In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Medical Secretaries
2006 NOC: 1243
Interest Codes
Interest Codes for This NOC GroupSOCIAL
Interest in speaking with people to schedule and confirm medical appointments, to receive and communicate messages for medical staff and patients, and to interview patients
OBJECTIVEInterest in operating computers and other office equipment; may train other staff in procedures and in use of current software
directiveInterest in compiling information to complete documents, case histories and insurance and other claim forms, to maintain confidential medical files and records, and to order supplies and maintain inventory; may supervise other staff
Your Interest Codes
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Learn About Interests
Abilities
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
Mental Abilities
General Learning Ability
Verbal Ability
Numerical Ability
Visual Abilities
Spatial Perception
Form Perception
Clerical Perception
Physical Abilities
Motor Coordination
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Understanding Abilities
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Learn About Abilities
Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Medical office assistants need:
- Discretion
- Communication, organizational, and time-management skills
- Attention to detail
- Interpersonal skills to establish a professional rapport with and instil confidence in patients
- Conflict-resolution skills to deal effectively with the sometimes difficult behaviours of people in distress
- The ability to maintain accuracy while multitasking or working under pressure
- A mature attitude toward the human body, wellness, and disease processes
- The ability to work independently or as part of a team
They should enjoy dealing with people. They should be comfortable operating equipment such as computers and photocopiers. They should like compiling and organizing information.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For
Medical administrative assistants
2011 NOC: 1243
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 73 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 08, 2021 and Aug 17, 2022.
Review these skills to learn:
- Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
- What training you may need to get these skills
- What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Enter and format electronically based medical reports and correspondence and prepare spreadsheets and documents for review
Determine and establish office procedures and routines
Personal Suitability: Team player
Complete insurance and other claim forms
Schedule and confirm appointments
Personal Suitability: Accurate
Initiate and maintain confidential medical files and records
Personal Suitability: Reliability
Personal Suitability: Effective interpersonal skills
Perform general clerical work, such as order supplies and maintain inventory
44 |
42 |
41 |
41 |
40 |
37 |
35 |
34 |
33 |
33 |
Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Certification Not Regulated
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2019
Salaries vary according to duties and experience. For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Medical administrative assistants
2016 NOC: 1243
Average Wage
$27.09
Per Hour
Average Salary
$46,210.00
Per Year
Average Hours
33
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
NOC 1243 Wage Profile
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
- Low
- High
- Average
- Median
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
$16.37 | $24.99 | $23.23 | $24.99 |
$18.75 | $29.11 | $27.09 | $28.96 |
$21.00 | $34.86 | $31.74 | $34.39 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
- Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
- Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
- Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees
Industry Information
Health Care & Social Assistance
$56,461 |
$46,210 |
$46,135 |
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
Vacancy Rate
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
- Clerical and Administrative Support
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.