Medical receptionist programs prepare people to work in healthcare offices. Students learn how to greet patients, handle a variety of paperwork, and perform data entry. They also learn to work with doctors, keep records, and use computers.

A medical office can almost always be described with one adjective: busy. It's not just the doctors and nurses moving between exam rooms. It's also the receptionists who are handling phone calls, tapping away at a computer keyboard, greeting patients, completing discharge forms, and shuffling patient files.

Since the job of a medical receptionist is so complicated, it makes sense to seek training. In general, you can receive a certificate or diploma in medical reception from community and technical colleges. (Certificates are most common.) These programs typically last a year. Often, medical reception is one track within a larger medical office support program. In addition, some proprietary schools offer such a program.

In this certificate program, you take courses that teach you how to handle medical forms and software, patient scheduling, and medical records. You also study basic communication and customer service skills. You may also learn how to handle medical emergencies and patient confidentiality. Other common courses are medical terminology and insurance coding.