About the Medical Assisting Program in South San Francisco
Your healthcare future starts here with the Medical Assisting program in South San Francisco, California, where career-focused education meets real-world preparation. Through a carefully structured blend of classroom instruction, modern lab practice, clinical simulations, and a supervised externship, you’ll build the practical and professional skills employers value most, from taking patient histories and measuring vital signs to supporting clinical procedures and front-office operations. You’ll also be prepared to sit for nationally recognized certification exams, helping strengthen your qualifications as you enter the field. Program schedules vary by campus, but students typically attend on-campus training two days per week, with morning, afternoon, or evening options available depending on location and cohort size. With new start dates offered twice each month at Unitek College campuses, you can begin your training sooner and stay on track toward your goals. Designed with you in mind, the program can be completed in as little as nine months, helping you transition sooner from student to Medical Assistant and contribute meaningfully across a range of healthcare settings where compassionate, well-trained professionals are needed now more than ever.
HYBRID LEARNING
Learn through a flexible blend of online coursework and hands-on lab training, helping you build real-world skills while balancing school and life.
9-MONTH ACCELERATED PROGRAM
Complete your training in as little as nine months and take the next step toward a fast-moving, in-demand healthcare career.
CAREER-FOCUSED TRAINING
South San Francisco MA Graduate Placement Rate
79%*
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What you'll learn.
Graduates of our Medical Assisting program in South San Francisco are prepared to enter entry-level Medical Assistant roles with practical skills and professional confidence. The program combines structured classroom learning with hands-on lab training and a supervised externship, ensuring you gain experience across both clinical and administrative functions. With an emphasis on practical application, the curriculum prepares you to support patient care and daily operations in a wide range of healthcare environments, including medical offices, outpatient clinics, hospitals, and other care settings.
Perform patient intake and accurately record vital signs as a first point of care.
Safely administer medications and perform essential hands-on clinical procedures.
Conduct EKGs and collect, handle, and prepare laboratory specimens for testing.
Maintain a safe and sterile clinical environment by following proper safety protocols.
Manage patient flow by updating digital charts and coordinating admissions or lab services.
Support daily medical office operations, including supply management and prescription processing.
Handle medical billing, insurance processing, and basic bookkeeping with confidence.
Admissions Requirements for the South San Francisco MA Program
Follow these simple steps to start your path toward training to become a Medical Assistant.
Meet with admissions (virtual or in person)
Begin enrollment process
Submit a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of high school diploma/GED
Complete FAFSA and financial aid appointment
Complete entrance assessments
Start classes
Curriculum Overview
The Medical Assisting curriculum at our South San Francisco campus is built around the skills and standards you’ll encounter in today’s healthcare workplaces. Our MA courses emphasize both administrative and clinical skills. We offer extensive instruction in medical terminology, medical office procedures, medical and clinical procedures, basic anatomy and physiology, and special duties common in the field.
Core Medical Assisting subjects
Introduction to Medical Assisting
Pharmacology and Clinical Procedures
Medical Office Administration
Diagnostic Procedures and Infection Control
I am so happy to say that I attended the MA program at this college! My instructor was the best. I would recommend this program to any student who would like to be an MA. Doing this program has taught me so many things and it has prepared me as a professional.
Hermione T.Unitek College of Nursing Graduate
The South San Francisco Campus
The South San Francisco campus offers a welcoming, student-focused learning environment designed to support your success from your first day through graduation. Set within a spacious facility spanning more than 10,000 square feet, the campus features open, light-filled classrooms, dedicated skills labs, computer centers, a campus library, and comfortable student lounge areas. Convenient on-site parking and easy access to administrative support, including admissions, financial aid, and career services, make it easier to stay focused on your goals. Located near major healthcare providers such as Kaiser Permanente and other long-term care facilities, the campus places you close to the professional environments where many graduates begin their careers.
Online Learning
Reinforce your hands-on training through flexible online coursework designed to support your understanding of key medical concepts and the reasoning behind clinical procedures. Using digital textbooks and interactive learning tools, you’ll complete assignments that complement your lab experience, allowing you to maximize time practicing skills on campus while maintaining the flexibility to balance school with work and personal responsibilities.
