Vista, CA –An affordable pathway into a career in healthcare is closer than you might think. The Medical Assistant Training Program at North County’s Vista Community Clinic (VCC) is preparing to teach a new cohort of students in January of 2022. Started back in 2016 as a partnership between Vista Community Clinic (VCC) and Cal State University San Marcos Extended Learning, the program has graduated 260 students to date, and makes learning accessible to adult students of all ages and backgrounds. Applications are currently being accepted through October 15th, with priority acceptance scheduled through September 30th.
Hands-on training, lecture, and internships prepare students to work successfully as medical assistants in doctors’ offices and health clinics everywhere. Students learn how to draw blood, administer injections, take vital signs, schedule lab tests and assist clinicians. The program’s $3,000 price tag includes the cost of textbooks, scrubs, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and additional support services. VCC also offers job placement support and boasts a 70% job placement rate, even hiring a number of graduates at their own office locations.
The program is currently offered in a hybrid model with in-person and online classes. Both formats are held in the evenings and Saturdays, with in-person instruction taking place off of North River Road in Oceanside. Ana, a previous program graduate, came on board at 34 years old, with 3 kids and a full time job, and now she recommends it to everyone she knows – “It’s a life changing experience and opens many opportunities for myself and career, and I am very thankful I came across it.”
The program runs from January 24th through July 2nd. Program details and a downloadable application can be found at http://www.vistacommunityclinic.org/medical-assistant-program/. Questions can be sent to the program manager at MAProgram@vcc.clinic or 760-631-5000 ext. 7146.
About Vista Community Clinic … With nine state-of-the-art locations in North San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties, VCC provides affordable, high quality health care to more than 70,000 community residents. Services offered by VCC include primary care, pediatrics, prenatal and women’s health, optometry, chiropractic care, dental health, podiatry, acupuncture and behavioral health services. VCC also offers a wide array of community health education programs which are free and open to all community residents. VCC is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 (highest) Patient-Centered Medical Home, and is the recipient of the HRSA National Quality Leader Seal for exceeding national clinical quality benchmarks. For more information call 760.631.5000 or visit www.vcc.org.
About CSUSM Extended Learning … As the academic outreach arm of Cal State San Marcos, Extended Learning is a leading provider of professional and continuing education in North San Diego and Southwest Riverside Counties. Offering degree programs, such as a master’s in public health, as well as both academic credit and noncredit professional enrichment courses, Extended Learning helps individuals and organizations achieve their educational and training goals. For more information about Extended Learning at CSUSM, please visit http://csusm.edu/el/.
