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Medical Assistant Programs in San Diego

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Top Programs:

ATA College offers an 8-month Medical Assistant diploma program in El Cajon, designed to quickly prepare students for healthcare careers. Students learn practical skills like administering injections, patient communication, and medical office management through flexible day or evening classes.

Students can later upgrade to an Associate of Applied Science degree, extending training to 14 months. ATA College blends online lectures with on-campus labs, includes hands-on externships, and supports job placement. Financial aid and veteran benefits are available to eligible students.

Category Details
Cost Diploma: $16,090; AAS Degree: $23,490
Duration Diploma: 8 months; AAS: 14 months
Program Type Diploma & Associate Degree
Class Schedules Day and Evening Classes (Mon-Fri)
Online Classes? Yes (Hybrid format)
Phone (619) 596-2766
Location 1810 Gillespie Way #104, El Cajon, CA 92020

CET’s Medical Assistant program in San Diego prepares students to handle clinical and administrative tasks through hands-on training. Students learn patient care, lab procedures, anatomy, medical records, and emergency protocols. The program includes externships at medical facilities for practical experience.

Graduates earn eligibility for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification, enhancing job prospects in hospitals and clinics. Tuition covers books, scrubs, and tools. CET provides job placement assistance and financial aid for eligible students, with daytime and evening classes available.

Category Details
Cost $15,249
Duration 8-9 months (900 hours)
Program Type Certificate
Class Schedules Day (M-F, 8am-3pm), Evening (M-F, 4pm-9pm)
Online Classes? No
Phone (619) 527-4895
Location 4153 Market Street, Suite C, San Diego, CA 92102

Concorde’s Medical Assistant Diploma program in San Diego prepares students quickly for roles in healthcare. Training combines online and in-person learning, focusing on patient care, lab tasks, administrative duties, and medical procedures like drawing blood and handling medical records.

Students graduate ready to work in various healthcare settings like clinics or hospitals. The program emphasizes real-world skills through hands-on practice and externships, providing practical experience that enhances job readiness. The entire program can be completed in 9 months.

Category Details
Cost $19,985
Duration 9 months
Program Type Diploma
Class Schedules Daytime & Evening (Evening online only)
Online Classes? Yes, hybrid format
Phone (619) 908-1963
Location 4393 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92113

Dalrada Career Institute offers a fast-track Medical Assistant program completed in just 10 weeks. Students learn clinical and administrative skills through online classes, on-campus labs, and externships, quickly preparing for healthcare employment.

Flexible daytime, evening, and weekend schedules accommodate various lifestyles. Tuition is $5,000, and graduates can sit for optional national certification exams. The school supports students with financial aid, scholarships, and strong local healthcare connections.

Category Details
Cost $5,000
Duration 10 weeks (320 hours total)
Program Type Certificate
Class Schedules Weekday daytime or evening/weekend options
Online Classes? Hybrid (online lectures, required in-person labs)
Phone San Diego: 858-278-9800
Chula Vista: (619) 745-6088
Location San Diego and Chula Vista, CA

This Medical Assistant program offers affordable training at $625, preparing students in both clinical and administrative tasks. Students complete 160 internship hours for real-world experience, enhancing their job prospects in healthcare settings like clinics and doctors' offices.

The 5-month hybrid format provides flexibility with morning and evening schedules, combining online classes with hands-on lab training. Graduates become eligible for California certification, making it ideal for students seeking practical skills and quick employment as a medical assistant.

Category Details
Cost $625 (+ approx. $255 in extra fees)
Duration 5 months
Program Type Clinical & Administrative Medical Assisting
Class Schedules Morning & evening (hybrid format)
Online Classes? Yes
Phone (619) 956-4300
Location 8770 Mast Boulevard, Santee, CA 92071

The Medical Assistant program at Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute prepares students for healthcare roles in about 21 to 27.5 weeks. Courses cover clinical skills, anatomy, patient care, and administrative tasks, with a hands-on externship included for real-world experience.

This program costs $7,700 including all fees, books, and uniforms. It offers part-time or full-time scheduling options, ideal for working students. Graduates leave ready for entry-level positions in healthcare settings, equipped to handle both clinical and office responsibilities.

Category Details
Cost $7,700
Duration 21 to 27.5 weeks
Program Type Diploma
Class Schedules Full-time and Part-time
Online Classes? No
Phone (619) 515-2300
Location 5160 Federal Blvd #150, San Diego, CA 92105

MiraCosta College offers a medical assistant program combining online, classroom, and clinical training. Students learn front and back office skills, from medical terminology to patient care, in preparation for work in clinics, hospitals, or physician offices.

The program takes about one year to complete and requires 160 training hours. Students must meet prerequisites and pass a background check. Clinical hours are completed off-campus, and the cost is approximately $2,000, making it one of the more affordable local options.

Category Details
Cost Approximately $2,000
Duration 160 hours (approximately 1 year, full-time)
Program Type Certificate of Achievement
Class Schedules Full-time; starts each August
Online Classes? Yes
Phone (760) 795-8710
Location 1831 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058

North-West College's Medical Assistant program provides hands-on training to prepare students for entry-level healthcare jobs. Students learn clinical and administrative skills like taking vital signs, administering injections, and processing medical insurance.

The program includes an externship for real-world experience in medical offices and clinics. Classes are offered in the evenings, making it suitable for students with daytime commitments. Graduates can sit for national certification exams, enhancing job prospects in healthcare facilities.

