UCLA Health Medical Assistant: A Career Path to Healthcare Excellence

UCLA Health offers a variety of career opportunities in the healthcare field, including positions for Medical Assistants. These roles provide a chance to make a real difference in patients' lives while working within a leading-edge institution. This article delves into the specifics of Medical Assistant positions at UCLA Health, including job descriptions, required skills, and career advancement opportunities.

Medical Assistant Roles at UCLA Health

UCLA Health hires Medical Assistants for various locations and specialties. Here’s a glimpse into two specific positions:

Medical Assistant - Primary & Immediate Care, Century City

Work Location: Century City, CA
Job Number: 26235
Work Hours: Monday 7:30am-8:30pm, Friday 7:30am-8:30pm, Saturday-Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm (includes rotating holidays)
Employment Type: Staff- Career (Indefinite Duration)
Salary Range: $29.46-38.87 Hourly
Posted Date: August 19, 2025
Bargaining Unit: AFSCME - EX

Medical Assistant - Family Medicine, Santa Monica

Work Location: Santa Monica, CA
Job Number: 26558
Work Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
Employment Type: Staff- Career (Indefinite Duration)
Salary Range: $29.46-38.87 Hourly
Posted Date: September 11, 2025
Bargaining Unit: AFSCME - EX

Responsibilities and Impact

Medical Assistants at UCLA Health play a vital role in patient care. They participate in providing care in the ambulatory setting, recognizing normal and abnormal signs and symptoms, and providing support during life-threatening emergencies. They complete both administrative and clinical tasks, ensuring the smooth operation of the healthcare environment.

Essential Skills and Duties of a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. They perform a variety of tasks, contributing significantly to the efficient operation of medical facilities.

Clinical tasks

Taking vital signs.
Administering medications.
Preparing patients for examination.
Assisting physicians during examinations.
Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens.
Providing patient education and support.
Applying general care & emergency treatment to patients.
Helping lift patients who may be unable to move themselves to and from the examination table.

Administrative tasks

Scheduling appointments.
Maintaining patient records.
Handling billing and insurance procedures.
Using billing software, health information software and medical record charting software.
Ensuring accurate medical coding for claims submission and statistical tracking.

The UCLA Health Medical Assistant Program (MAP)

The UCLA Medical Assistant Program (MAP), offered through a partnership between UCLA Health and UCLA Extension, combines theory and practical experience to prepare students for a medical assistant career. The program is an integral part of UCLA Health.

Program Overview

Comprehensive Curriculum: The one-year certificate program equips students with clinical and administrative skills.
Expert Instructors: Working nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals provide instruction.
Certification Preparation: The course of study prepares students for the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) National Certified Medical Assistants (NCMA) exam.
Career Opportunities: UCLA Health employs over 500 Medical Assistants, and program graduates are encouraged to apply for open positions.

Program Benefits

Above-Average Starting Salary: The current starting salary for Medical Assistants at UCLA Health is 13% above the national median.
Cohort Model: The program begins each fall or spring quarter.
Career Advancement: Many graduates continue their education and pursue careers as registered nurses, physician assistants, or public health professionals.
Academic Rigor: UCLA Extension and UCLA Health working together provides "the academic rigor and support that elevates our program beyond a typical certification course,” said Cartwright. “Our students graduate with the knowledge and confidence to step into any clinical setting.”

Application Requirements and Process

Eligibility:
- Be able to work in the United States.
- Have a high school diploma or GED.
- Be competent in reading comprehension.
- Have basic arithmetic and math skills.
- Take the HESI admission exam.
Selection Based On:
- Complete application submission (including references and transcripts).
- Satisfactory performance on the HESI entrance exam.
- MAP Admission Committee decision to invite selected candidates to an interview.
- Final application decisions are completed after the interview.
Required Documents:
- Complete a student profile.
- High school transcripts or GED certificate (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial application).
- College transcripts - if applicable (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for initial application).
- Comprehensive resumé.
- Three (3) references who can recommend you for the program, completed on the reference form (PDF). One letter must be from your current supervisor (if employed).

Technical Standards

Admission or progression in the UCLA Health Medical Assistant Program will be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the technical standards. Technical Standards are nonacademic criteria essential for program participation. These core competencies are the minimum skills necessary for successful completion of the Medical Assistant Program.

