Simi Institute for Careers and Education: Comprehensive Medical Training Programs
Simi Institute for Careers and Education (SICE), fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), provides accessible and affordable occupational training programs typically found in community colleges and private career-training institutes. Located in Simi Valley at 1800 Blackstock Avenue, SICE offers a range of medical courses designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in healthcare. The institute also features a Job & Career Center on campus, offering free services to current students and recent graduates.
General Course Information
All Simi Institute medical courses include required textbooks, supplies, and uniforms (unless otherwise noted). Students enrolled in SICE medical programs that require clinical externships at partner facilities must meet specific mandatory requirements. These include providing a Social Security or tax ID number, undergoing a background check and medical exam, receiving required vaccinations (including Covid-19), completing a drug screening, presenting a government-issued picture ID, and obtaining an N95 mask fitting, CPR certification, TB test, and Fire Card (if applicable in Los Angeles). Additional clinical requirements may also apply. As of June 2025, NCCT Testing is conducted remotely.
Nursing Assistant Program
- Length: 180 hours (20 weeks)
- Dates: April 2017 - Present
- Prerequisite: High school diploma or equivalent recommended.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the Nursing Assistant program, students will be able to:
- Describe the functions of body systems appropriate to the nursing assistant scope of practice.
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of nursing assistants, including ethics, communication, legal responsibilities, and abuse laws.
- Demonstrate professional communication skills, including recording and reporting, and legal and ethical responsibilities.
- Demonstrate safety and infection control practices that comply with standards of practice for nursing assistants.
- Identify stages of growth and development.
- Define common medical terms and abbreviations used in health care.
- Comply with privacy and confidentiality laws.
- Demonstrate behaviors consistent with professional work ethics.
- Adhere to the policies and procedures of clinical sites.
- Demonstrate competence and proficiency in communication and interpersonal relationships, safety and infection control, personal care procedures, vital signs, nutritional requirements and techniques, admission, transfer, and discharge procedures, exercise and activity, elimination, unsterile warm and cold applications, care to clients with special needs, end-of-life care, and care to clients with cognitive impairment.
Instruction:
This course covers basic care and care procedures for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities such as nursing homes; vital signs; medical asepsis; body mechanics; residents’ rights, and nutrition.
Credit Recommendation:
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 5 semester hours in Allied Health (4/22).
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EKG Technician Program
- Length: 72 hours (20 weeks)
- Dates: April 2017 - Present
- Prerequisite: High school diploma or equivalent recommended.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the EKG Technician program, students will be able to:
- Define terminology relating to the heart, its basic anatomy, and physiology of the Cardiovascular System.
- Explain how an EKG uses electrical conduction to get readings on the function of the heart-concepts of cardiac polarization, depolarization, and repolarization.
- Identify, apply, and use medical instrumentation modalities.
- Correlate the actions of the heart represented by the p wave, PR interval, QRS complex, and T-wave.
- Calculate a heart rate from an EKG rhythm strip.
- Perform EKG waveform analysis which includes interpreting cardiac rhythms such as sinus rhythms, atrial rhythms, ventricular rhythms, junctional rhythms, Heart Blocks, and interpreting artificial pacemaker rhythms.
- Recognize EKG findings of Myocardial Infarction and ischemia.
- Demonstrate proper EKG lead placement to perform a 12-lead EKG.
- Perform stress testing.
- Demonstrate Holter Monitoring lead placement, procedure, and analysis.
- Explain the interventions intended to correct the effects of insufficient tissue perfusion associated with dysrhythmia.
- Describe symptoms of common cardiac diseases.
- Identify the legal and ethical responsibilities of an EKG technician.
- Demonstrate patient care techniques used in a health care facility.
- Describe cardiovascular drugs, their actions, use, and adverse effects.
Instruction:
This course covers preparing patients for procedures, operating machines, measuring and recording heart rates and rhythms including arrhythmia, vital signs, medical terms, anatomy, and physiology.
Credit Recommendation:
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 6 semester hours in Allied Health (4/22).
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program
- Length: 215 hours (20 weeks)
- Dates: April 2017 - Present
- Prerequisite: High school diploma or equivalent recommended.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the learning experience, students will be able to:
- Establish a therapeutic and culturally-appropriate patient relationship using professional communication.
- Demonstrate basic life support skills designed to preserve life.
- Communicate both orally and written with healthcare professionals in a manner set by the medical community.
