Medical assistants (MA) in San Diego County earn an average of $46,504 per year, which can go up to as much as $54,965 annually. There’s a high demand for these professionals in facilities and clinics hosted by Sharp Healthcare, Focus Health Medical Group, and Oxford Health Group, to name a few.
If you’re looking for a fulfilling healthcare career that only requires a high school diploma/GED and a few months of schooling in most cases, then be sure to try out for any of these MA programs in the county:
Associate Degree Programs
While AS programs in Medical Assisting take about two years to finish, they provide a more comprehensive education compared to diploma and certification programs. Moreover, the units earned in this program may be counted towards the completion of a bachelor’s degree.
ATA College
Location: El Cajon, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Units: 33-64
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $15,989.82 (Diploma), $23,289.60 (Associates)
Program Overview: ATA’s Diploma and Associates in Medical Assisting programs provide students with the competencies they need to become skilled healthcare professionals in as short as eight months. Delivered through morning and evening classes, the fast-track program also covers career workshops, resume development, and job placement assistance.
San Diego Mesa College
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: On-campus, Online, and Hybrid
Coursework Units: 29-30
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $1,334 to $1,380 (Certificate), $2,760 (Associates)
Program Overview: SDMC’s MA program is open to students who wish to gain a Certificate of Achievement or Associates degree. It focuses on back-office competencies, such as assisting with blood pressure tests, injections, and other lab exams, as well as front-office activities such as completing forms and maintaining records. Named a preferred provider of talent by the city, SDMC graduates can access the school’s many professional development programs.
Southwestern College
Location: Chula Vista, California
Modality: On-campus or Online
Coursework Units: 28-40
Clinical Externship Hours: 162
Resident Tuition: $1,500 to $1,700 (certificate program), $1,800 (AS program)
Non-resident Tuition: $12,292 (certificate program), $17,560 (AS program)
Program Overview: With various campuses throughout San Diego County, Southwestern College offers a 40-unit AS program and a certificate of achievement option for Administrative and Clinical Medical Assisting. Interested students may also pursue a certificate course in Medical Insurance Billing & Coding.
Diploma Programs
As it offers a more advanced qualification, a diploma program in medical assisting takes about several months of schooling. San Diego-based students who prefer to earn a diploma may do so at these two schools:
Concorde Career College-San Diego
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Units: 26
Clinical Externship Hours: 230
Tuition: $18,907
Program Overview: Concorde’s campus along Imperial Ave. offers a 9-month diploma program for students who wish to explore the exciting field that is Medical Assisting. Through lectures, lab hours, and externships, students are expected to master clinical and administrative functions such as taking histories/vital signs, maintaining supplies, assisting in examinations, and following up referrals.
UEI College
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Units: 28
Clinical Externship Hours: 180
Tuition: $19,990
Program Overview: In as short as 10 months, UEI College students can gain the knowledge and skills they need to sit in for the certification exams offered by the NCCT, AAMA, or AMT. As a hybrid program, students will have to attend both remote and in-person classes to complete the required courses. Financial aid is available to qualified students from the MA program.
Certificate Programs
Most MA programs in San Diego County are certification programs that may be completed in a few weeks/months. They usually are more affordable and ideal for individuals who wish to work as MAs right away.
California State University-San Marcos
Location: San Marcos, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 360
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $4,000
Program Overview: Offered in conjunction with the Vista Community Clinic, CSUSM’s MA certification course runs for six months. Online classes are offered Mondays-Fridays from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm while whole-day Saturday classes are done in a hybrid format (a combination of online and in-person lectures). The tuition fee covers course materials, a stethoscope, and a pair of scrubs.
Center for Employment Training
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 900
Clinical Externship Hours: ~160
Tuition: $15,249
Program Overview: CET’s MA program provides students with a comprehensive curriculum that covers anatomy/physiology, medical terminology, and clinical/administrative procedures. The entire program, which may be completed in 8-9 months, includes other perks such as financial aid, training supplies, support services, and job placement assistance.
Dalrada Career Institute
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 160
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: n/a
Program Overview: Dalrada’s San Diego campus offers a certification program where coursework is taught through lectures and lab simulations. By the end of the 10-week program, students are expected to know how to perform administrative duties such as scheduling and using EHRs. The program also teaches the basics of clinical tasks such as taking vital signs, collecting lab specimens, and assisting in doctor’s examinations.
