Published November 21, 2024. Authored by Anthony Rodriguez & Steven Calibo.
Altamont Healthcare is a family-owned & healthcare-oriented trade school based in Stockton, CA with a location in Bakersfield, CA. We offer accelerated Sterile Processing Technician, EKG Technician, and Tech in Surgery (Surgical Technologist) programs with flexible (day, night, weekend) schedules. While smaller schools tend to provide more personalized attention, it’s important to evaluate them to ensure they align with your educational and professional goals.
Here are some factors to consider while you determine if Altamont Healthcare is right for you:
1. Certification & Approvals
Altamont Healthcare is approved by the State of California’s Department of Education and the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). All our programs meet the national and international credentialing industry standards for the development, implementation, and maintenance of certification programs set by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Our EKG & Tech in Surgery programs are approved by the certifying agency, the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). Our SPD program is approved by the certifying agency, the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
2. Curriculum & Program Offerings
Altamont Healthcare has a limited number of programs available:
- Sterile Processing & Distribution Technician
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician
- Tech in Surgery (Surgical Technologist)
All programs include materials, uniforms, free BLS certification, and externship placement upon earning a certification. You can find information about the schedules, subjects covered, and costs on our website.
3. Reviews & Reputation
The reputation of your school is one of the most important aspects of your research. Our facility has trained many technicians and technologists over the years, many of whom still work in hospitals in the area & have worked their way into management positions. We also invite you to look through Altamont Healthcare’s Google reviews to see that the feedback we’ve received is heavily positive.
- Stockton Google Reviews
- Bakersfield Google Reviews
- Stockton Facebook Reviews
- Bakersfield Facebook Reviews
4. Hands-on Experience
Both hands-on training & clinical experience are important when it comes to a quality healthcare education. Altamont Healthcare provides both! 20% of the classroom portion of our programs consists of hands-on training & graduates receive real-world experience during their externships for no extra cost.
Externships are done in partner hospitals across the Central Valley. Partner hospitals include local general hospitals and private ones such as Kaiser Permanente.
5. Financial Considerations
Altamont Healthcare offers some of the lowest out-of-pocket tuition rates in California for the programs offered, especially for the speed that comes with them. However, we do not accept publicly-funded financial aid such as the GI Bill or FAFSA due to federal regulations. Fortunately, we work with Climb Credit to provide student loans to those who qualify.
As a small business, we depend on our community for support & try our best to return that support to our students. We can provide more attention per student than larger institutions can, and we are willing to work with people’s budgets & situations as long as students are cooperative and maintain open communication.
6. Job Placement Support
Our externship program is a fantastic way to scout for your first job in the field and make professional connections in a hospital. It comes with a professionalism workshop, designed to help you improve your resumé & prepare for interviews. During your externship, you’ll receive onsite training and many opportunities to make your impression on hospital staff. Additionally, our connections with local hospitals often give us information regarding open positions.
Although we do not provide direct job placement assistance, we will use any resources we have to help you locate and prepare for employment.
7. Final Details
If you’ve gone through all the previous elements and are still unsure whether Altamont Healthcare is the right school for you, we highly recommend that you come and give us a visit! We’d be happy to show you our facilities, answer your questions, and address any concerns you may have with no pressure to enroll on the spot.
You can schedule an appointment by calling (209) 817-8035 for Stockton and (661) 230-6316 for Bakersfield. You can also find our contact information here.
