Administrative Medical Assistant Certificate of Achievement
Saddleback College · Mission Viejo, CA
- Cost
- $2,660
- Length
- 104 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 46%
Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.
What happened to people who took this
- People enrolled
- 457
- Finished the program
- 72%Based on 285 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Working 6 months later
- 46%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $4,708A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
The jobs this trains for
This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.
Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.
No regional figures for this program's city
Mission Viejo is not one of the metropolitan or rural areas California names when it publishes wages and openings. A neighbouring area's figures would look exactly like a correct answer, so none are shown and the statewide figures stand alone. About half of California's programs are in this position.
Medical Assistants
Job ads may call this: Health Assistant · Doctor's Assistant · Ophthalmic Assistant · Optometric Assistant
Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.
- Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
- Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Typical pay in California
- $50,918per year
- Projected openings
- 175,850
- Projected change
- +22.7%
- Usually needs
- Postsecondary non-degree award
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- None
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Started college, no degree — 38% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: Postsecondary non-degree award. That is not one of the steps below, so there is no way to count how many people meet it.
- No high school diploma
- 2%
- High school diploma
- 20%
- Started college, no degree
- 38%
- Two-year degree
- 24%
- Four-year degree
- 12%
- Master's degree
- 3%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 1%
This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job. It is also measured on a different scale from “Usually needs” above, so the two cannot be subtracted from one another.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Office Assistant · Administrative Aide · Executive Assistant · Executive Secretary
- Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
- Process payroll information.
- Make travel arrangements for executives.
- Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
- Coordinate and direct office services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, personnel issues, and housekeeping, to aid executives.
- Typical pay in California
- $91,106per year
- Projected openings
- 62,570
- Projected change
- +1.3%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- Under 5 years in a related job
- Training after you are hired
- None
Employers usually expect some time in a related job as well as the training. Ask the provider what their graduates did before they were hired.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Four-year degree — 34% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 1% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 1%
- High school diploma
- 15%
- Started college, no degree
- 28%
- Two-year degree
- 14%
- Four-year degree
- 34%
- Master's degree
- 7%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 1%
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Secretary · Staff Assistant · Office Assistant · Administrative Clerk
- Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
- Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
- Perform payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
- Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
Show 2 more things this job involves
- Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
- Collect and deposit money into accounts, disburse funds from cash accounts to pay bills or invoices, keep records of collections and disbursements, and ensure accounts are balanced.
- Typical pay in California
- $56,711per year
- Projected openings
- 182,240
- Projected change
- +1.4%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- Under a month
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: Started college, no degree — 29% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 3% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 3%
- High school diploma
- 26%
- Started college, no degree
- 29%
- Two-year degree
- 15%
- Four-year degree
- 22%
- Master's degree
- 5%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.8%
Program details
This is a hybrid or blended program providing both in-person and online instruction.
The Administrative Medical Assistant program prepares the student for employment as an administrative (front office) medical assistant in a physicians office, clinic or outpatient center. This certificate program is designed to help meet industry demand by offering education and training on soft skills, appointment scheduling, reception duties, managing patient medical records, insurance authorizations, reimbursement and coding for the medical office or clinic. Students complete a 150 hours of supervised training in a medical office or clinic. Proof of medical malpractice insurance, current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification and health clearance are required for the clinical experience. All students complete a background check and drug screening prior to enrolling in MA 217A. A minimum grade of C in all courses is required. Letter grade only.
Someone else may be able to pay for this
This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.
The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California
A comprehensive center is where all the required partner programs can be reached; an affiliate site offers some of them. California's Employment Development Department directs people to CareerOneStop's finder to locate one. Contacting a center before traveling is worth it — the state notes that its own staff are not physically present at every location.
The rule: 20 CFR 678.305 — What is a comprehensive one-stop center? · 20 CFR 678.310 — What is an affiliated site? · California EDD — Office Locator
Orange County Workforce Solutions CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 866-500-6587
28202 Cabot RoadSuite 140Laguna Niguel, CA 92677about 3.9 miles away
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-1pm
Has a veterans' representative
Orange County Workforce Solutions Center- Mobile Unit -Affiliate site
Phone: 866-500-6587
1300 S. Grand AvenueUse this link to find location-https://www.ocworkforce-solutions.com/mobile-unitSanta Ana, CA 92705about 15.3 miles away
Hours: Varies- Check website to book
Santa Ana WORK CenterComprehensive center
Phone: 714-565-2600
801 West Civic Center Drive,Suite 200Santa Ana, CA 92701about 17.1 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Has a veterans' representative
Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.
Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List
How this gets paid for, and what to ask →
Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.
The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.
How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →