Medical Assistant Training at Bay Area Medical Academy
FREE MA CLASS FOR REDWOOD CITY RESIDENTS!
Bay Area Medical Academy is currently offering a free medical assisting with phlebotomy and EKG class for twenty qualifying Redwood City Residents. Class starts March 10th, 2025!
Now is a great time to consider medical assistant training. The profession is growing much faster than average, with over 100,000 openings expected to occur every year for the next decade. If you’re ready to join a high-growth, fast-paced and rewarding profession, Bay Area Medical Academy offers the best medical assistant training in California.
What You Need to Know About Medical Assistant Training
Medical assistants are the cornerstone of a good healthcare team. They’re the link between the patient and the physician, helping them understand their treatment options and instructions. Medical assistants also provide critical support, taking on many of the clinical and administrative duties in an office. Of course, to get to that point, they need training. At Bay Area Medical Academy, we are committed to providing the most comprehensive, career-oriented medical assistant training in California.
BAMA’s 3-in-1 Medical Assisting With Phlebotomy Program
Our 3-in-1 Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy Program is designed to give the skills and confidence our students need to succeed on any healthcare team.
Certifications
BAMA students receive three certifications as part of our program:
National Certified Medical Assistant
Certified EKG Technician, CET
California Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT-1) / National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (through the National Center for Competency Testing for Phlebotomy, mandatory for California State CPT-1 Licensing)
This 3-in-1 curriculum gives our students a competitive edge in the workforce, by supplying them with three in-demand skill sets.
Program Length
Our 9-month, 900-hour hybrid program covers the following topic areas:
Administrative skills training
Clinical skills training
A 200-hour externship to put what you’ve learned to use
Our program splits your time between online lectures, structured assignments, and in-person labs so you can gain knowledge and skills across a variety of platforms.
Cost
Cost is always a concern when pursuing higher education. The current total cost of our program is $16,726.00. But students may qualify for free medical assistant training.
Even if you don’t qualify for the free program, there’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Pell Grants, scholarships, and loans available to those who qualify.
Locations
Our medical assistant training program in California is available at both our campuses.
San Francisco
San Jose
Our Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy Program is currently taught in a hybrid format with daily online lectures, asynchronous assignments, and weekly in-person hands-on labs.
If you’d like to learn more about our medical assistant training in California, one of our admissions advisors will be happy to help.
To meet minimum admissions requirements, you must:
Have a high school or higher-level degree
Pass an English test with a score of 70% or higher
Interview with a medical assisting instructor
Provide 2 sealed official transcripts
Have at least one full course vaccination for COVID-19 (meaning a complete bivalent vaccine or an updated 2023-2024 single dose vaccine).
Many BAMA students come to the school with foreign diplomas or college degrees. You can enroll at BAMA if your foreign high school diploma is evaluated for equivalency in the US. To officially enroll, you’ll need to meet with admissions staff and interview with the program director. To arrange an admissions appointment, please complete the form linked below. Once submitted, our admissions staff will contact you.
Our program is career focused, which is why our graduates go on to work at a wide range of highly respected medical facilities and offices.
What Employers Say About BAMA
UCSF Medical Center and the Bay Area Medical Academy (BAMA) share a passion for empowering healthcare professionals to be excellent providers of patient care services. Our common vision of patient-centered medicine has yielded a close collaboration between institutions on curriculum development, externship opportunities, and community outreach. UCSF recognizes BAMA certifications as highly competitive evidence of training in Medical Assisting and we have a great partnership with BAMA’s career services team. We look forward to interviewing BAMA graduates for job openings during our regular employer spotlights and regularly place several BAMA graduates in roles such as Medical or Hospital Assistant in departments such as Primary Care, Family Medicine, and Positive Care 360 practices.
Saba Mirza, Recruiter, UCSF Medical Center
We have worked with BAMA and are delighted with the talented employees we have been able to hire from their [Phlebotomy & Medical Assisting] programs. We have also been sending all of our administrative employees through the phlebotomy program at BAMA. We have chosen BAMA because of their dedication to excellence, their thorough training program and importantly their interest in making sure to keep service orientation as a high priority.
