Best Online Medical Assistant Programs in California
Find out how enrolling in one of the best online medical assistant programs from California can help you start an exciting career in the field of allied healthcare.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California leads the nation in the total number of medical assistants employed – more than 111,000 work in the state. This is almost double the number in Texas, which comes in at a distant second.
Despite having so many medical assistants already, California still needs more to accommodate the expansion of its healthcare services for an aging population. To meet this demand, many California schools are offering online medical assistant programs that make it quicker and easier for students with busy schedules to become certified medical assistants. While many medical assistant programs in California have online curriculums, no two schools are the same — some offer diplomas or certificates while others offer associate degrees; some may make online courses available at all times while others may only be offered on a preset schedule.
We’ve created this guide to help you figure out which online program is best for you. In addition to helping you learn more about how online medical assistant programs work, we’ll lay out what to look for when researching programs, how to move through the medical assistant certification process, what to expect after you’ve enrolled, and the job and salary prospects waiting for you after graduation. Keep reading to discover the schools that made it onto our list as the best programs for prospective medical assistant students like you.
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California
Public
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California
Public
Cerritos College
Norwalk, California
Public
Cerro Coso Community College
Ridgecrest, California
Public
Must-Haves in a Medical Assistant Program in California
The perfect online medical assistant program in California will be different for everyone. Program characteristics that are important to you may not be important to other prospective students and vice versa. However, there are still some universal must-haves; let’s take a look at important qualities you want your California medical assistant program to have.
Accreditation
Ideally, you want your online medical assistant program in California to have programmatic accreditation signaling that it meets high standards of quality in allied healthcare education. The two most common programmatic accrediting bodies for medical assisting are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools(ABHES). Even if your first-choice program does not hold programmatic accreditation, you can still look for institutional accreditation, which applies to the school that houses the program. Institutional accreditation usually comes from a national or regional accrediting body approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Certification Exam Eligibility
You have multiple medical assistant exams to choose from when it comes to earning your certification. While the eligibility requirements to sit for each of these exams will differ, many are tied to the school you attend and its curriculum. For instance, the primary condition for taking the Registered Medical Assistant exam offered by American Medical Technologists(AMT) is that you complete a program that provides a sufficient number of clinical and didactic training hours. In contrast, the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants(AAMA) prefers applicants to have graduated from an ABHES or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant program.
Faculty Qualifications
The qualifications of instructors and teachers at online medical assistant programs in California will inevitably vary from school to school. However, you should expect your instructors to have a certain level of education and experience, i.e. to be certified medical assistants and/or have at least a few years of real-world experience practicing as medical assistants. Don’t let this stress you out too much, though, the Medical Board of California requires all medical assistants in teaching or training positions to meet the qualified medical assistant requirements.
Graduation and Certification Rates
You can compare graduation and certification exam passage rates among programs and to state or national averages to get a clearer picture of the quality of a program. High graduation and certification rates speak to a program’s ability to support students through their studies into their careers, whether through faculty guidance, academic support services, or a cutting-edge curriculum. Keep this in mind as you search for a program that will help you launch your career.
State-Specific Considerations
Although California does not require medical assistants to be licensed, it does recognize two types of certification: the “regular” certified medical assistant, a medical assistant who holds a nationally-recognized certification, and a “qualified” medical assistant, who often works as an instructor in the field. There are three ways to become a qualified medical assistant:
- Become certified by a Medical Board of California-approved certifying organization;
- Possess teaching credentials allowing you to teach at a community college; or
- Have authorization to teach medical assistants in a private postsecondary institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Health or approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
Transferability
If you think becoming a medical assistant will be just the first step in a lifelong career in allied healthcare, consider enrolling in a program that offers college credits that will easily transfer to another institution. This will save you time and money down the road should you choose to pursue another degree. The hybrid Medical Assisting Certificate program from Shasta College requires students to complete coursework that meets some of the general education requirements at one or more University of California or California State University system institution. Incoming students are encouraged to meet with an academic counselor to discuss these options.
Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant in California
You may already have the skills you need to complete the didactic learning components of your online California medical assistant program, but you’ll still need to meet additional conditions before you become certified. We’ll walk you through what else goes into earning your credentials below.
Complete a Clinical Externship
Even if the didactic components of your medical assistant program are offered online, you’ll still need to complete a substantial portion of your curriculum in person. Specifically, you’ll need to complete an average of 160 to 180 hours of hands-on training in the form of a clinical externship. To accommodate students learning remotely, some online medical assistant programs, like the one from California Career Institute, offer externship sites throughout the state.
Graduate From an Accredited Program
Receiving your medical assistant education from an accredited program is beneficial for many reasons, not the least of which is that it makes it easier to obtain financial aid. Additionally, employers prefer to hire graduates from institutions and/or programs that are accredited. But most importantly, completing an accredited medical assistant program makes it easier to become eligible for a medical assistant certification exam. Completing a program that’s not accredited can make you ineligible to sit for certain exams.
Pass the Certificate Exam
Certification isn’t required to practice as a medical assistant in California, but most employers prefer to hire medical assistants with certification. There are multiple certification options available. Four of the most common include:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants.
- Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing.
