Explore unit group

Version:
NOC 2011 Version 1.0

1414 – Receptionists

Receptionists greet people arriving at offices, hospitals and other establishments, direct visitors to appropriate person or service, answer and forward telephone calls, take messages, schedule appointments and perform other clerical duties. They are employed by hospitals, medical and dental offices and in other offices throughout the public and private sectors. Telephone operators are included in this group.

Profile

Index of titles Example job titles

  • Admitting clerk
  • Answering service operator
  • Appointment clerk
  • Business receptionist
  • Charge operator - telephone system
  • Chief telephone operator
  • Clerk switchboard operator
  • Clerk, hospital admissions
  • Collect call operator - telephone system
  • Dental office receptionist
  • Dental receptionist
  • Doctor's office receptionist
  • Emergency admitting clerk
  • Front desk clerk (except hotel)
  • Hospital admissions clerk
  • Hospital admitting clerk
  • Hospital receptionist
  • Information desk clerk
  • International exchange operator - telephone system
  • Long distance telephone operator
  • Medical clinic receptionist
  • Medical office secretary-receptionist
  • Medical receptionist
  • Office reception clerk
  • Office receptionist
  • Operator - telephone system
  • Operator, switchboard
  • Operator, telephone answering service
  • Reception clerk
  • Reception clerk, office
  • Reception desk clerk (except hotel)
  • Receptionist
  • Receptionist-clerk
  • Receptionist-secretary
  • Receptionist-switchboard operator
  • Receptionist-telephone operator
  • Receptionist-typist
  • Receptionist, hospital
  • Receptionist, medical clinic
  • Secretary-receptionist, medical office
  • Service assistant - telephone system
  • Switchboard operator
  • Switchboard operator, clerical
  • Telephone answering service operator
  • Telephone clerk
  • Telephone operator
  • Telephone operator, long distance
  • Telephone service analyst
  • Telephone service assistant
  • Telereceptionist
  • Toll operator
  • Voice communication system operator
  • Answering service operator
  • Appointment clerk
  • Business receptionist
  • Dental receptionist
  • Hospital admitting clerk
  • Medical receptionist
  • Office reception clerk
  • Receptionist
  • Switchboard operator
  • Telephone operator
  • Telephone service assistant
  • Telereceptionist
  • Toll operator

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • The following is a summary of the main duties for some occupations in this unit group:
    • Receptionists greet people coming into offices and other establishments, direct them to the appropriate contacts or services, provide general information in person and by phone, and may perform clerical duties and maintain front desk security and security access lists.
    • Medical and dental receptionists greet patients, schedule appointments, using manual or computerized systems, receive and record payment for services, and direct patients to appropriate areas.
    • Hospital admitting clerks interview patients to obtain and process information required to provide hospital and medical services.
    • Telephone operators operate telephone systems to advance and complete customers' telephone calls such as long distance, pay telephone, mobile radio/telephone and person to person calls, arrange teleconferences, provide relay phone service to persons with disabilities, and may calculate and record billing information.
    • Switchboard operators operate a telephone system or switchboard to answer, screen and forward telephone calls, take messages and provide information as required, and may perform clerical duties.
    • Answering service operators answer telephones and record and relay messages.
    • Reception desk clerks in a variety of institutional and commercial settings direct customers to appropriate areas, record bookings, handle credit card checks, receive payment, issue receipts, arrange tour reservations and deal with emergency situations.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • On-the-job training may be provided.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
  • Some receptionists are required to be bilingual or multilingual to perform their duties.

Exclusions

  • 911 dispatchers (in 1525 Dispatchers)
  • Other customer and information services representatives (6552)
  • Hotel front desk clerks (6525)
  • Supervisors, general office and administrative support workers (1211)

Breakdown summary

Broad occupational category
1 – Business, finance and administration occupations
Skill level
C – Occupations usually require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training.
Major group
14 – Office support occupations
Minor group
141 – General office workers
Version
NOC 2011 Version 1.0