Trade Schools
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California is the fourth highest-paying state for medical assistants.
The numbers published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the annual mean wage for California medical assistants was $44,780.
If you’re a compassionate person and you’re contemplating a career in the healthcare field, becoming a medical assistant can be both personally and financially rewarding.
Before being ready to apply for your first medical assistant job, the first step is to complete a specialized training program.
There are plenty of options available and on this page, we have compiled information about some of the best alternatives.
1Valley College of Medical Careers
About the School
Valley College of Medical Careers offers a variety of online and on-campus programs in the healthcare field.
Training programs are available for prospective Pharmacy Technicians, Medical Assistants, Medical Billers, Coders, or Healthcare Administrators.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Medical Assistant program.
This curriculum covers medical front office and back office duties, computer applications, office procedures, business communication skills, personal development, and job readiness techniques.
Morning classes take place from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. while evening classes take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Students can graduate in less than 10 months.
Upon graduation, they will be able to perform EKGs, prepare strips for evaluation, perform venipuncture, collect specimens, take vital signs, perform CPR and First Aid, simple lab tests, prepare patients for physical exams, and many other tasks.
The program includes 860 hours in total and costs $15,950.
This includes tuition, registration fee, books & supplies, and STRF.
Contact Information
- Address: 8399 Topanga Canyon Blvd, West Hills, CA 91304
- Phone: (818) 883-9002
- Website: https://www.schoolofmedicalcareers.com
2American College of Healthcare & Technology
About the School
American College of Healthcare & Technology is a medical career and training school with three campuses located in Riverside, Santa Ana, and Huntington Park.
Programs are available for Medical Assistants, Medical Administrative Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Physical Therapy aides, Dental Assistants, Veterinary Assistants, and other careers in healthcare.
The American College of Healthcare & Technology is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program available at the college can be completed in eight months and starts monthly.
The program is designed to provide students with the basic front-office and back-office skills necessary for entry-level positions in a variety of outpatient medical facilities.
Among other topics, students learn medical terminology, phlebotomy, medical office management, and assisting with the administration of medications.
Before being ready for employment, a medical assistant is required to be either certified or licensed.
Certification requires graduation from a Medical Assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Contact Information
- Address: 11801 Pierce St., Ste. 100, Riverside, CA 92505
- Phone: (888) 430-4224
- Website: https://www.ach.edu
3San Joaquin Valley College
About the School
San Joaquin Valley College offers accelerated career training programs for students who want to start careers in medical, business, criminal justice, or trade fields.
The college is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Courses Offered
The San Joaquin Valley College catalog includes a Clinical Medical Assisting program.
The program can prepare students for employment as medical assistants in as little as nine months.
Students also have the option of earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting in only 15 months.
The curriculum covers topics such as:
- Venipuncture
- Patient exam preparation
- Vital sign measurement
- Appointment scheduling
- Patient records and upkeep
After completing the program, students are eligible to sit for the National Certified Medical Assistant exam.
The total tuition for the Clinical Medical Assisting program is approximately $21,000
A Clinical & Administrative Medical Assisting program is also included in the school’s catalog and costs approximately $32,000 in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 9331 Mariposa Road, Hesperia CA 92344
- Phone: (760) 948-1947
- Website: https://www.sjvc.edu
4Mayfield College
About the School
Mayfield College prepares students for careers in technology, business, and healthcare.
The college offers small class sizes, individual attention, student involvement, and hands-on training.
Mayfield College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The Mayfield College catalog includes a Medical Assisting program.
The program offers back-office training to provide support to physicians and direct patient care in a variety of medical settings.
The Medical Assisting curriculum balances classroom instruction and laboratory experience to provide students with the hands-on experience they need.
Students enrolled in this program receive
- Hands-on training using the latest medical equipment
- Clinical and administrative course instruction
- On-the-job training through an externship at a local company
The total cost for the Medical Assisting program is $16,500.
This cost includes tuition, registration fee, students’ tuition recovery fund, textbooks/supplies, and uniforms.
Graduates can find employment in a variety of occupations, such as clinical or administrative assistants, medical receptionists, occupational health assistants, laboratory assistants, medical office assistants, and back office lab aides.