- Demonstrate proficiency in use of Advanced Life Support Equipment.
- Select and administer the appropriate drug for an identified emergent condition according to local and national protocol and evaluate the patient's response to the therapy.
- Identify potential scene safety threats, and when necessary, intervene using fundamental crisis intervention techniques.
- Explain basic human anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharmacology related to human development and how it is relevant to providing emergency medical care.
- Display professional behaviors complimentary to the profession through sound ethical decision making.
- Practice emergency medicine under the scope of practice set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Use critical thinking skills to confidently and effectively manage emergency situations.
Instruction:
This course covers EMS systems; workforce safety and wellness; medical, legal and ethical issues; medical terminology; lifespan development; lifting and moving patients; patient assessment; airway management; principles of pharmacology; shock; EMT skills; BLS resuscitation; respiratory emergencies; cardiovascular emergencies; neurologic emergencies; gastrointestinal emergencies; endocrine and hematologic emergencies; immunologic emergencies; toxicology; psychiatric emergencies; gynecologic emergencies; trauma; FEMA; bleeding; soft tissue injuries; face and neck injuries; head and neck injuries; head and spine injuries; environmental injuries; chest injuries; obstetrics and neonate care; geriatric emergencies; vehicle extrication and special rescue; incident management; terrorism response, and disaster management.
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Credit Recommendation:
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 6 semester hours in Allied Health (4/22).
Home Health Aide (HHA) Program
- Length: 48 hours (8 weeks)
- Dates: April 2017 - Present
- Prerequisite: Current Nurse Assistant certification.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the learning experience, students will be able to:
- Describe a home health aide’s role in a private home or community setting.
- Apply ethical and legal rules and regulations for direct care workers.
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills for speaking with patients, family, medical personnel, and other caregivers using appropriate language and terminology.
- Apply standard procedures to maintain clean and safe environments for both themselves and their patients, including residential, transportation, and outside locations.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas of science relevant to the home health aide’s role, including anatomy and physiology.
- Apply standard practices to assist patients with the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, physical movement, and mental exercise.
- Assess patients’ physical and mental condition, including vital signs, behavior, activity level, and mental acuity.
- Administer medications, prescribed treatments, and basic first aid as directed by patients’ healthcare manager (when appropriate and allowed).
- React appropriately to emergency situations.
- Maintain accurate records of patient care, condition, progress, and change.
- Create meal plans according to prescribed dietary recommendations and restrictions.
- Develop an instructional plan to teach families how to care for patients and react to emotional, medical, and physical situations.
- Discuss unique practices and procedures involved with caring for special populations.
Instruction:
This course covers legal ethics; infection and safety in the home; personal care services; nutrition; cleaning care and tasks in the home; interpretation of medical role of the HHA and agency; and social needs of the people being served.
Credit Recommendation:
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours in Allied Health (4/22).
Medical Assistant Program with Externship
- Length: 160 hours (4 weeks)
- Dates: April 2017 - Present
Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the learning experience, students will be able to:
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- Greet, receive, and direct patients and visitors at a contracted externship site.
- Be familiar with preparing and managing patient medical records, including obtaining and recording patient's demographic data and insurance information.
- Identify and use proper medical terminology, approved abbreviations, and symbols.
- Be familiar with and assist with (if applicable) as needed: urinalysis, blood tests, and cultures.
- Perform and properly document some vision and hearing tests.
- Explain and perform venipuncture procedures, and pulmonary function testing/procedures.
- Prepare examination room and organize equipment for patient procedures.
- Assist with patient examinations, transfers, treatments, and minor surgeries.
- Perform aseptic techniques.
- During the four-week clinical experience, students may assist with various tasks, based on the site and patient needs, including: taking vital signs, patient's height and weight, recording data and reporting abnormalities; identifying various documentation formats including paperless charting; positioning and draping patient for examination and/or treatment; identifying basic medical instruments and equipment; calculating medication dosages and administration routes; explaining intradermal testing (e.g., Mantoux, allergy); identifying various drugs, drug classifications, and clinical indications; performing irrigation and/or lavage (ear and eye), suture or staple removal, dressing changes and related first aid; proper handwashing techniques; instructing patients in techniques for collection of specimens and preparations for diagnostic tests; communicating discharge plan instructions; identifying subjective/objective assessment and plan for each patient; identifying special considerations for pediatric, disability, disease progression, geriatric patients; understanding HIPAA (including confidentiality, privacy, and security), and protected health information regulations (electronic and written); demonstrating understanding of OSHA protocols; demonstrating basic knowledge of electronic health records; and identifying members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team and know the scope of practice for each.
