Medical assisting can provide you with a rewarding career, without spending years in college.
Many medical assistant programs can be completed in less than a year, so you can start your career.
Job growth is much higher than average.
Medical assistant positions are expected to grow by 29% in California by 2026.
1 Unitek College
About the School
Unitek College offers training for medical assistants, dental assistants, nurses, and physical therapy assistants.
Because they specialize in medical and dental careers, they are a good choice for students who want to be a medical assistant.
The school has been educating students for more than 23 years.
They offer 8 programs in California and have 8 campuses.
Unitek college has a total of 5 accreditations, including the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
They offer small class sizes, and their faculty is made up of real world professionals to help students prepare for their career.
Programs Offered
Unitek College focuses on offering personalized healthcare education.
Their program features clinical instruction and administrative training.
Students will learn clinical duties, including taking medical histories, recording vital signs, arranging hospital admissions and ordering labwork, preparing lab specimens, taking electrocardiograms, and preparing patients for examinations and x-rays.
They will also learn administrative duties, including scheduling appointments, ordering pharmacy prescriptions, billing and collections, and bookkeeping.
Students will be prepared to work in a variety of environments, including doctor’s offices, private healthcare facilities, labs, urgent care clinics, and hospitals.
The program is completed in less than 1 year, including a 160 hour externship to give students hands on training.
Address: 333 Palmer Dr. Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93309
2 UEI College
About the School
UEI College has been providing education for over 35 years.
Their aim is to provide people from all walks of life with an education that can help them start a new career quickly.
They offer programs in healthcare, trades, and other areas.
The school combines academic instruction with hands on training, which includes labs and externships, to ensure that students are well-prepared for their chosen career.
They have a hybrid learning model.
Students will attend school on campus 2 days each week where they learn hands on in labs.
Classroom learning takes place online, allowing students the flexibility they need to maintain their current job or responsibilities.
Programs Offered
UEI’s medical assistant program combines classroom lectures, hands-on training, and online learning.
The program typically takes 10 months to complete.
Students will learn subjects including anatomy, physiology, infection control, medication administration, and clinical office administration.
Before graduation, students begin working with career placement staff.
UEI has a relationship with many local employers.
Other services include help writing resumes, and interview practice.
Address: 3737 Rosedale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93308
3 San Joaquin Valley College
About the School
San Joaquin Valley College offers a wide variety of programs across 17 campuses in California.
These include healthcare programs, industrial and trade programs, and other programs including veterinary assistant and business administration.
They offer fast programs that prepare students for a career after graduation.
Programs combine hands-on learning with classroom and online instruction.
Programs Offered
At the Bakersfield campus, SVJC students will learn skills including phlebotomy, or drawing blood, prepare patients for exams, administer medication, take vital signs, maintain patient records, and more.
Students can earn a certificate as a medical assistant in nine months.
They can continue their education if desired, and obtain their Associate of Science in Clinical and Administrative Medical Assistance within fifteen months.
After graduation, students can take the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam to become certified.
Address: 201 New Stine Road, Bakersfield, CA 93309
4 Liberty Career College
About the School
Liberty Career College offers a variety of healthcare programs.
They have been providing postsecondary education for 17 years.
They focus on career-oriented programs that prepare students for their chosen career.
Programs Offered
Liberty Career College has a 10 week and 20 week medical assistant program.
Studnets will spend 240 hours in the classroom.
They must also complete an 80 hour externship to give them hands on training and experience.
Studnets will learn to take vital signs, explain procedurs and treatments to patients, prepare patients for exams, prepare the exam room, take medical histories, and sterilize medical instruments.
They will also learn to remove sutures and change wound dressings, perform EKGs, and perform injections and blood draws.
Address: 906 19th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
5 High Desert Medical College
About the School
High Desert Medical College specializes in allied health career education.
This allows them to provide an excellent education for studnets interested in a healthcare career.
They offer a quailty education, along with career placement assistance.
They value their studnets, and support them through the admission process, education, graduation, career placement, and beyond.
Their programs offer a high-tech approach which utilizes digital training as well as hands-on instruction.
Programs Offered
High Desert Medical College offers a 34 week medical assistant program, as well as a 42 week evening program for students who are currently employed.
The progam takes 720 hours to complete.
Students will also complete a 160 hour externship which is completed in one month.
Students will learn clinical skills, including recording vital signs, preparing patients for procedures, explaining procedurs and treatments to patients, collecting lab work, and medication administration.
They will also learn front office skills, including completing insurance forms, making appointments, bookkeeping, and maintaning patient records.
The program is accredited by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education(BPPE) and the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training(ACCET).
Upon completion of the program, students can take the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.
The exam includes 200 multiple choice questions, which are completed in 4 40 minute segments.
Address: 211 S Real Road, Bakersfield, CA, 93309
Schools Summary Table
Rank | School | |
---|---|---|
#1 | Unitek College | |
#2 | UEI College | |
#3 | San Joaquin Valley College | |
#4 | Liberty Career College | |
#5 | High Desert Medical College |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant