Seven Core Modules Plus Professional Development
Medical assisting is a dual role. In a single shift, a medical assistant might take a patient’s blood pressure, assist a physician with an examination, and then handle scheduling and insurance paperwork at the front desk. The Medical Assistant curriculum at California Career Institute is built to prepare students for both halves of that job.
Students complete seven core modules plus a professional development module across the 40-week program, totaling 35 credit hours.
Subject Areas Covered
- Law, ethics, and human behavior — the professional and legal framework medical assistants work within.
- Pharmacology and surgical procedures — medications and assisting with clinical procedures.
- Front office, medical insurance, and bookkeeping — scheduling, records, claims, and the administrative side of a practice.
- EKG, phlebotomy, and cardiopulmonary procedures — hands-on diagnostic and specimen-collection skills.
- Endocrinology, obstetrics, and gynecology — specialty areas medical assistants regularly encounter.
- Medical terminology — the shared vocabulary of the clinical setting.
Clinical and Administrative Duties
The curriculum maps directly to the responsibilities medical assistants take on in practice:
- Recording patient history and personal information
- Measuring vital signs, such as blood pressure
- Assisting physicians with patient examinations
- Administering injections or medications as directed
- Scheduling appointments and managing records
From Lecture to Lab to Externship
Theory coursework is delivered online, while clinical techniques are practiced in on-campus skills labs. Students then apply what they have learned during a 200-hour supervised externship at an approved healthcare facility, with evaluations at the 100-hour and 200-hour intervals.
Where Medical Assistants Work
Medical assistants are commonly employed in offices of physicians, hospitals, and outpatient care centers, with additional opportunities in offices of chiropractors, clinics, urgent care, and medical supply businesses.
A Note on Certification
Some medical assistants choose to pursue certification after completing their training. Registration and certification requirements are controlled by outside agencies and are subject to change, and CCI cannot guarantee exam eligibility. Students with questions about certification pathways are encouraged to speak with CCI staff.
Learn More
The Medical Assistant program is offered at CCI’s Anaheim and Hawthorne campuses, with new class start dates every month. Full program details are available in the CCI catalog, or request information to speak with an admissions advisor.
