Southwestern College

Offering programs in nearly 300 different areas, Southwestern College, one of the 109 public community colleges in the state of California, is the only one situated in the southern portion of San Diego County. It is situated between San Diego and the U.S.-Mexico on 156 acres, positioning it to help more than 400,000 South County residents to pursue their educational goals.

Southwestern College has over 285 different associate degree choices and serves 18,000 students a year. Through the Continuing Education department, students can enroll in noncredit courses to gain extra personal and professional skills.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges continues to accredit Southwestern College and give the school high regard. Whether you are trying to earn an Associate’s degree, transferring to a four-year school, or adding to your existing career skills, students at Southwestern College have every opportunity to fulfill their educational objectives.

Phlebotomy Training

The Southwestern College phlebotomy program enable students to gain basic techniques and to work as phlebotomist in various facilities such as laboratories of hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, blood banks, and plasma centers after completion of the training.

At Southwestern College, we are committed to the personal and educational enrichment of our students. Each program is specifically geared towards helping students meet the entry-level employment requirements of industry, government, allied health, and business offices with promotable competence.

Phlebotomy training prepares students for a new career as a:

• Lab Assistant
• Lab Technician
• Medical Assistant
• Phlebotomist
• Phlebotomy Technician

Medical Assistant—Administrative and Clinical

This program prepares skilled, well-trained personnel to fill positions as medical assistants which are in increasing demand in the allied healthcare industry. Now more than ever before, a high level of thinking and performance skills are necessary in the healthcare industry. Students looking for a career as a medical office manager or an administrative medical or clinical assistant should enroll in the medical assistant program. The administrative medical assistant works in the front office to provide service to the clinic's patients. The clinical medical assistant's primary duties are in a clinical (back office) environment while also providing certain administrative services to patients.

This job is among the career possibilities open to someone who majored in medical office management and assistantship. Certain job titles may require specific certifications and an associate in science or higher degree may also be a prerequisite to employment in many of these positions: medical assistant, office clerk, medical secretary, medical transcriptionist, medical records clerk, medical records coder, medical records technician, registered records administrator, health insurance specialist, health information administrator, medical office manager, quality assurance specialist, and medical interpreter.

Medical Assistant: Coding and Insurance—Basic Career technical

This program equips students for entry-level and start-up positions in the healthcare fields where they will be able to utilize their knowledge in validating medical codes using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manuals to facilitate reimbursement. The completion of the basic courses are a prerequisite to taking the National Certified Coding Associate (CCA) examination.

Medical Assistant: Coding and Insurance—Intermediate

This program prepares students for advanced-level positions in healthcare settings where they will be responsible for validating medical codes using International Classifcation of Diseases (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manuals to facilitate reimbursement. They are also prepared to take the National Certifed Coding Associate (CCA) test.

List of education programs offered by Southwestern College