The medical secretary profession is increasingly popular in Quebec. What training can be taken to start or re-orient a career as a medical secretary?
The profession of medical secretary opens the doors to hospitals, community health centres, private clinics and doctor’s offices. For those who love science and the health field, it’s the perfect choice!
Medical secretary: a career path that starts early
From the age of 16, a professional studies diploma (DEP) in secretarial work can be followed to learn the basics, such as writing and managing documents, use of Word and Excel, keyboarding technique, time management and planning meetings.
Then you can go further by following a professional specialization certificate (ASP) in medical secretarial work, which lasts four months. This training covers human biology, interpersonal relationships and the principles of medical consultation. Students also learn to work with medical documents and supplies, learn about medical terminology and acquire accounting skills to carry out billing in their future work. This training concludes with an internship.
Reorienting your career as a medical secretary
When you have experience in the field you can also ask for recognition of learning by a school. This is possible, among others, for people who have equivalent training recognized by the Ministry of Immigration or significant professional experience in the field during the year preceding registration. An admission test is required in these cases.
Since last year, the medical secretarial ASP has been subsidized by Emploi Québec. The course is also offered by several school boards in the province.
A high placement rate
The medical secretary profession is in high demand, with a placement rate of 96%, according to the Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM), which trains about 100 medical secretaries per year. The salary can vary, but is between $16 and $20 per hour on average.
“With all the changes in the health care system, there is a great need for medical secretaries,” says Michelle De Lagrave, teacher of the medical secretarial ASP at the École des métiers de l’information, du commerce et de l’administration (ÉMICA).
Sought-after expertise
The medical secretary has to set the patient’s appointments, transcribe medical files into the computer, complete forms for insurance payments and order supplies.
“You have to be empathetic, independent and able to manage stress,” emphasizes Michelle De Lagrave. “You also have to have a good command of French. This is one of the primary qualities sought after for medical transcription and it’s often the problem for some students who have difficulty placing themselves.”
Those who have these qualities could therefore have a great career ahead of them!