Motor Skills:
- Apply general care & emergency treatment to patients.
- Help lift patients who may be unable to move themselves to and from the examination table.
- Lift equipment up to 50 pounds and manipulate mechanical and patient care equipment.
- Work standing on his/her feet 75% of the time.
- Have adequate physical mobility, fine and gross motor skills, sensation, balance and equilibrium.
Cognitive Skills:
- Read and comprehend written instructions, patients’ charts, and other written material.
- Perform basic mathematical equations and dosage calculations.
- Demonstrate sufficient critical thinking skills to provide quality patient care within the scope of practice of the Medical Assistant.
- Provide care safely, responsibly and efficiently during medical emergencies and other stressful situations.
Communication Skills:
- Communicate effectively (verbal, non-verbal and written) with patients, their families, and other members of the healthcare team.
- Be able to hear and observe clinical staff and patients in order to accurately assess vital signs, elicit information, perceive nonverbal communications, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and recognize and respond to an emergency.
- Possess appropriate interpersonal communication skills to interact positively with all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
- Apply the principles of confidentiality, respect, and discretion.
Behavioral/Social Attributes:
- Display flexibility to adjust to changing environments
- Demonstrate professionalism and a positive work ethic.
- Accept responsibility and accountability for actions in the classroom, lab, or clinic setting.
Functional Ability:Individuals must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of a Medical Assistant with or without reasonable accommodations. If an individual experiences a change during the program, so that the technical standards cannot be met, with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the Medical Assistant Program.

Important Dates

May 15th, 2025: The application window opens for the Winter 2026 cohort.
Fall enrollment: Open, and closes September 28.

Provisional Acceptance

The provisional acceptance notice will include:

Registration information
Mandatory health screening and vaccination information
Details of mandatory orientation

All students are considered conditionally accepted until completion of all the above items. Further information will be provided when the individual’s admission into the Medical Assistant Program is confirmed. All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program.

Success Stories

Herbert Najera’s journey exemplifies the potential of the UCLA Health Medical Assistant Program. After immigrating from Guatemala and discovering the MAP program, he secured his first healthcare job as a medical assistant at UCLA Health Family Health Center. Inspired by his mentor, Dr. Nancy Tyre, Najera pursued a nursing degree at UCLA and later earned the “Rookie Nurse of the Year” award at UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital.

Benefits of Working at UCLA Health

Growth Potential: UCLA Health provides a nurturing environment that fosters professional growth.
Teamwork and Commitment: There’s a strong sense of togetherness and commitment to teamwork, all focused on improving patient experience.
Patient-Centered Approach: UCLA Health prioritizes the patient, aligning with its mission and vision.
Diversity and Inclusion: UCLA is a diverse and inclusive environment where employees feel they belong and can share their thoughts.
Resources and Collaboration: Employees have access to incredible resources and a team science approach, fostering collaboration across various research fields.

Addressing Employment Scams

UCLA Health Recruitment is aware of ongoing employment scams targeting applicants through external job board sites. It is crucial to remember that UCLA Health (nor any organization that recruits on their behalf) will never ask for money or payments from applicants. All legitimate offers require a formal recruitment process, including a virtual or in-person meeting with a UCLA Health employee or representative. Do not disclose personal or financial details to unknown individuals.

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The Broader Healthcare Landscape

Understanding the role of a Medical Assistant also requires awareness of other healthcare professions. Here are some examples:

Administrative Clinical Care Partner: Provides care and assistance to patients with limited physical abilities, and works with medical technology.
Child Life Specialist: Helps children and families cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Medical Technologist): Provides laboratory information and services needed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Registered Dietitian: Evaluates dietary requirements of patients and helps to develop personalized meal plans.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Provides immediate response to 911 calls, assessing and stabilizing patients at the scene.
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN): Provides basic nursing care under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or physician.
Medical Coder: Translates written documentation in patients' medical records into universally accepted medical codes.
Nurse Practitioner: A registered nurse with advanced education and training in the diagnosis and management of common and chronic illnesses.
Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA): Provides occupational therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.
Pathologist's Assistant (PA): Prepares, examines, and dissects anatomic specimens to help pathologists make clinical diagnoses.
Pharmacist: Dispenses prescription medication and provides information about the drugs.
Pharmacy Technician: Performs pharmacy-related functions under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
Phlebotomy Technician: Obtains patient blood specimens by venipuncture or microtechniques.
Physical Therapist (PT): Provides services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities.
Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA): Provides physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
Physician Assistant: Nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine.
Programmer Analyst: Supports existing networks and information systems while integrating new systems in a hospital.
Physician: A doctor who is certified to practice clinical medicine.
Radiation Therapist: Administers radiation treatment to help shrink and eliminate cancerous tumors.
Radiologic Technologist: Performs diagnostic imaging procedures, such as X-ray examinations, MRI scans, and CT scans.
Registered Nurse (RN): Assesses, plans, and intervenes to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness.
Respiratory Therapist: Specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health.
Social Worker: Utilizes social theories to understand human problems, enhance people's lives, and improve society.
Speech-Language Pathologist: Works with people who have speech, language, or cognitive communication impairments.
Staff Research Associate (SRA): Provides administrative and technical support to researchers for clinical studies.
Surgical Technologist: Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel.
Ultrasound Technician (Diagnostic Medical Sonographer): Operates special equipment that uses sound waves to help diagnose patients' ailments.

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