The salary of medical assistants in the SF Bay Area averages around $24 an hour, which is higher than the California average of $18 an hour. In fact, some SF Bay Area MAs can make as much as $32.29 an hour, which is why more and more are aspiring to venture into this healthcare career.
As many employers prefer those with MA training, you can gain a competitive edge by enrolling in any of these MA programs around the SF Bay Area:
Associate Degree Programs
Apart from providing graduates with a competitive edge in the job market, an AS degree in Medical Assisting can pave the way for a Bachelor’s degree in a related healthcare field.
Cañada College
Location: Redwood City, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Units: 21-60
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Tuition: $2,760 plus other fees
Program Overview: Cañada College offers Bay Area students with AS and Certificate options for the Medical Assistant program. Both are designed to give the finest training through comprehensive lectures and externships. Upon graduation, students may get their certification exam from either the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
Chabot College
Location: Hayward, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Units: 27.5-62.5
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Resident tuition: $1,368 plus other fees
Non-resident tuition: $9,343 plus other fees
Program Overview: Recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, Chabot’s MA program is available in AS and Certificate tracks. Intake starts every fall, while class sizes are kept at 25 for efficient learning. Students from both tracks must have a grade of “C” or higher in order to graduate and sit in for the national certification exam.
City College of San Francisco
Location: San Francisco, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Units: 53.5 to 85
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Resident tuition: $2,461 to $3,910 plus other fees (Free tuition program available to SF residents)
Non-resident tuition: $23,861 to $37,910 plus other fees
Program Overview: CCSF offers students with AS programs in both Medical Assisting and Medical Administrative Assisting, which may be completed in five and three semesters, respectively. Certificate programs in Medical Assisting, Medical Clinic Assisting, Medical Receptionist, Medical Evaluation Assisting, and Medical Billing are available as well.
College of Marin
Location: Kentfield, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Units: 19.5-60
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Tuition: $2,742 to $3,767
Program Overview: Students who aspire to enter the medical profession will find the College of Marin’s AS and certificate programs in Medical Assisting great options. Both tracks provide students with the opportunity to build up their skills in medical assisting and work in settings such as clinics, hospitals, or nursing facilities.
Contra Costa College
Location: San Pablo, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Units: 43-68
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Resident tuition: 1,978 to $3,128 plus other fees
Non-resident tuition: $18,017 to $28,492 plus other fees
Program Overview: Whether you are looking for an AS degree or a Certificate course in Medical Assisting, Contra Costa College has the right pathway for you. Both follow a curriculum that is aligned with the national credentialing students, thus enabling their students to pass the subsequent national certification exam.
San Jose City College
Location: San Jose, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Units: 60
Clinical Externship Hours: n/a
Tuition: $2,760 plus other fees
Program Overview: SJCC’s AS and certificate MA programs are ideal for part-time and full-time students who wish to pursue a career in clinical or administrative medical assisting. Graduates of the program are deemed eligible to take any of the following exams: National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA), National Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA), and California Certified Medical Assistant Exam (CCMA).
Diploma Programs
If you want a program that can be completed in a few months, then you should consider enrolling in a diploma course – such as the one offered below:
Unitek College
Location: South San Francisco, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Units: 28
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $14,377
Program Overview: The 10,000 sq. ft. Unitek campus in South SF offers a diploma program that accepts 25-30 students per month. Classes, which feature topics in Pharmacology, Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Administration, and Patient Assessment, start at 8 am or 10 am daily. Students may complete the entire program in nine months.
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs offer the shortest route towards becoming a Medical Assistant. In just a few weeks, you could learn the basic MA skills and be eligible for the national certification exam.
Bay Area Medical Academy
Location: San Francisco, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 900
Clinical Externship Hours: 200
Tuition: $16,726 (no-cost training available for qualified residents of East Bay, San Francisco, and South Bay)
Program Overview: As a 3-in-1 program, BAMA’s course allows students to specialize in three fields: Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy Tech, and EKG Tech. The curriculum features daily online lectures, which provide students with the competencies they need to become clinical or administrative MAs. Free training is available to qualified students; FAFSA, Pell Grants, and other scholarships are also available to those who don’t qualify.
Career Accelerated Learning-Regional
Location: Fremont, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 160
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $2,995
Program Overview: CAL-Regional in Fremont is an 8-week program that provides students with essential education on clinical and administrative medical assisting. It also includes laboratory simulations and externships that foster hands-on training for the role at hand. Day courses are offered Mondays to Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm, while night courses are available from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Contra Costa Medical Career College
Location: Antioch, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Hours: 200
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $7,350
Program Overview: CCMCC’s certificate course in Medical Assisting does not require prerequisite courses. As long as the applicant satisfies the admission requirements, they may apply for the program. Classes are available during days (9 am to 1 pm), middays (1:30 pm to 5:30 pm), and evenings (6:00 pm to 10:00 pm). The program runs for approximately 20 weeks.
Gurnick Academy
Location: Concord, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Hours: 948.5
Clinical Externship Hours: 180
Tuition: $14,195
Program Overview: Gurnick’s 8-month MA certificate program features three modules that contain 13 courses overall. Students are expected to attend at least four hours of didactic or lab classes from Mondays to Fridays. A certification exam review is offered within the first 24 weeks of the program in order to help students prepare for the national certification test. Job placement is also available to those who complete the program.