Skills Labs
Train in hands-on environments designed to reflect real medical office settings, where classroom instruction and skills training take place in the same space so you can immediately apply what you learn. You’ll work with industry-standard equipment and task trainers, including EKG machines, phlebotomy stations, injection arms, infant manikins, wound care simulators, autoclaves, and centrifuges, helping you build confidence and develop the practical skills needed to perform essential patient care tasks in real healthcare environments.
The Bakersfield CA Campus
Located on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County, South San Francisco offers a dynamic setting that blends natural landmarks, everyday conveniences, and access to world-class healthcare. Known for destinations such as Sign Hill, Orange Memorial Park, and the Wind Harp, the city provides a balance of outdoor space and urban energy. The campus is conveniently situated near the Junipero Serra Freeway, making it easily accessible for students commuting from across the Peninsula and surrounding Bay Area communities. Just minutes from San Francisco and well connected by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, the location supports seamless travel for school, work, and daily life. Nearby shopping, dining, and services, including Costco, Trader Joe’s, Kaiser Permanente, and popular retail centers add to the convenience.
South San Francisco Campus
257 Longford Drive #5
South San Francisco, CA 94080
The Medical Assisting program at our South San Francisco campus can be completed in as little as nine months, helping you build essential clinical and administrative skills while moving efficiently toward the healthcare workforce.
Yes. Graduates may be eligible to pursue professional certification exams such as the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through American Medical Technologists (AMT), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) through the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
California does not require a state-issued license for Medical Assistants. However, many employers prefer or require certification and earning a national credential may strengthen your employment prospects.
Tuition varies based on enrollment details and start date. Your Admissions Representative will review program costs, estimated fees, and available financial aid options with you prior to enrollment.
Students who qualify may be eligible for federal grants, student loans, scholarships, and flexible payment plans. Our Financial Aid team works with you to explore available funding options that align with your circumstances.
We recommend completing your FAFSA as early as possible, ideally before your program start date, to help ensure timely access to available financial aid.
Yes. Students complete a supervised externship at a local healthcare facility, providing real-world experience and the opportunity to build professional connections in the region.
Students have access to academic tutoring, faculty guidance, career services, financial counseling, and student success resources designed to support you from enrollment through graduation.
Career services may include resume support, interview preparation, and job search assistance to help you pursue entry-level Medical Assistant roles after completing the program.
The South San Francisco campus supports students from across the Peninsula and surrounding Bay Area communities, including South San Francisco, Daly City, San Bruno, Millbrae, Pacifica, San Mateo, and nearby areas.
The Medical Assisting program at our South San Francisco campus can be completed in as little as nine months, helping you build essential clinical and administrative skills while moving efficiently toward the healthcare workforce.
Yes. Graduates may be eligible to pursue professional certification exams such as the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through American Medical Technologists (AMT), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) through the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
California does not require a state-issued license for Medical Assistants. However, many employers prefer or require certification and earning a national credential may strengthen your employment prospects.
Tuition varies based on enrollment details and start date. Your Admissions Representative will review program costs, estimated fees, and available financial aid options with you prior to enrollment.
Students who qualify may be eligible for federal grants, student loans, scholarships, and flexible payment plans. Our Financial Aid team works with you to explore available funding options that align with your circumstances.
We recommend completing your FAFSA as early as possible, ideally before your program start date, to help ensure timely access to available financial aid.
Yes. Students complete a supervised externship at a local healthcare facility, providing real-world experience and the opportunity to build professional connections in the region.
Students have access to academic tutoring, faculty guidance, career services, financial counseling, and student success resources designed to support you from enrollment through graduation.
Career services may include resume support, interview preparation, and job search assistance to help you pursue entry-level Medical Assistant roles after completing the program.
The South San Francisco campus supports students from across the Peninsula and surrounding Bay Area communities, including South San Francisco, Daly City, San Bruno, Millbrae, Pacifica, San Mateo, and nearby areas.
Get started today!
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*These placement rates are based on program-specific and campus-specific data reported to our institutional accreditor(s) in 2024. While the figures shown here are not separately reported to our accreditor, they are derived from those outcomes. For full details by program and campus, please visit our Disclosures page.