Contact Information
- Address: 35-325 Date Palm Drive, Suite 101, Cathedral City, CA 92234
- Phone: (760) 328-5554
- Website: http://www.mayfieldcollege.edu
5North-West College
About the School
North-West College offers specialized healthcare career training.
The NWC West Covina, Pomona, Van Nuys, Glendale, Riverside, Anaheim, and Long Beach campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
North-West College San Diego and North-West Bakersfield are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes a Medical Assistant Training program.
This program prepares students who can perform routine tasks and procedures to support the work of physicians and other health care professionals.
Trainees prepare for careers as Medical Assistants and develop the skills needed when working alongside physicians, registered nurses, and other healthcare professionals in a clinic, physician’s office, or other healthcare facilities.
The program is offered in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Glendale, Long Beach, Pomona, Riverside, San Diego, Van Nuys, and West Covina.
Prospective medical assistants learn how to perform tasks such as:
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Measuring patients’ vital signs
- Administering medications and injections
- Preparing and handling medical instruments and supplies
- Collecting and preparing specimens for laboratory testing
- And other healthcare tasks
Contact Information
- Address: 2121 W. Garvey Ave. North West Covina, CA 91790
- Phone: (626) 343-5266
- Website: https://www.nw.edu
6Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences
About the School
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences provides training programs for individuals who want to start careers in Medical Assisting, Nuclear Medicine, Phlebotomy, Radiologic Technology, Cardiac Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, and other allied health professions.
The school occupies an area that is approximately 30,000 square feet and includes an administrative side and an academic side.
The academic side hosts six classrooms, six labs, one computer lab, one lecture hall, a library, a student break room, a records office, a career services office, and two bathrooms.
Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences is a regionally accredited school through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assisting Certificate program can be completed in 12 months and includes four quarter programs.
The last quarter consists of 320 hours of clinical training that takes place Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Medical Assisting students complete their training at Kaiser Permanente facilities.
The cost for the 2021-2022 program is $7,473.
This includes tuition, books, lab fees, scrubs, and prescreening fees.
Certificate programs require a high school diploma or GED and a passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level exam before admission.
Contact Information
- Address: 938 Marina Way South, Richmond, CA 94804
- Phone: (510) 231-5000
- Website: https://kpsahs.edu
7Downey Adult School Career and Education Center
About the School
Downey Adult School Career and Education Center provides high-quality, relevant, and accessible programs for adults.
The programs are designed to prepare students for careers in a variety of industry areas.
Career training, ESL, HSE/GED, Parent Education, Career Enhancement, and Online programs are available.
Courses Offered
A Clinical Medical Assistant program is available at the center.
This program covers the basic concepts of human anatomy and physiology, practice settings, standards, and ethics, and skills such as administering injections, venipuncture, urinalysis, EKG, bandaging, and how to assist with minor surgeries, among other topics.
After completing this nationally accredited program, students are qualified to apply for National and State Board of Medical Assistant Certification.
The Medical Assisting curriculum includes classes in:
- Clinical Laboratory
- Medical Lecture
- Medical Terminology
- Keyboarding
- Electronic Health Records
- Externship
The program includes 660 hours of training in total.
This program costs approximately $4,500 and includes books.
Contact Information
- Address: 12340 Woodruff Ave, Downey, CA 90241
- Phone: (562) 940-6200
- Website: https://www.das.edu
8American Career College
About the School
American Career College allows students to earn an Associate Degree in as few as 20 months.
A program designed to prepare students for careers as Medical Assistants in only nine months is also available.
The school offers programs at three California locations: Orange County, Ontario, and Los Angeles.
The college’s Medical Assistant programs are programmatically accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program offered at American Career College leads to a Diploma and provides students with the training they need when assisting healthcare professionals in real-life medical settings.
The school provides hands-on training and real-world preparation.
To be prepared for work in a medical setting, Medical Assisting students learn about:
- Patient Exams and Tests
- Vital Signs
- Office Management
- Blood Drawing
- Effective Communications
The program includes 200 hours of externship.
Classes are modeled after real-life situations and use the same medical equipment students will use at their first job.
Contact Information
- Address: 1200 North Magnolia Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801
- Phone: 714-763-9066
- Website: https://americancareercollege.edu
9California Institute of Medical Science
About the School
California Institute of Medical Science offers training programs for future lab assistants, phlebotomists, EKG technicians, and medical assistants.