Glendale Career College
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Modules: 8
Clinical Externship Hours: 144
Tuition: $15,395
Program Overview: GCC’s certificate program equips students with the competencies they need to work as MAs, including recording patient histories, measuring vital signs, and preparing lab samples. Courses covered in the program include Medical History & Fundamentals, Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Assisting, and Response Training.
Grossmont College
Location: El Cajon, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Units: 17.5
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: ~$5,000
Program Overview: Grossmont’s Medical Office Assistant Certificate of Proficiency program is open to those who want to explore a new career or update their existing skills. The program covers courses in Medical Terminology, Office Procedures, Insurance Billing, and Coding. Students are required to get a grade of ‘C’ or higher in all the said courses.
Health Occupations Center
Location: Santee, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Units: 30
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $325 to $625
Program Overview: HOC’s low-cost program is open to students who wish to specialize in Clinical or both Administrative and Clinical Medical Assisting. The entry-level training course teaches the basics, such as Medical Terminology, Drug Calculations, Medication Administration, and Laboratory Collection, to name a few. Proof of immunization is required for interested applicants.
Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 710
Clinical Externship Hours: 320
Tuition: $7,100
Program Overview: Designed to produce entry-level MAs, LRMAI’s training program teaches the basics of anatomy, medical terminology, and administrative services, to name a few. The curriculum is guided by the core concepts recommended by the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Students may opt to take the program on a full-time (6-hour days) or part-time (4-hour days) basis.
MiraCosta College
Location: Oceanside, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 160
Clinical Externship Hours: 192
Tuition: Approximately $2,000
Program Overview: The one-year full-time MA program offered by MiraCosta College is available on its campuses in Oceanside and Cardiff. The curriculum provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills required to accomplish front-office and back-office tasks. To qualify for the program, applicants must complete prerequisite courses in Basic Medical Terminology and Body Systems Survey for Health Professionals.
North-West College
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Modules: 8
Clinical Externship Hours: 144
Tuition: $15,499
Program Overview: NWC’s MA program lasts 40 weeks or about nine months. Made for working students, classes are available during the day and evenings. By the end of the course, students are expected to perform office procedures, medical insurance/coding, and laboratory/EKG preparation with relative ease. Interested students may readily apply for the program, which is offered throughout the year.
Pima Medical Institute
Location: Chula Vista, California
Modality: On-Campus or Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 800
Clinical Externship Hours: 200
Tuition: $17,282
Program Overview: The certificate program, which may be completed in nine months, teaches the essential skills expected of entry-level MAs. These include preparing patients for exams, assisting physicians/nurses, and performing basic lab exams, among many other tasks. Students who get job offers from Pima’s externship locations may start to work as soon as they finish the program.
San Diego State University Global Campus
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: 160-674
Clinical Externship Hours: 160
Tuition: $2,066 to $4,355
Program Overview: SDSU Global Campus offers a variety of certification programs for budding MAs. There are courses for those who want to specialize in administrative or clinical assisting, as there are programs that include classes in Medical Terminology or EHR use. All are self-paced and as such are recommended for those who can finish their studies with minimal assistance.
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: Stepful’s 4-month part-time program covers essential courses in medical assisting, such as medical terminology, healthcare systems, and patient care coordination. Graduates may take the NHA CCMA Certification exam at the end of the training. In the past few years, alumni of Stepful’s MA program have registered an average passing rate of 77%.
U.S. Colleges
Location: San Diego, California
Modality: On-campus
Coursework Hours: 220
Clinical Externship Hours: 80
Tuition: n/a
Program Overview: U.S. Colleges’ certificate program is aimed toward aspiring clinical MAs who wish to be more marketable in a competitive job environment. The short-term program, which can be completed in 16 weeks, includes clinic/lab classes, classroom lectures, practice demonstrations, and externship hours. Depending on their schedule, students may opt for morning, afternoon, or evening classes.
Western Medical Training Center Inc.
Location: El Cajon, California
Modality: Hybrid
Coursework Hours: n/a
Clinical Externship Hours: 120
Tuition: $2,500
Program Overview: Open to individuals 18 years old and older who have a social security card, WMTC’s certified MA program takes about four months to complete. The first three course components are taught through two live online classes per week, while the final component is an on-campus lab portion. Upon finishing the program, the student may sit in for the Medical Assistant or Medical Office Assistant certification exam.