Sidney Luu, District Phlebotomy Manager, One Medical Group
The MA students have always been well trained by Bay Area Medical Academy (BAMA). On a regular basis when there had been an opening at Ward 86 – Positive Health Program, we hire a former student from BAMA. Medical Assistants from BAMA have proven to be well prepared, fast learners, and very motivated in working at Ward 86.
Roland Zepf ACRN, Clinic Manager, San Francisco Hospital
UCSF Career Pathways Initiative
We’re beyond excited to be part of the UCSF Career Pathways Initiative! It’s been an amazing journey working alongside our incredible partners—UCSF, JVS, YMCA, SFUSD, and YCD—to create something that truly highlights the transformative stories of our participants. At Bay Area Medical Academy, we’re proud to contribute to career transformations and strengthen our collaborative community. Here’s to the power of teamwork and the bright future we’re building together!
What Our Students Have to Say
Meet Davina, a proud graduate of Bay Area Medical Academy’s Medical Assisting program! In this video they share how the hands-on training, supportive instructors, and real-world experience at BAMA helped kickstart a successful career in healthcare. Ready to take the next step in your career? Hear firsthand how BAMA can make your dreams a reality!
The knowledge and skills I learned at Bay Area Medical Academy have helped me tremendously with furthering my career. I obtained a position immediately upon completing the course. The staff was patient and helpful. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and was able to devote a lot of time with students individually. I would recommend Bay Area Medical Academy to anyone interested in breaking into healthcare.
Nicholas L., BAMA Graduate
I’m so happy right now — LabCorp hired me as a phlebotomist. Thank you very much for all your help. Career Services is awesome.
Jovita O., Phlebotomy Technician Graduate
Bay Area Medical Academy helped me set up the externship and processed all the paperwork needed for obtaining certifications and licenses. The school also has a great career counselor, who is very supportive and constantly helps new graduates with their resumes. Thanks to her, I was able to setup interviews with employers and obtained a job with one of the job referrals.
Steven T., BAMA Graduate
I liked the hands-on training best. The training in class was set up to give you the experience of working in a doctor’s office. You’re trained to take vitals and give injections, among other things.
Joan Garchitorena, Medical Assisting Graduate
Before coming to Bay Area Medical Academy, I was a Project Manager with an internet company. The program was short enough to make it a great fit for me to start a new career in the medical field. I was very happy with the instructors for my Medical Assistant program. Everyone was friendly and willing to help out. Bay Area Medical Academy also helped with finding a job with their interview workshops, job feeds through email, as well as by having prospective employers come in to interview students. At the end of the program, I was able to get a job at the clinic with which I did my externship.
William O., BAMA Graduate
BAMA’s a great choice. You graduate a Nationally-Certified Medical Assistant. You are a Nationally-Certified Phlebotomist. You’re a Certified EKG Technician, and they will connect you to take the State board exam. Go to BAMA. You have the opportunity to just grow and move up and just keep going.
Davina C., BAMA Medical Assisting Graduate
I lost my business and could not find a job for a long time. I was hopeless until I found out the free funding for the education provided by Bay Area Medical Academy. I felt very fortunate to have attended the Medical Assistant program for eight months and to be completing my classroom training next week!
Mahsa G., BAMA Graduate
I feel so fortunate to have received the funding for my education at Bay Area Medical Academy. It enabled me to be trained, certified, and back in the workforce in less than nine months. As a San Francisco resident, voter, and tax-payer, it is my wish that this program continue to help displaced workers receive training and education for healthcare jobs. As a former high tech professional, I can certainly speak to technology’s values, but I know that there is no program or software tool out there that can provide compassion, support, and comfort to those who are ill and in need.
Noelle M., BAMA Graduate
What I liked most about the medical assisting program is the hands-on learning. Mrs. Earby made it fun, and she told us about her real-life experience working as a medical assistant. I always looked forward to going to class. BAMA helped me reach my goal, and shaped me to be the best medical assistant I could be. I’m now an medical assistant at San Francisco Critical Care Medical Group.
