At High Desert Medical College, our Clinical Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare students to enter the healthcare industry. Clinical Medical Assistants are critical allied health professionals, performing an assortment of duties in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. This 34-week program provides students with intensive training emphasizing the use of the Electronic Health Records system, ICD-10 Medical Billing and coding, as well as venipunctures and EKG's. Students also receive real-world on-the-job experience through an Externship.

Explore the unique needs of instructing adult students through the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) course entitled the Teaching Adult Learner: Strategies and Techniques for Nursing and Allied Health Program Educators. This a 30 hour continuing education course and approved for 30 CEU by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). This course is self-paced and delivered online. The student must achieve a minimum of 85% on the exam and complete the course evaluation. Upon completion of the exam and course evaluation, the student will receive a certificate for CEUs.

At High Desert Medical College, our Medical Administrative Assistant program is designed to prepare students to work in the essential field of administrative healthcare. Medical Administrative Assistants are important support team members, responsible for completing administrative tasks in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. This 15-week program provides students with intensive training to learn the skills to complete the tasks required of Medical Administrative Assistants. Students in the Medical Administrative Assistant learn: Greeting patients and answering telephone calls, Scheduling appointments, Verifying patient information and health insurance, Updating and filing patients’ medical records, Preparing and processing insurance claims, Administering the day-to-day functions of a medical office. Graduates receive a Certificate of Completion, Medical Administrative Assistant diploma.

The course is designed to prepare Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) to start and superimpose intravenous fluid via primary or secondary infusion lines and perform blood withdrawal. The course will cover psychological preparation of the patient based on the growth and developmental stage, legal aspect in IV therapy & blood withdrawal, infection control, indications for IV therapy, types of venipuncture devices, delivery systems, intravenous fluids, venipuncture sites, observation of the patient, regulation of the fluid flow, selection of equipment, complications of IV therapy, methods of blood withdrawal, method selection, safety measures, universal precautions, complications and preparation of withdrawal sites. Course participants must attend laboratory practice to perform four (4) successful blood withdrawals and three (3) successful IV starts. Certificates will not be issued to students who fail to successfully complete all laboratory practices.

The Pit and Fissure Sealant course includes a lecture and hands-on lab that explain each step of the sealant process. Course length: 16 hours – 2 days. Format: Lecture and hands-on practice with mannequins. Includes written exam and clinical. Students must use their own (4) patients. Students must also show proof of completion of an approved Dental Infection Control Course. This course requires a valid CPR card through only the American Heart Association BLS or Red Cross BLS. Students who already have a valid CPR should bring in a copy of their card when attending class.

If you are new to the cannabis industry or passionate about taking your skills to the next level, we can help. The Dispensary Agent Certification will help give you an understanding of the fundamentals needed to be successful in the rapidly emerging cannabis industry. This course includes 9 virtual modules and a final exam covering everything from the plant’s history, terminology, and chemistry, to the routes of administration, and effects on the human body. Knowing the fundamental skills and basics will help build your credibility to land your dream job as a budtender and feel confident on the sales floor. You’ll learn from some of the industry’s most inspiring entrepreneurs, activists, doctors, and educators. Our instructors have spent years building their careers in the cannabis space and look forward to sharing their first-hand experience with you.

If you want to pursue a career as a registered nurse (RN), the Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN/RN) at High Desert Medical College will prepare you to become eligible for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Passing the NCLEX proves your nursing abilities, allowing you to become a licensed RN. The Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN/RN) is available at the Lancaster campus only. Our next start date is January 20, 2025 for both the ADN/RN full program and the LVN to RN bridge – Advanced Placement program.

At High Desert Medical College, our Medical Billing and Coding program is designed to prepare students to enter the healthcare industry. Medical Billing and Coding Specialists are administrative healthcare professionals, performing critical tasks in support of doctors and medical practices. This 35-week program provides students with intensive training to learn the skills to perform important administrative tasks in medical billing and coding. Students in the Medical Billing and Coding program learn from professional instructors, and receive real-world on-the-job experience through an Externship.

