Why Choose Our MA Program in Oakland?

Build the Skills to Work in Today’s Outpatient Healthcare Environment

Medical Assistants play an important role in physician offices, clinics, specialty practices, urgent care centers and other outpatient healthcare environments.

Project Heartbeat’s Medical Assistant Program is being designed to provide students with both the administrative knowledge and practical clinical skills needed to enter the healthcare workforce with confidence.

The curriculum submitted for the program covers medical office procedures, patient communication, infection control, patient preparation, clinical assisting, documentation and other essential competencies within the California Medical Assistant scope of practice.

Planned Program Structure

320 Total Clock Hours

Didactic Classroom & Skills Instruction – 160 Hours

Students will continue developing clinical competencies while preparing to transition from the classroom into a healthcare workplace.

Training includes laboratory procedures, phlebotomy skills, point-of-care testing and career-readiness preparation. The proposed curriculum also concludes with comprehensive written and practical competency assessments.

Clinicals – 160 Hours

During the second phase of the program, students complete an externship in an approved medical clinic or ambulatory care practice, working under qualified clinical supervision.

Externship experience is designed to reinforce administrative, patient-care, diagnostic, clinical and professional skills learned during the classroom portion of the program.

Preparing for a Career in Medical Assisting

The Medical Assistant Program is designed to prepare graduates for entry-level employment in ambulatory healthcare environments such as:

• Physician practices
• Medical clinics
• Urgent care centers
• Specialty practices
• Community health organizations
• Other outpatient healthcare facilities

The program combines administrative education with hands-on clinical training so graduates are prepared to contribute as members of a healthcare team. That closely follows the educational objective in the BPPE submission.

30 Years of Healthcare Education Excellence

Since 1996, Project Heartbeat has been Northern California’s trusted leader in healthcare education. Our mission—”Saving Lives Through Education”—drives everything we do.

Spring 2027 Medical Assistant Program – Be the First to Receive Program Updates

Project Heartbeat is planning its first Medical Assistant cohort for Spring 2027.

Join our interest list to receive updates as information becomes available, including:

• Program start date
• Application timeline
• Tuition and payment information
• Final program schedule
• Admissions requirements
• Enrollment availability

Program details are currently in development and subject to change. Joining the interest list does not constitute an application for admission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still Have Questions?

Call 510.452.1100 or Email for additional information.