8 Best PCT Schools in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Southwest College is a public community college in South Los Angeles.

Its Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide program is a practical entry point for beginners who want direct patient-care training at a lower cost than most private career schools.

The program is particularly relevant for students interested in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home healthcare, and entry-level hospital support work.

Programs Offered

Students learn basic nursing care, vital signs, infection control, patient hygiene, mobility assistance, feeding, communication, residents’ rights, and workplace safety.

Training includes classroom lessons, skills-lab practice, and supervised clinical experience.

The program is designed to support eligibility for California nursing assistant certification after students complete all state requirements.

Additional phlebotomy or EKG training may be needed for PCT positions with broader technical duties.

Tuition and Cost

California community college tuition is generally about $46 per unit.

Including tuition, college fees, books, scrubs, equipment, health screenings, fingerprinting, and certification testing, students should budget approximately $800 to $1,500.

Program Length

The combined CNA and HHA pathway takes approximately 10 weeks.

Los Angeles Harbor College is a public community college in Wilmington, within the city of Los Angeles.

Its CNA and Home Health Aide courses offer affordable, career-focused training for students entering healthcare for the first time.

Weekend scheduling may make the program more manageable for students who work during the week.

Programs Offered

The CNA course covers patient safety, vital signs, infection prevention, personal care, nutrition, body mechanics, rehabilitation, communication, and assistance with activities of daily living.

Students complete classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical training at an assigned healthcare facility.

The additional Home Health Aide course focuses on providing care in patients’ homes.

Students interested in hospital PCT positions may need to add phlebotomy, EKG, or Basic Life Support training.

Tuition and Cost

Base tuition is generally about $46 per unit for qualifying California residents.

A reasonable total budget is approximately $800 to $1,600 after tuition, fees, books, uniforms, fingerprinting, health requirements, equipment, and certification expenses.

Program Length

The CNA program takes approximately 10 weeks.

The optional Home Health Aide course adds another three to four weeks.

Los Angeles Career College is a private healthcare training school located in Northridge.

Its accelerated CNA program is suitable for beginners who want a shorter course with online theory and in-person clinical instruction.

The school is also an approved testing location, which can simplify the transition from training to the California competency examination.

Programs Offered

The CNA program includes online lectures, practical skills instruction, and supervised clinical training.

Students study vital signs, personal care, infection control, resident safety, transfers, nutrition, communication, documentation, and basic nursing procedures.

This program provides the nursing assistant foundation commonly requested for patient-care jobs.

Students may need separate phlebotomy and EKG courses for more advanced PCT positions.

Tuition and Cost

The total published program price is approximately $1,600.

This includes registration, clinical fees, an electronic textbook, and course materials.

Students should ask whether uniforms, health screenings, fingerprinting, CPR training, and state examination fees require additional payment.

Program Length

The program includes 160 hours.

Weekday and weekend schedules are available, and the lecture portion uses a blended online and in-person format.

Santa Monica College is a public community college west of Los Angeles.

It offers one of the area’s most affordable CNA and Home Health Aide options through tuition-free noncredit training.

This program is especially useful for students who meet the eligibility requirements and want to minimize education costs.

Programs Offered

The CNA program covers direct care, vital signs, infection control, patient transfers, personal hygiene, feeding, safety, documentation, and communication.

Students participate in classroom instruction, skills practice, and clinical training.

The optional Home Health Aide certificate adds skills for supporting patients in residential settings.

Applicants must generally be at least 18, possess a high school diploma or GED, and live in California.

Tuition and Cost

There is no tuition charge, and many program supplies are loaned to students.

Expected out-of-pocket expenses are approximately $350 to $450.

These costs may include a background check, drug screening, CPR certification, health documentation, and other enrollment requirements.

Program Length

The CNA certificate can be completed in less than two months.

Students can add the Home Health Aide course after finishing CNA training.

Angeles University is a private healthcare school in the City of Industry, approximately 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Its Nurse Assistant program is a convenient option for students in eastern Los Angeles County who want an eight-week schedule.

Programs Offered

The program includes 61 hours of theory and 103 hours of laboratory and clinical training.

Coursework covers patient safety, infection control, vital signs, hygiene, mobility, nutrition, documentation, residents’ rights, and basic nursing care.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED.

Graduates may pursue California nursing assistant certification after meeting the state’s training, examination, and background requirements.

Students seeking complete PCT preparation should consider adding phlebotomy and EKG courses.

Tuition and Cost

The total published cost is approximately $2,321.

This includes about $2,050 in tuition, a $50 registration fee, and approximately $221 for books, equipment, and other fees.

Health screenings, uniforms, fingerprinting, and certification testing may cost extra.

Program Length

The Nurse Assistant program includes 164 hours and takes approximately eight weeks.

The UCLA Health Medical Assistant Program is offered through UCLA Extension in partnership with UCLA Health.

It is a selective, comprehensive option for students seeking extensive clinical training and a supervised internship.

The program is longer than a CNA course and is primarily designed for outpatient medical assisting rather than bedside hospital PCT work.

Programs Offered

The curriculum includes anatomy, medical terminology, patient preparation, vital signs, injections, phlebotomy, limited laboratory testing, infection control, medical documentation, and clinical procedures.

Students complete 68 units of coursework and a 200-hour clinical internship.

The course of study also prepares eligible graduates for a national medical assistant certification examination.

Tuition and Cost

The listed tuition is approximately $23,000.

Scholarship and donor support can reduce the student’s responsibility substantially.

Eligible UCLA Health employees may pay as little as approximately $2,000, while applicants who are not UCLA Health employees may pay as little as approximately $5,000 after available assistance.

Program Length

The program takes four academic quarters, or approximately one year, and includes a 200-hour clinical internship.

American Career College is a private healthcare career school with a campus in central Los Angeles.

Its Medical Assistant diploma may suit students who want a structured blended program, frequent start dates, and a substantial externship.

Programs Offered

Students learn patient histories, vital signs, medication procedures, medical terminology, infection control, laboratory testing, EKG procedures, medical records, and office administration.

The program combines online coursework, in-person laboratory instruction, and clinical experience.

These skills overlap with PCT work, but students should confirm whether hospital positions require CNA certification or inpatient experience.

Tuition and Cost

Total tuition is approximately $19,475.

Students should also ask about application fees, books, supplies, uniforms, health screenings, background checks, and certification expenses.

Financial aid and scholarships may be available to qualifying students.

Program Length

The diploma requires approximately 780 clock hours and can be completed in about nine months.

The curriculum includes a clinical externship in a healthcare setting.

West Los Angeles College is a public community college in Culver City, immediately outside the Los Angeles city boundary.

It offers medical assisting and nursing assistant-related training with lower tuition than most private colleges.

The school may be a good fit for students who want college credit, evening classes, and the option to continue into additional healthcare education.

Programs Offered

The Medical Assisting Certificate includes clinical and administrative coursework.

Students learn vital signs, patient preparation, laboratory procedures, medical terminology, infection control, medical records, basic pharmacology, and assistance with examinations.

The combined administrative and clinical certificate requires approximately 38.5 units.

West Los Angeles College also offers nursing assistant-related training that includes classroom and clinical instruction.

Medical assisting is different from inpatient PCT work, so students should check whether their preferred employers require CNA certification or previous hospital experience.

Tuition and Cost

Base resident tuition for 38.5 units is approximately $1,771.

College fees, books, uniforms, supplies, background checks, health screenings, and certification testing can bring the total to approximately $2,500 to $4,000.

Program Length

The Medical Assisting Certificate can be completed in approximately one year.

Classes are commonly offered during evening hours.