At High Desert Medical College, our Dental Assisting program is designed to prepare students to enter a dental career in the healthcare industry. Dental assistants work closely with dentists to provide quality patient care, performing important administrative and clinical tasks to support dental offices. This 34-week program provides students with intensive training emphasizing dental practice office management, dental assistant procedures, chair side assisting, dental anatomy, radiography and Imaging. Students in the Dental Assistant program learn from professional instructors, and receive real-world on-the-job experience through an Externship.

At High Desert Medical College, our Pharmacy Technician training program is designed to prepare students for a pharmacy career in the health care industry. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for helping licensed pharmacists, by assisting in measuring, mixing, counting, labeling, and recording the correct dosages of prescription medications. Pharmacy Technicians are also responsible for establishing and maintaining patient record files, submitting insurance claim forms, and managing prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories. This 34-week program provides students with intensive training to learn the skills needed for entry-level employment as Pharmacy Technicians, and students receive real-world on-the-job experience through an Externship.

At High Desert Medical College, our Phlebotomy Technician course (avocational) is designed for students who currently or have worked previously in the medical field and are seeking additional skills/certifications to add to their portfolio. Through didactic lessons, clinical laboratory, and hands-on experiences, students learn to perform a variety of blood collection methods on adults, children and infants using proper techniques and precautions, including vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles and blood culture specimen collection. Students in the program will also be taught specimen handling, processing and accessioning. The Phlebotomy Technician course places an emphasis on infection prevention, proper labeling of specimens, proper patient identification, and quality assurance.

At High Desert Medical College, our Veterinary Assistant training program is designed to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and critical hands-on skills to enter this rewarding career. Veterinary assistants provide critical assistance and support to scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians with their daily tasks. Common tasks for Veterinary Assistants include feeding, bathing and exercising animals, preparing for examinations and procedures, caring for animals after surgery, and giving medication and immunizations prescribed. In this 35-week program, students in the Veterinary Assistant program learn from professional instructors, and receive real-world on-the-job experience through an Externship.

At High Desert Medical College, our Nursing Assistant program is designed to prepare students to work in this important healthcare position. Nursing Assistants are employed by extended-care facilities, hospitals, home health care agencies, and by individuals who want extra help when they are in the healthcare facility or in their own home. Nursing Assistants work closely with patients, providing basic care and assisting clients in attaining and maintaining independence. This 6-week program provides students with intensive training emphasizing patient care, nutrition, safety, anatomy and physiology, asepsis, body mechanics, and rehabilitation and restoration care.

High Desert Medical College offers a Vocational Nursing Associate of Applied Science Degree (VNAAS) program. Whether you have completed our Vocational Nursing Certificate program, are on your way to completing it, or want to start the Vocational Nursing AAS program from the beginning, we can help. Build on your Vocational Nursing diploma by adding General Education and science courses – 100% online. The VNAAS program is designed to enable students to develop enhanced critical thinking skills, greater scientific knowledge, and quality verbal/written communication skills, becoming more well-rounded professionals and more qualified job candidates.

High Desert Medical College offers an Ultrasound Technician Associate of Applied Science Degree (UT AAS) program. Whether you have completed our Ultrasound Technician Certificate program, are on your way to completing it, or want to start the Ultrasound Technician AAS program from the beginning, we can help. Build on your Ultrasound Technician diploma by adding General Education and science courses – 100% online, and get the training you need for this rewarding healthcare career. The UT AAS program is designed to enable students to develop enhanced critical thinking skills, greater scientific knowledge, and quality verbal/written communication skills, becoming more well-rounded professionals and more qualified job candidates. The UT AAS program has a total program length of 108 weeks and builds on the Ultrasound Technician diploma by adding General Education and science courses which are offered 100% online. Graduates receive an Associate of Applied Science, Ultrasound Technician degree and will be prepared to immediately enter into entry-level positions in the field.