Ready to start your career as a medical assistant in San Diego?
Explore top programs — whether you prefer online, accelerated, or part-time options — and find the perfect fit for your schedule and goals.
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Top Programs:
ATA College
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 |
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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
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
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.
Dalrada Career Institute
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 |
Health Occupations Center
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 |
Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute
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
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
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.
Pima Medical Institute
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.
San Diego Mesa College
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.
San Diego State University
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
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 |
Stepful
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
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.
UEI College
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. College
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 |