Suliana A. Feiloakitau, Medical Assisting Graduate
I was going into my second year as an unemployed CNA who couldn’t find time to complete continued education hours. I was working temporary jobs that simply didn’t bring in enough income. Bay Area Medical Academy has given me the opportunity to move up in the medical field with the CPT-1 and EKG certificate, which I had a long-time desire in. This has given me a stable job with good benefits. I gained much self-confidence and experience. Thank you!
Lynette P., BAMA Graduate
I really appreciated the opportunity to practice phlebotomy on other students, and let them practice on me. Since I graduated BAMA, I’ve been working as a Lab Tech/Phlebotomist at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. And in January 2017, I started nursing school at the University of San Francisco. My phlebotomy experience has definitely prepared me for my nursing career.
Adam Zeboski, Phlebotomy Technician Graduate
I just completed my second week as the lead lab assistant at Palo Alto Medical Center. I’ve got nothing but love for Career Services – thanks for everything.
Nick P., Phlebotomy Technician Graduate
I have good news to report. I’m now employed at Quest Diagnostics and IMS Paramed. I couldn’t have done it without Career Services and the employer spotlights you host. Thank you.
Katherine L., Phlebotomy Technician Graduate
BAMA was a wonderful school to work with. Very easy process to register and sign up for courses. I completed the weekend phlebotomy course at the San Francisco campus. The course was fantastic, and what I loved most about it was the knowledge my instructor had. Never did I feel nervous that I wouldn’t be able to complete the course work asked of me. My instructor was very confident in his skills which led me to have the same confidence. Attending BAMA and taking the weekend course, I was fully prepared to dive into the world of phlebotomy.
Kiley Munoz, Phlebotomy Technician Graduate
If you’re looking for a fast and fun program that will change your life, check out Bay Area Medical Academy. Bay Area Medical Academy is a fantastic school. The professor is amazing and very helpful. This program has been an outstanding experience for me. Not only did I learn about the basics of being a Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, and an EKG Technician, but I was able to create strong bonds with the great students and staff. Bay Area Medical Academy is worthwhile and I highly recommend it to anybody that’s looking for a brand new and great change in their life.
Harpreet S., BAMA Graduate
Our Medical Assistant Curriculum
Our program is divided into 8 learning units called modules. No prior training or experience is needed. The first 7 modules are classroom modules and each stands alone as a unit of study. It is not dependent upon the completion of any previous or subsequent module. After you move through the first 7 learning units, you’ll complete a 200-hour clinical externship at a hospital or in a laboratory setting. This externship is a resume booster that provides you with first-hand experience, so you’ll graduate with confidence in your skills and abilities. A great testament to the quality of our program is the fact that many of our graduates get hired directly from their externship. Topics covered during the Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy Program include:
Anatomy and physiology
Pathology
Medical terminology
Laboratory techniques
Clinical and diagnostic procedures
Medication administration
Medical law and ethics
Computer software applications
Bookkeeping and accounting
Medical billing and insurance processing and more!
Practical instruction provides hands–on training in vital-signs testing, venipuncture, and patient preparation for exams and procedures which are all verified through a skills check-off system.
Ready to Learn More?
Our medical assistant training prepares you for a rewarding, exciting career in healthcare. Our hands-on approach to your education ensures you have the knowledge and confidence to be successful in this in-demand field.
If you’re interested in learning more about medical assistant training and exploring whether Bay Area Medical Academy is right for you, BOOK AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT to speak with us!
For immediate questions, call admissions on 415-943-2028.
When you attend an accredited institution, you are attending a school that has undergone a rigorous process that evaluates educational quality. It’s not easy to become or remain an accredited institution. The rules and regulations are strict, precise and designed to protect students. Here are some of the benefits:
A reliable indicator of quality
Approved program of study
Qualified instructors
Recognition by employers nationwide
What our graduates say
The MA students have always been well trained by Bay Area Medical Academy (BAMA). On a regular basis when there had been an opening at Ward 86 – Positive Health Program, we hire a former student from BAMA. Medical Assistants from BAMA have proven to be well prepared, fast learners, and very motivated in working at Ward 86.
Roland Zepf ACRN, Clinic Manager, San Francisco Hospital
