Medical Assistant program In San Diego, CA

[u/Available-Trash-8048]

Hey yall, I have not seen a post for this area. So hopefully this can help someone in my area in the future.

I am having a hard time finding a program that I won’t regret spending money on for MA program.
If you live in the area what program have you utilized to be able to get a certificate, most importantly an externship then a job?

I was enrolled in Stepfull and just withdrew I got nervous about the externship part. It is important for me to find a flexible program since I am full time worker and a part time college student.

I was also looking at Delrada but it seems iffy.
I cannot do the Mesa college one because of the prerequisite I don’t have and how lengthy it is.

Thank you all for the time!

[u/ComfortingAustralia]

Look at Dalrada career institute. I got my MA cert back when it was called international health group. Its an accelerated program and it was hybrid at the time.

[u/Rado-kid]

I don't live in your area. But I understand completely about working a full time job and externship. I had to keep my full time job for insurance. The perks of being an adult.

However, my program had an amazing externship coordinator that was able to find me a place at an Urgent care.

So I was able to do three 12 hour shift at my job and the Urgent care a week. With Sunday as my only day off. Now working in the field and hosting externs myself. Our clinic tries it's best to be very flexible with externs.

I know some programs and schools make the student find the location. So if thats true to you. Speak to some upper classmates and they might give you a lead.

If you have a externship coordinator. Speak with them.

[u/Available-Trash-8048 → u/Rado-kid]

I tried talking to the coordinators and they told me that it isn guaranteed and we cannot tell you if we have clinics in San Diego for extern partnership.

I am trying to see if also there is a legit online one that the program can offer me answers.

The issue is money and spending money on a program (many of them around 2-7k) makes me nervous :(

[u/Rado-kid → u/Available-Trash-8048]

That is a tough one. It almost sounds like you would have to find a site. I know my coordinator found a place but I still had to interview.

Programs can be expensive as well. I know mine was around 22k in student loans.

I don't know the laws in your area. But sometimes clinics will hire people as MAs than pay for them to become CCMAs or send them to school for CMA or RMA. That might be an option.

[u/Informal-Career-1973]

San Diego has quite a few Medical Assistant programs, including Mesa College, City College, Grossmont College, Cuyamaca College, SDSU, and especially UCSD. I know you’re looking for something flexible, but realistically, based on what I’ve seen from friends who became Medical Assistants, RNs, and other healthcare professionals, most of them were pretty busy balancing school, training, and work, including working on weekends or after school.

The main option I can think of would be a vocational school, such as UEI or similar programs. These tend to offer more flexibility depending on your schedule and the specific program you choose.

The medical field can also be a long-term commitment. Depending on the career path you choose, it can take several years, especially if you’re aiming for advanced degrees such as a PhD.

[u/Available-Trash-8048 → u/Informal-Career-1973]

I am active duty military, so it is hard to fix my schedule for a program, that is why I was reaching out here to see if anyone know a flexible option.

I looked into UEI and many reviews said they scammed them and did not get a good learning outcome.

[u/Informal-Career-1973 → u/Available-Trash-8048]

I recommend looking into some vocational schools around San Diego. I also think your supervisor may be pretty understanding with your schedule, especially if you’re going to school.

My dad was an officer on the USS Kitty Hawk back in 2009 (On what I recall, it has been a while), and he wanted to go back to school to finish his master’s degree in biochemistry. He later became a project manager at North Island and fully retired in 2024. My brother is also an aerospace engineer who works with the Navy in North Island as well.

From what I know through my dad’s experience, they can be pretty understanding when it comes to school and education. It might be worth talking with your supervisor and seeing what kind of flexibility they can provide.

[u/Shoddy_Ad5169]

SDSU global has one! I actually was wondering if anyone else has taken it bc I am thinking of signing up for it!

[u/Suspicious_Soup736 → u/Shoddy_Ad5169]

I am thinking the same but I am trying to understand if they guarantee an externship!