Medical Assistant

This program prepares students for an entry-level position in the medical field as a front and/or back-office assistant. Positions are available in clinics, hospitals and doctors' offices.

Our Medical Assistant program is designed to prepare students with the clinical and administrative skills used in today's healthcare and technology environments. Students gain practical experience through hands-on labs at our Carson campus, online coursework through Open LMS, and a 240-hour externship in a real-world healthcare and technology setting.

Clinical skills. Taking vital signs, phlebotomy basics, administering injections, EKG procedures, assisting with exams and physicals, sterilization and infection control. Administrative skills. Medical records, office procedures, insurance coding basics, law and ethics, front-office communication, medical terminology.

Real clinical skills, taught by doing. EKG, injections, phlebotomy, and vital signs in the back office; medical records, insurance coding, and office procedures up front.

Hands-on labs, flexible lectures. Fully equipped campus labs plus online lectures through Open LMS, with day and evening schedules Monday through Thursday.

240-hour externship in a real clinic. Your final two modules are a 240-hour externship in an affiliated site: real patients and real workflows before you graduate.

Serving Southern California since 1988. Approved to operate by the state of California since 1988 and accredited by ACCSC.

The College seeks to admit students who possess the appropriate credentials and have demonstrated capacity or potential that indicates a reasonable probability of success in completing the educational programs offered by the College. Students must complete the entire admissions process on or before the first day of class. All prospective applicants must be personally interviewed by a school representative, tour the campus and receive a catalog describing the course offerings and the school policies.

The Medical Assistant program is delivered in a hybrid or blended model, so applicants must demonstrate commitment of availability during online delivery, possession of an electronic device capable of internet connectivity, access to Internet, and basic computer proficiency, measured in the Distance Education assessment. Applicants who are pregnant at the time of enrollment will be asked to provide authorization from their attending physician.

Class schedules. All Programs (DAY): Classes are held Monday to Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00 pm. All Programs (EVG): Classes are held Monday to Thursday from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. CHAC offers year-round enrollment for all programs; the beginning of a module offers an opportunity to join the program.

Blended delivery. Lectures are delivered online, class assignments are completed using the student online platform, and laboratory work is performed on campus. Weekly schedules include in-person on campus hours and online synchronous and asynchronous hours.

Externship. Externships are conducted in affiliated clinics generally between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, about 30 hours per week (approximately 6 hours per day), for 240 hours.

Start dates. Upcoming 2026 start dates are November 3, 2026 and December 7, 2026 (Thanksgiving Recess 11/25/2026 to 11/29/2026; Winter Recess 12/18/2026 to 01/03/2027). New modules start about every 4 weeks, and you can enroll at the start of any module.

Breakdown of charges. The charges for a period of attendance and total charges for the entire program are the same:

• Tuition: $17,522
• Registration Fee (non-refundable): $100
• Books: $271
• Supplies Kit: $17
• Uniforms (non-refundable): $40
• STRF: $0.00
• Total: $17,950

The total cost does not include transportation costs to/from externship or clinical sites; this cost is the student's responsibility. All textbooks, hard copies or electronic, are included in the total charges and are distributed at the beginning of each program/course and/or level.

WIOA pricing. Discounted prices are available to qualifying students referred by local WIOA agencies (Medical Assistant: $12,995).

Other fees. Laptop Charge: a $400.00 charge will be charged to students who wish to add a laptop computer to their charges. Late Payment: a $20.00 fee may be charged for late payments 10 or more days delinquent on agreed-to tuition installments made directly with CHAC. Additional uniforms and textbooks are charged at the current rate.

Payment plans. Tuition is payable in advance and due at the time of enrollment, and students may enroll under one of CHAC's tuition payment plans. Several payment plan options exist, and staff of well-qualified financial aid officers will assist students in financial advising and applying for aid. Payments may be made with check, money order, or credit card.

Federal financial aid. California Healing Arts College participates in Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans. Those seeking federal financial assistance must first complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa (CHAC federal school code 036813). Students without a high school diploma or equivalent may not receive Title IV funds.

Veterans and agency benefits. CHAC programs are approved for the training of Veterans and eligible persons under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code; the GI Bill and Post 9/11 are a few of the VA programs available. Service members who intend to participate in the Military Tuition Assistance (TA) program must seek funding approval prior to the program's start date. Work Investment Act, State Rehabilitation, and Displaced Workers programs are available through various agencies.

Net Price Calculator. Estimate your net price at https://www.chac.edu/net-price-calculator/.

The program does not have any specialized online fees in addition to regular tuition.

This program prepares students for an entry-level position in the medical field as a front and/or back-office assistant. Positions are available in clinics, hospitals and doctors' offices. Employment positions include Medical Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, Optometric Assistant, Clinical Assistant, Ophthalmic Technician, Out-patient Surgery Assistant, Medical Secretary, Medical Receptionist, Front Office Manager, Health Unit Coordinator, Medical Office Specialist and Patient Coordinator.

School Performance Fact Sheet (calendar years 2023 & 2024, published December 1, 2025). On-time completion rate: 64% in 2024 (36 of 56) and 50% in 2023 (34 of 68). Job placement rate employed in the field: 78% in 2024 (28 of 36) and 74% in 2023 (25 of 34). Licensure exam passage data: N/A (not an employment requirement for graduates of this program).

ACCSC Graduation and Employment Chart (2025 annual report, class starts 03/2023-02/2024). Graduation rate 67% (32 of 48); employment rate 81% (26 of 32 graduates available for employment).

Career services. Resume preparation and coaching, job-seeking skills training, interview coaching, and job leads after program completion. CHAC does not guarantee employment.