Pima Medical Institute

Pima Medical Institute's Dental Assistant certificate program prepares students for an entry-level role as a valued member of a dental care team. The program covers the clinical, administrative, and communication skills needed to assist during treatment procedures, support patient comfort, and keep the dental office running smoothly.

The program takes approximately 9 months to complete and is available at 15 campuses across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington.

What Dental Assistants Do

Dental assistants work alongside dentists and other dental professionals in a variety of settings. Graduates of this program are prepared to pursue roles such as dental assistant, orthodontic assistant, oral surgery assistant, and surgical dental assistant. Career opportunities exist across solo practices, group practices, hospital dental clinics, dental school clinics, and specialty practices.

What the Program Covers

The curriculum builds foundational knowledge and hands-on skills across all core areas of dental assisting, including:

• Anatomy, physiology, and terminology
• Anatomy and pathology of the head, neck, and oral cavity
• Fundamentals of dentistry and chairside assisting
• Dental radiography
• Dental equipment and materials
• Dental office administration and charting
• Dental therapeutics and emergency procedures
• CPR and first aid

Pima Medical Institute's Medical Assistant certificate program prepares students for an entry-level role working alongside physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Because the responsibilities of a medical assistant span both clinical and administrative functions, the program is designed to develop a well-rounded skill set that supports high-quality patient care across a variety of settings.

The program takes approximately 9 months to complete and is available at 16 campuses across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington.

What Medical Assistants Do

Medical assistants support the daily operations of healthcare facilities by handling both patient-facing clinical tasks and behind-the-scenes administrative work. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in physicians' offices, hospitals, clinics, and outpatient medical facilities, with additional opportunities in administrative support and office management roles.

What the Program Covers

The curriculum progresses through a structured sequence of coursework covering both the clinical and administrative sides of medical assisting, including:

• Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
• Medical office management and professional documentation
• Insurance, billing, and coding fundamentals
• Physical examination techniques and surgical procedures
• Pharmacology, medical law, and ethics
• Phlebotomy and laboratory procedures
• Medical specialty procedures and office communication

Pima Medical Institute's Veterinary Assistant certificate program prepares students for an entry-level role supporting veterinarians and veterinary staff across a range of clinical and administrative functions. The program covers both the hands-on and operational skills needed to care for animals in a professional setting.

The program takes approximately 9 months to complete and is available at 14 campuses across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington.

What Veterinary Assistants Do

Veterinary assistants work alongside licensed veterinarians and technicians to support animal care from exam room to recovery. Graduates are prepared to pursue roles such as veterinary assistant, laboratory animal caretaker, and animal care or service worker in settings including veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters, and zoos.

What the Program Covers

The curriculum develops both clinical knowledge and practical skills across all core areas of veterinary assisting, including:

• Veterinary anatomy, physiology, and terminology
• Clinical laboratory procedures
• Animal life stages, nutrition, and husbandry
• Animal nursing and radiography
• Pharmacology
• Aseptic technique and surgical assisting
• Veterinary office procedures
• CPR and first aid

Pima Medical Institute's Sterile Processing Technician certificate program prepares students for an essential behind-the-scenes role in healthcare. Sterile processing technicians are responsible for cleaning, sterilizing, and preparing the surgical instruments and medical equipment that healthcare teams rely on every day - making them a critical part of patient safety across a wide range of clinical settings.

The program takes approximately 9 months to complete and is available at campuses in Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO, and Seattle, WA.

The curriculum progresses through a structured sequence covering both the technical and procedural aspects of sterile processing, including:

• Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
• Principles and practices of sterile processing
• Surgical instruments and surgical terminology
• Microbiology and infection control
• Sterilization procedures and practice
• Decontamination procedures and practice
• Storage and distribution
• Medical equipment
• CPR and first aid

Students complete a supervised externship in a real healthcare setting as part of the program, followed by a certification review course preparing graduates to sit for the CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician) credentialing examination.

Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of clinical environments including hospitals, operating rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care units, surgery centers, dental and eye care practices, plastic surgery offices, and medical laboratories.