that work is one of the few still expected to grow — a reflection of how much administrative support the healthcare industry continues to need as it expands.
If you're detail-oriented and want a healthcare career that doesn't require clinical hands-on work, consider enrolling in a Medical Office Administration diploma program. It's a role with lots of variety, a relatively short training timeline, and a job outlook that isn't slowing down anytime soon.
When you’re ready to take the next step toward your MOA career, you can look for a Concorde Career College location near you, learn more about Concorde's Medical Office Administration program and apply for a scholarship through the Imagine America Foundation.