Institute for Business and Technology
Location: San Jose, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Hours: n/a
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Tuition: n/a
Program Overview: IBT’s hands-on training for medical assistants provides its students with the skills and knowledge they need to perform their tasks adequately. The course covers essential topics, including basic lab procedures, record management, appointment scheduling, and many more. Graduates of the program are eligible to take their certification exam from the NCCT.
InterCoast Colleges
Location: Fairfield, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Hours: 900
Clinical Externship Hours: 180
Tuition: n/a
Program Overview: InterCoast’s Fairfield campus is one of two locations that offer an MA certificate program. The 40-week course is designed to equip students with front-office and back-office skills through lectures in infection control, EKG, sterilization, and injections, to name a few. Students of the course will also gain CPR certification prior to completing the program.
Jewish Vocational Service
Location: San Francisco, California
Modality: Online
Coursework Length: 11 weeks
Clinical Externship Hours: 192
Tuition: Free
Program Overview: In coordination with UCSF, JVS offers a Medical Administrative certificate course to SF county residents who are eligible for the JobsNOW! Program. Priority, however, is given to those with CalWorks or CAAP status. The curriculum consists of live virtual classroom training and a paid internship for 32 weeks. JVS also offers placement assistance to those who finish the program.
JobTrain
Location: San Jose, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Length: 11 weeks
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: Free
Program Overview: JobTrain’s no-cost MA program equips students with necessary skills, including billing, coding, giving injections, and taking vital signs, to name a few. Upon completing the courses with a GPA of 75% or above, students will be given a certificate of achievement and a CPR certificate. They will also be deemed eligible to sit in for the NCCT exam.
Merritt College
Location: Oakland, California
Modality: Online and on-campus
Coursework Units: 17-20
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $2,000 to $3,000
Program Overview: Merritt College offers MA programs in Clinical, Administrative, and both. Regardless of course, the curriculum provides a balance of clinical and administrative education through class lectures and lab courses. Clinical experiences, meanwhile, are done at local health facilities. All tracks take less than a year to complete.
Mission Language and Vocational School
Location: San Francisco, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: n/a
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Tuition: Free
Program Overview: MLVS’s nine-month MA program comes with classroom lectures from Mondays to Thursdays, and Fridays on Zoom. Both online and on-campus classes are held from 8 am to 3 pm. Apart from getting a certificate of completion, students will also be awarded a CPR/BLS certification. Job placement awaits those who finish the course satisfactorily.
Napa Valley College
Location: St. Helena, California
Modality: Online (Self-Guided and Instructor-Moderated)
Coursework Hours: 24
Clinical Externship Hours: 160 minimum
Tuition: $135
Program Overview: NVC offers some of the most affordable certificate programs for aspiring MAs. Students have the option to go for the self-guided or instructor-moderated option for the clinical or administrative track. Depending on the program, students may get their certificate in 6 weeks to 3 months.
San Francisco State University
Location: San Francisco, California
Modality: Online-Hybrid and on-campus
Coursework Hours: 160
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $2,599
Program Overview: SFSU’s MA program trains students to become capable medical assistants in settings such as physicians’ offices, hospitals, or skilled nursing facilities. The lessons are designed to hone the student’s skills in diagnostic testing, exam/treatment, phlebotomy, and EKG lead placements, to name a few. The course may be completed in 2.5-3 months.
San Mateo Adult and Career Education
Location: San Mateo, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 120
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $2,699
Program Overview: SMACE offers MA programs that meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at varied times. The hybrid curriculum consists of 120 class hours, 13 in-person lab classes, and a 160-hour externship in a clinic, facility, or private practice. The tuition fee also covers the cost of CPR certification, books, liability insurance, lab supplies, certificate of completion, and national certification examination.
Santa Clara Adult Education
Location: Santa Clara, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Hours: 375
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $1,000+
Program Overview: High school diploma or GED holders may apply to SCAE’s Medical Assistant program, which provides students with the skills they need to perform clinical and administrative tasks. Day classes are held Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 am to 2 pm, for a total of 18 weeks. Night classes run from Tuesdays to Thursdays from 5:30 to 9 pm with a longer duration of 35 weeks.
South San Francisco Adult Education
Location: San Francisco, California
Modality: On-campus at Baden High School, South SF
Coursework Length: 17 weeks
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: Free
Program Overview: South SF Adult Education offers a free MA certificate program for residents of South SF, Colma, Millbrae, Pacifica, Brisbane, or Daly City. On top of classes in Anatomy/Physiology and Medical Terminology, the program also provides hands-on experience in taking vital signs and administering medications. Applicants must undergo a thorough background check prior to being accepted to the program.
Stepful
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: On-campus or Online
Coursework Hours: 80
Clinical Externship Hours: 80
Tuition: $2,066 to $4,355
Program Overview: With classes that may be taken in the morning or evening, Stepful’s MA program is best for students who are looking for a part-time course. In a span of four months, students are taught foundational/basic courses, patient care essentials, routine and administrative responsibilities. Upon finishing the required externship hours, students may sit in for the NHA certification exam.
West Coast Medical Assistant Training Program
Location: Rohnert Park, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Length: 7 weeks
Clinical Externship Length: 1 month
Tuition: $2,500
Program Overview: WCMATP’s Medical Assistant course features theory lectures and skills lab, delivered through morning or weekend classes. Upon completion of the course and externship hours, students can take their AMCA exam right in the classroom. The school has an average passing rate of 93% for the national certification exam.