Instruction:
This course covers complete patient care including vital signs, patient interview and history, and patient preparation; medical terminology; instrument and field sterilization; sterile procedure and surgical asepsis; minor surgery technique and instrumentation; wound care/durable medical equipment placement, and fitting; pulmonary function testing, including spirometry, peak flow, nebulizer administration and oximetry; ear lavage; basic pharmacology; injections and immunizations; specimen collection, preparation, and handling; urinalysis; venipuncture procedure, and blood handling; electrocardiography (EKG); specialty practice requirements (OB/GYN, pediatrics, orthopedic surgery, etc.); vast medical terminology knowledge including word roots, prefixes, and suffixes; front office administration knowledge such as appointment scheduling, accounts payable, ledgers, and balances, medical procedure prior authorization, and utilization management; CPT, ICD-9 and ICD.10 Coding; medical insurance billing (including HCFA form completion); and preparation for job applications and resumes in the medical environment.
Credit Recommendation:
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 4 semester hours in Allied Health (4/22).
Medical Assistant Program
- Length: 270 hours (20 weeks)
- Dates: April 2017 - Present
Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the learning experience, students will be able to:
- Greet, receive, and direct patients and visitors.
- Prepare and manage patient medical records, including obtaining and recording patient's demographic data and insurance information.
- Schedule and maintain patient appointment logs, including no-shows, call-backs, reschedules, and cancellations.
- Identify different types of insurance (e.g., PPOs, HMOs, managed care and referrals including prescriptions).
- Explain and use billing practices, including insurance forms, terminology, procedure, and diagnosis coding.
- Use job-related computer skills (including word processing, terminology, and presentation software).
- Identify and use medical terminology, approved abbreviations, and symbols.
- Explain the relationship between anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
- Demonstrate proficiency in basic medical math (conversions).
- Demonstrate proper ECG procedures and other cardiovascular testing.
- Demonstrate proficiency with laboratory procedures, collecting and preparing specimens, and point of care testing such as urinalysis, blood tests, and cultures.
- Perform and properly document some vision and hearing tests.
- Explain biomedical equipment usage and maintenance.
- Complete ancillary medical services requisitions and logs.
- Explain and perform venipuncture procedures, and pulmonary function testing/procedures.
- Prepare examination room and organize equipment for patient procedures.
- Assist with patient examinations, transfers, treatments, and minor surgeries.
- Perform aseptic techniques (e.g., sterilization, sanitation, disinfection), and set up and maintain a sterile field.
- Tray set up.
- Take vital signs, patient's height and weight, record data and report abnormalities to physicians only (not patients).
- Identify various documentation formats including paperless charting.
- Position and drape patient for examination and/or treatment.
- Identify basic medical instruments and equipment.
- Calculate medication dosages and administration routes.
- Explain intradermal testing (e.g., Mantoux, allergy).
- Basic pharmacology.
- Identify various drugs, drug classifications, and clinical indications.
- Perform irrigation and/or lavage (ear and eye), suture or staple removal, dressing changes, and related first aid.
- Outline nebulizer treatments/procedures.
- Perform basic first aid and identify CPR/AED basic principles.
- Discuss nutrition principles, therapeutic diets, and health and wellness practices.
- Discuss cultural diversity awareness and holistic modalities.
- Identify the stages of growth and development.
- Define urinary procedures.
- Define assistive devices.
- Outline standard precaution practices and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
- Outline steps to handling and disposal of contaminated materials or spills.
- Use proper handwashing techniques.
- Instruct patients in techniques for collection of specimens and preparations for diagnostic tests.
- Communicate discharge plan instructions.
- Identify subjective/objective assessment and plan for each patient.
- Identify special considerations for pediatric, disability, disease progression, geriatric patients.
- Identify and adhere to legal documents, standards, statutes, and regulations (advanced directives, DNR, healthcare proxy), work ethics and professional standards.
- Apply principles related to patient rights, HIPAA (including confidentiality, privacy, and security).
Credit Recommendations and Transferability
Simi Institute for Careers and Education is dedicated to providing high-quality education and training that is recognized by higher education institutions. More than 1,500 cooperating colleges and universities, including most California Community Colleges and Cal State Universities, will consider granting college credit based on NCCRS credit recommendations for SICE courses.
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