Best California Medical Assistant Programs & Training Options

Working as a medical assistant in California is a fantastic career option. It is known that the field of health care is growing tremendously in this state, as it is across the country, which means there are plenty of job opportunities. All training programs are overseen by the State Medical Board of California. This means that programs have to be approved by this board, which has the responsibility of guaranteeing that they meet certain requirements and practice regulations. The Board has explained that medical assistants are unlicensed but their education allows them to assist and support a range of medical procedures in various health care clinics. However, they can only do so under full supervision of another, licensed practitioner. This could be a physician, a nurse practitioner, a midwife, a surgeon, a physician’s assistant, a podiatrist, and so on. See also 45+ nursing schools in California with entry-level programs.

There are dozens of schools in California that offer medical assistant programs. This means that searching for the right program for you may be somewhat overwhelming. It is very important that you take the time to contact the schools that are of interest to you in order to find out what they offer and whether that fits with your own personal requirements. Looking into accreditation is particularly important, as most employers will only hire people that have a nationally recognized certification. The state of California itself does not require medical assistants to have a formal license but some employers may still require it.

During your medical assistant training, you will usually learn about human anatomy, medical terminology, health care ethics and interpersonal communication. Furthermore, there will also be a strong focus on administrative duties. And if you choose a specialized program, the curriculum will include courses on the exact field you are interested in. For instance, you could have classes in dental assisting, coding and billing, ultrasound procedures, patient care and more. There are many possibilities to choose from and this means that the time it will take for you to graduate and the cost involved in this will vary greatly. Generally, diplomas will take around a year to complete, whereas associate’s degrees take around two years.

Medical assistants in California earn an average of $15.71 per hour, which is above the national average. Demand is very strong, which means that it is very likely that you will find employment once you have graduated. Some of the places you could find work in include doctors’ offices, clinics, community health centers, and nursing homes. Your role is incredibly important because you will be charged with various tasks that make the work of physicians easier to complete. Additionally, as a medical assistant, you will work not just with physicians but with patients as well. Hence, it is very important that you are a people person with excellent communication skills.

Below are the best California medical assistant programs & training options. Take your time to look at the differences between them and make sure you request further information from each of these schools and more before you sign up to their courses.