Category Details
Cost $19,995
Duration 40 weeks (approximately 9 months)
Program Type Diploma/Certificate
Class Schedules Evening classes
Online Classes? No
Phone (619) 268-8063
Location 6106 Arosa St, San Diego, CA 92115

Pima Medical Institute offers a flexible, 9-month Medical Assistant certificate program combining clinical and administrative training. Students learn essential skills, including lab procedures, patient care, billing, and pharmacology, preparing them for entry-level medical assistant roles.

Graduates complete a hands-on externship for practical experience in healthcare settings. Hybrid scheduling provides convenience with online evening classes. Career support is available, helping students transition smoothly into medical careers upon program completion.

Category Details
Cost $18,958
Duration 9 months
Program Type Certificate
Class Schedules Daytime (campus), Evening (online)
Online Classes? Yes, hybrid option
Phone 1-800-477-7462
Location 780 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista, CA 91910

San Diego Mesa College’s Medical Assisting program offers practical training in both clinical tasks and office duties. Students complete hands-on clinical externships, gaining direct experience to prepare for certification exams and healthcare employment opportunities.

Mesa’s program emphasizes professionalism, patient care, and medical office skills. Students must complete prerequisite courses, maintain high academic standards, and follow strict guidelines to succeed in the program and advance quickly in their medical assisting careers.

Category Details
Cost Standard community college tuition
Duration About 1 year (two semesters)
Program Type Certificate or Associate Degree
Class Schedules Daytime; externships require flexible scheduling
Online Classes? No
Phone 619-388-2682
Location 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, CA 92111

San Diego State University's Clinical Medical Assistant program is fully online, allowing flexible self-paced learning over 12 months. It covers key clinical skills, medical office procedures, and prepares students for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam through the NHA.

The course includes essential medical topics such as terminology, patient care, office administration, and lab procedures. With a total cost of $3,047, students benefit from exam fees included and the potential for CPR certification and clinical experience placement assistance.

Category Details
Cost $3,047 (includes exam voucher)
Duration Up to 12 months
Program Type Certificate (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant)
Class Schedules Self-paced
Online Classes? Yes, fully online
Phone (855) 520-6806
Location 5250 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182

San Ysidro Health's Medical Assistant Accelerated Program (MAAP) offers a free 6-month medical assistant training opportunity, in partnership with Southwestern College and San Diego Workforce Partnership. Students complete coursework and 162 hours of supervised clinical rotations.

Upon completing the required clinical hours and passing the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) exam, students receive job placement assistance at San Ysidro Health locations. Classes run Tuesday–Friday, from January to May, followed by clinical rotations starting in July.

Category Details
Cost Free
Duration 6 months
Program Type Accelerated Medical Assistant Training
Class Schedules Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 am – 1:45 pm
Online Classes? No
Phone (619) 662-4100
Location 880 National City Blvd, National City, CA 91950

The Stepful Medical Assistant Program is a flexible 4-month course designed to prepare students for the NHA CCMA certification exam. The classes are entirely online, teaching essential skills such as patient care, EKG, phlebotomy, and medical office administration.

Students benefit from personalized career support, including resume and interview prep, and assistance securing externship placements in California. The program offers morning or evening classes to fit various schedules, making it suitable for busy individuals seeking healthcare careers.

Category Details
Cost Not listed (contact for details); $59 enrollment fee
Duration 4 months
Program Type Certificate (CCMA Certification Prep)
Class Schedules Morning or Evening, twice weekly
Online Classes? Yes (100% online with in-person externship)
Phone (332) 334-8285
Location Online (In-person externship in San Diego area)

Southwestern College’s Medical Assisting Program offers certificates and associate degrees in Administrative, Clinical, and Billing/Coding tracks. Students train hands-on at SWC’s modern facility, completing externships to gain practical skills for certification and healthcare employment.

The program accepts students each fall and spring, requiring no prerequisites or waiting lists. Affordable tuition and in-person classes make it ideal for those entering healthcare careers. Graduates qualify for national certifications to enhance job prospects.

Category Details
Cost Standard CA community college tuition rates
Duration Certificates: ~18 months; Degree: ~2 years
Program Type Certificate or Associate Degree
Class Schedules Daytime, flexible externship scheduling
Online Classes? No
Phone (619) 421-6700
Location 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910

The UEI College Medical Assistant program offers practical training in front and back office medical duties. Students learn essential skills like patient scheduling, administering injections, and recording vitals. Graduates can complete the program quickly—in as few as 10 months.

This hybrid program combines online classes with hands-on lab training and a clinical externship. With a total cost of $20,900, the program prepares students for entry-level positions at hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices, offering career services and financial aid for qualified students.

Category Details
Cost $20,900
Duration 10 months
Program Type Diploma
Class Schedules Day and Evening (Hybrid)
Online Classes? Yes, partially online
Phone Chula Vista: (619) 739-4643; Oceanside: (760) 670-4842
Location Chula Vista & Oceanside, CA

U.S. Colleges offers a quick, hands-on Clinical Medical Assistant training completed in just 16 weeks. Students learn key clinical skills such as patient exams, taking vitals, administering medication, and assisting minor surgeries. An 80-hour externship provides practical experience.

Upon completion, students earn a certificate, improving employability in roles like Clinical Assistant and Nursing Clinical Assistant. Flexible class schedules include morning, evening, weekend, and hybrid online options, perfect for those balancing work and family obligations.

Category Details
Cost $3,480
Duration 16 weeks (300 hours)
Program Type Certificate
Class Schedules Morning, afternoon, evening, weekend
Online Classes? Hybrid (online/in-person) available
Phone (888) 388-7568
Location 2878 Camino del Rio South Suite 410, San Diego, CA 92108