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from the American Medical Technologists.
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from the National Healthcareer Association.
If you plan to become a qualified medical assistant so you can teach at a medical assisting program, one way to meet the requirement is to become certified by a Medical Board of California-approved certifying organization. These include the:
Renew Your License and Take Continuing Education Credits
Renewal requirements depend on the certification you hold. Some certifications require continuing education classes as part of the process. For example, both the American Association of Medical Assistants and California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants require practitioners to complete at least 60 continuing education units to renew their certifications.
Answering Your Questions About CA Medical Assistant Programs Online
As eager as you are to apply to a CA medical assistant online program, you might still have questions. Read on to see answers to the questions we hear prospective students ask most frequently about online medical assistant programs in California.
Are scholarships or grants available for online medical assistant students in CA?
Yes, there are plenty of gift-based financial aid options available. Many of these grants come from private organizations, such as corporations and nonprofits. Others come from the state of California, such as the Cal Grant. Then there are the schools themselves, like MiraCosta College, which offers scholarships to eligible students. You can also complete the FAFSA to be eligible for federal financial aid.
Are there professional organizations or networking opportunities for California medical assistants?
The most prominent professional organization for medical assistants in California is the California Society of Medical Assistants. This state affiliate of the AAMA offers networking and continuing education opportunities to medical assistants in all phases of their careers.
Do I need to complete any prerequisites before applying?
It depends on the school. Some online California medical assistant programs like that at MiraCosta College require applicants to complete basic courses in medical terminology and biology, while others like that at the Cal State University, Long Beach do not require students to complete any prerequisites prior to admission or enrollment.
How much should I expect to pay for my program?
The exact cost of your online medical assistant program will depend on several variables, including the type of school (public or private) and type of program (certificate/diploma or associate degree). Programs that provide graduates with a certificate or diploma are shorter and generally less expensive — you can expect to pay a few thousand dollars in tuition and fees for these programs. Online medical assistant programs in California that culminate in an associate degree are often more expensive overall, as they typically take two to three times longer to complete.
What are the admission requirements for California medical assistant programs?
Admission requirements vary by school and program. At a minimum, you should expect to submit an online application and provide official copies of your high school transcript or comparable credentials. Additional requirements will depend on the school. For instance, the Bay Area Medical Academy requires applicants to pass an English test and complete an interview while Gurnick Academy requires applicants to submit an essay about why they want to become a medical assistant and the qualities that will help them succeed in the program.
What does an online medical assistant curriculum in California cover?
Most medical assistant online programs in California offer similar curricula, all designed to prepare students to pass certification exams and gain skills and knowledge that the typical California healthcare employer expects new hires to possess. As such, you should expect to learn the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology, medication delivery, dosage calculation, healthcare ethics and legal requirements, billing, insurance processing, medical terminology, and office administration.
Salary and Career Insights for California Medical Assistants
As the third-largest state in the nation (trailing Alaska and Texas), California is home to numerous medical facilities and providers. That’s why it’s a hotbed of job opportunities for anyone in allied health, including medical assistants. The national job outlook for the position is 13.8%, but in California, that number jumps to 25.6%. This means an average of 18,280 openings each year across the state, providing excellent opportunities for medical assistants to launch their careers.
When it comes to income, medical assistants can expect a median annual income of $46,690, with the 10th percentile earning $36,600 and the top 90th percentile earning $72,940. However, some areas of California offer higher pay than others. For example, those who work in Sacramento can expect a median wage of $59,520, while those in San Jose could see $60,500. The highest-paying area is Vallejo-Fairfield, where the median wage is $74,750. Read the charts below to learn more about where medical assistants can find great pay in California.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 764,400 | 870,200 | 105,800 | 13.80% | 114,600 |
| California | 108,000 | 135,700 | 27,700 | 25.60% | 18,280 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $36,600 | $46,690 | $72,940 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $35,320 | $39,400 | $56,840 |
| Chico, CA | $36,300 | $45,200 | $57,400 |
| El Centro, CA | $36,020 | $38,080 | $57,880 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,940 | $44,940 | $65,680 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,330 | $43,490 | $51,860 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $35,290 | $44,740 | $63,220 |
| Madera, CA | $36,870 | $43,620 | $57,320 |
| Merced, CA | $35,020 | $37,650 | $47,910 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,730 | $46,600 | $72,570 |
| Napa, CA | $40,970 | $50,960 | $76,120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $37,200 | $47,510 | $62,800 |
| Redding, CA | $36,060 | $42,440 | $55,840 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36,160 | $39,520 | $63,900 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | $38,420 | $59,520 | $79,200 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,180 | $44,620 | $57,870 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $37,620 | $46,850 | $65,770 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $45,440 | $59,770 | $82,410 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,160 | $60,500 | $78,250 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | $36,620 | $47,180 | $64,070 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,960 | $47,010 | $72,360 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,060 | $47,610 | $67,130 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $40,190 | $59,190 | $76,120 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,730 | $44,720 | $72,640 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $42,600 | $74,750 | $82,500 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | $36,430 | $42,630 | $57,960 |
| Yuba City, CA | $36,960 | $46,250 | $58,740 |
Source: Medical Assistants, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