The school instructors and staff are highly trained professionals with years of clinical real-world experiences.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program available at the California Institute of Medical Science prepares students to perform administrative and certain clinical duties.
They learn how to work under the direction of a physician.
The program covers administrative duties such as:
- Scheduling appointments
- Maintaining medical records
- Billing and coding information for insurance purposes
The clinical skills covered in this program include:
- Recording vital signs and medical histories
- Drawing blood
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Administering medication
The program includes 720 hours and can be completed in eight months.
Students spend 360 hours in didactic training on the school’s campus and 360 in an externship.
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be high school graduates, hold a GED or equivalent
- Meet all required immunizations
Contact Information
- Address: 1175 Shaw, Ste. 103, Clovis, CA
- Phone: (559) 354-3930
- Website: https://cims.edu
10Medical Career College
About the School
Medical Career College is a vocational school located in Fremont, California.
The college provides a variety of lucrative career options and programs, including a Medical Assistant pathway.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program available at the college prepares students who can perform medical office physical examinations, basic laboratory procedures, back office procedures, take and chart medical histories, record vital signs, explain medical procedures to patients and perform other day-to-day duties in a medical office or another healthcare setting.
To qualify for admission to the Medical Assistant program, applicants need:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Pass the entrance test with at least 16 out of 50
- Have adequate math skills
- Be at least 17 years of age if they have parental consent
- Have a valid B.L.S certification provided by the American Heart Association
- Have a valid I.D. and Social Security Card
- Meet the health requirements
Students are also required to provide proof of Hepatitis B Series Vaccination, MMR, Varicella, and Tetanus immunization before the externship starts
The program can be completed in six months by students who attend morning classes and in seven months by those in the afternoon classes.
Contact Information
- Address: 41300 Christy Street, Fremont, CA 94538
- Phone: (510) 445.0319
- Website: https://medcc.edu
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 2,790 | $43,410 | $20.87 | $56,840 | $35,320 |
| Chico, CA | 640 | $45,390 | $21.82 | $57,400 | $36,300 |
| El Centro, CA | 470 | $43,070 | $20.71 | $57,880 | $36,020 |
| Fresno, CA | 2,930 | $46,440 | $22.33 | $65,680 | $35,940 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 470 | $44,040 | $21.17 | $51,860 | $37,330 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 34,330 | $46,480 | $22.35 | $63,220 | $35,290 |
| Madera, CA | 310 | $44,420 | $21.36 | $57,320 | $36,870 |
| Merced, CA | 560 | $39,930 | $19.2 | $47,910 | $35,020 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,660 | $51,140 | $24.59 | $72,570 | $36,730 |
| Napa, CA | 340 | $56,610 | $27.22 | $76,120 | $40,970 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,830 | $49,930 | $24.01 | $62,800 | $37,200 |
| Redding, CA | 650 | $43,350 | $20.84 | $55,840 | $36,060 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 11,290 | $44,580 | $21.43 | $63,900 | $36,160 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 7,520 | $59,690 | $28.7 | $79,200 | $38,420 |
| Salinas, CA | 940 | $46,170 | $22.2 | $57,870 | $37,180 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 9,620 | $48,610 | $23.37 | $65,770 | $37,620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 14,590 | $62,160 | $29.89 | $82,410 | $45,440 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 6,020 | $60,180 | $28.93 | $78,250 | $44,160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 830 | $48,420 | $23.28 | $64,070 | $36,620 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 950 | $51,190 | $24.61 | $72,360 | $37,960 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,470 | $49,630 | $23.86 | $67,130 | $38,060 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 1,620 | $58,720 | $28.23 | $76,120 | $40,190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,760 | $50,030 | $24.05 | $72,640 | $36,730 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 1,330 | $66,590 | $32.02 | $82,500 | $42,600 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 940 | $44,420 | $21.36 | $57,960 | $36,430 |
| Yuba City, CA | 420 | $46,560 | $22.38 | $58,740 | $36,960 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to become a medical assistant in California, there are plenty of educational options available for you.
Now that you have read our list of the top medical assistant schools in your state, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs.
