Healthcare Careers

Sign up for an orientation

Healthcare Careers certificate programs provide the basic knowledge required for entry level positions in the healthcare profession. Students engage in hands-on learning and receive instruction from top-rated instructors.

Career Training Certificates

Career Pathways

Student Success

Brian Yamase, a frontline health worker, was named SDCCE’s 2020 student commencement speaker. He was born in California and raised in Japan and New Zealand. At 20 years old, Yamase came to San Diego to become a nurse practitioner, finding a head start into the medical field at SDCCE. “I only had a month to prepare for classes, but I was determined to become an educated nurse,” he said. Yamase completed an Acute Care Nursing Assistant certificate. “The lectures given at SDCCE were very conducive in helping us work in a hospital setting.” Following a campus career presentation Yamase gained employment with Sharp Healthcare and transitioned to Miramar College.

Brian Yamase

Personal Care Assistant/Caregiver

230 HOURS
23 HOURS PER WEEK
10 WEEKS

Prepares students to work in healthcare as a personal care assistant, also known as caregiver, personal care aide, or home care aide. Personal care assistants are employed by home care agencies and assisted living facilities and may also provide services in other healthcare facilities. Requires completion of two classes: Healthcare Careers (HLTH 609) and Personal and Home Care Aide (HLTH 610).

map marker

Complete two courses:

  • HLTH 609 Healthcare Careers
  • HLTH 610 Personal and Home Care Aide
Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Personal Care Assistant/Caregiver Orientation

Apply

mySDCCD

Enroll

Enroll in classes in your mySDCCD portal.

Welcome Center

Visit the Virtual Welcome Center or any Welcome Center at a campus near you
619-388-SDCE (7323)

Nursing Assistant

394 HOURS
25 HOURS PER WEEK
16 WEEKS

Through lecture and hands-on skills practice, you learn to bathe, dress, feed, and assist patients with toileting as well as report changes in a patient’s physical or mental status to the supervising nurse. This program prepares students for the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) examination which is taken upon completion of the course. After passing the state CNA exam, students become certified as a Nurse Assistant by the State of California, and can work in rehabilitation and long-term care facilities such as convalescent hospitals, and through an agency or in a private home.

map marker

Complete two courses:

  • HLTH 605 Nursing Assistant Training
  • HLTH 606 Home Health Aide
map marker

Learn More

Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Nursing Assistant Orientation

Please email sdcecna@sdccd.edu for additional information on how to enroll for these classes.

Please add your name to the mailing list to receive information and updates about programs and classes (including information about upcoming orientations).

Nursing Assistant (Rehabilitative)

400 HOURS
20 HOURS PER WEEK
20 WEEKS

Provides students with the skills essential to seek employment as a Certified Nurse Assistant or a Restorative Nurse Assistant. Prepares the student to take the California State examination and also provides an opportunity to gain specialized skills essential to work in a rehabilitation facility. Requires completion of two classes: Nursing Assistant Training (HLTH 605) and Restorative Nurse Assistant (HLTH 608).

map marker

Complete two courses:

  • HLTH 605 Nursing Assistant Training
  • HLTH 608 Restorative Nurse Assistant
Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Nursing Assistant (Rehabilitative) Orientation

Please email sdcecna@sdccd.edu for additional information on how to enroll for these classes.

Please add your name to the mailing list to receive information and updates about programs and classes (including information about upcoming orientations).

Nursing Assistant (Acute Care)

480 HOURS
13 to 25 HOURS PER WEEK
19 to 38 WEEKS

Prepares you to pass the state exam to become a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). Also expands skills of CNAs to provide more specialized training in acute care. Requires completion of two courses: (HLTH 605) Nursing Assistant Training and (HLTH 607) Acute Care Nurse Assistant.

map marker

Complete two courses:

  • HLTH 605 Nursing Assistant Training
  • HLTH 607 Acute Care Nurse Assistant
Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Nursing Assistant (Acute Care) Orientation

Please email sdcecna@sdccd.edu for additional information on how to enroll for these classes.

Please add your name to the mailing list to receive information and updates about programs and classes (including information about upcoming orientations).

Home Health Aide

50 HOURS
12.5 to 25 HOURS PER WEEK
2 to 4 WEEKS

After becoming a Certified Nurse Assistant (C.N.A.), if you wish to receive certification as a Home Health Aide, you may complete an additional 50 hours of training that includes lecture and skills practice. You will learn to help elderly, convalescent, or disabled persons in their homes instead of a health facility. Home Health Aides are in high demand in licensed home health care agencies and hospice, to provide care in the patient's private home, under the supervision of Registered Nurses.

map marker

Learn More

Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Home Health Aide Orientation

Please email sdcecna@sdccd.edu for additional information on how to enroll for these classes.

Please add your name to the mailing list to receive information and updates about programs and classes (including information about upcoming orientations).

Behavioral Health Aide

405 HOURS
19 to 27 HOURS PER WEEK
15 to 21 WEEKS

Provides training for Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) and Personal Care Assistants/Caregivers to assist adults, adolescents and pediatric patients with social, personal, behavioral and mental health issues while providing nursing care and physical safety. Can serve as a second step toward more specialized training for CNAs and other healthcare professionals after completing Nurse Assistant Training (HLTH 605 and HLTH 611)

map marker

Complete two courses:

  • HLTH 605 Nurse Assistant Training
  • HLTH 611 Behavioral Health Nurse Assistant
Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Behavioral Health Aide Orientation

Please email sdcecna@sdccd.edu for additional information on how to enroll for these classes.

Please add your name to the mailing list to receive information and updates about programs and classes (including information about upcoming orientations).

Health Unit Coordinator

275 HOURS

Provides instruction on the responsibilities for the coordination of non-clinical activities related to patient care and the department (unit). Areas covered are ethical issues, patient medical records, medical transcription and processing orders. Provides instruction in the definition and pronunciation of basic medical terms and vocabulary used in the health care industry.

map marker

Complete two courses:

  • HLTH 613 Health Unit Coordinator
  • HLTH 612 Medical Terminology
Class Class Number Status Room Type Hours per Week Dates Instructor Class Meetings Textbooks, Materials Fees Class Notes Class Description College Credit version

Health Unit Coordinator Orientation

Apply

mySDCCD

Enroll

Enroll in classes in your mySDCCD portal.

Welcome Center

Visit the Virtual Welcome Center or any Welcome Center at a campus near you
619-388-SDCE (7323)

Mission: San Diego College of Continuing Education commits to student success and community enrichment by providing tuition-free, accessible, equitable, and innovative quality education and support services to diverse learners in pursuit of lifelong learning, training, career advancement, and pathways to credit college. Read more about the SDCCE mission »