What Is It Known For?
Altamont Healthcare began in California’s San Joaquin Valley under Cherish Canda, a physical therapist who also staffed other therapists at various facilities. The business became a corporation in 2009. By 2012, R. Glenn V. Campbell helped transition it into a healthcare training facility.
The school’s location allowed it to serve San Joaquin, Sacramento, Fresno, Stanislaus, and the Bay Area. Originally, only the Sterile Processing and Distribution Technology certification was available, but later ERT, EKG, and Surgical Technology technician courses were introduced. A Bakersfield branch later opened in 2015.
Today, more than 300 students train here each year in small classes that accommodate different skill levels and backgrounds.
Degrees & Certifications
You’ll earn certifications instead of degrees at Altamont Healthcare. The training prepares you for national and international exams through the National Competency for Certification Testing (NCCT) and the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) .
Here are the programs available to you at Altamont Healthcare:
- SPD: Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician
- EKG: Electrocardiogram Technician
- TS-C: Tech in Surgery (Scrub Tech)
- Externships: SPD, EKG, TS-C (only available to Altamont Healthcare graduates). Typically lasts 240 to 400 hours (Tech in Surgery externship requires 155 procedures)
Class Schedules
At Altamont Healthcare, you can attend classes during the day, at night, or on weekends. The blended format combines online lectures (80%) with in-person lab work (20%). Externships give you hands-on clinical experience.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. Altamont Healthcare isn’t accredited by an agency the United States Department of Education recognizes. However, the State of California’s Department of Education and the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) approve the school.
Programs also align with national and international standards set by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Acceptance Rate
Altamont Healthcare hasn’t published its acceptance rate. Contact the school to learn about specific admission requirements for each program.
How Much Does It Cost (Tuition)
Here’s what to expect for Altamont Healthcare’s tuition costs:
- EKG (Electrocardiogram Technician): $3,450
- SPD (Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician): $5,310
- TS-C (Tech in Surgery): $21,850
There is no net price calculator at the moment, but you can contact the school for detailed cost information and payment plans.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician
- Electrocardiogram Technician
- Tech in Surgery (Scrub Tech)
Campus Locations
Bakersfield 2601 F St. Bakersfield, CA 93301
Stockton 2027 West March Ln, Suite 3 Stockton, CA 95207
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Altamont Healthcare is a vocational school highly specialized in accelerated certification programs, particularly Surgical Technology (ST), Sterile Processing Technician (SPD), and EKG Technician. The school’s main strength lies in its dedicated instructors and effective externship placement for most students, but it faces significant friction regarding administrative communication and the speed of externship placement for a minority of students.
Overall Score: 4.3/5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional Externship Coordination and Success: The school’s externship coordinator, praised by name in several reviews, is highlighted for being “amazing,” “supportive,” and effectively guiding students. Many Surgical Technology (ST) graduates reported securing a job quickly, sometimes within a month after externship completion.
High-Quality, Knowledgeable Instructors: Teachers across the SPD and ST programs are consistently commended for being “very knowledgeable,” passionate, and going “above and beyond” to ensure students are prepared for their board certifications. Instructors are often cited for making the technical, complex lab material “memorable/fun” and educational.
Effective and Fast Programs: The school excels in its accelerated format. Students in the EKG program, for instance, report the course was “fast” yet effective, enabling them to learn “ALOT in the short time” and pass their exams quickly.
Supportive Admissions Staff: The initial application process is often described as “easy,” with staff members praised for responding “quickly” and providing thorough help.
Common Criticisms
Externship Placement Delays and Communication Gaps: While many students have a smooth externship experience, the most severe negative feedback concerns a failure to secure placement or follow up with students after graduation, even after paying significant tuition (e.g., $\$20,000$ for ST program). The school’s official responses acknowledge a “guaranteed placement within 2 years,” which suggests a potentially long wait time.
Administrative and Reception Rudeness: One student reported a very negative interaction with the receptionist, who allegedly became “very cross” and rudely directed the student to “look on google or YouTube” instead of answering questions about the program.
Passive Online Instruction: Some students felt that the remote or Zoom classes were too passive, consisting mostly of the teacher “just reading a power point,” which limited the educational value outside of the hands-on lab sessions.
Enrollment and Refund Disputes: One older review detailed a major dispute over a canceled externship program where the student claimed the school “didn’t refund my money,” which the school countered by stating the student failed to complete necessary time-sensitive tasks.
Momentum
Altamont Healthcare has strong momentum in its delivery of high-quality, specialized technical training and its capacity to connect graduates with jobs immediately following externship. Its reputation is heavily supported by the success of its externship coordinators and passionate lab instructors. However, the recurring public disputes and accusations of failing to communicate with a minority of graduates regarding their guaranteed externships pose a significant risk to its reputation. The school has publicly committed to responding to these complaints, indicating an internal effort to fix these administrative gaps, which are crucial given the high tuition costs of some programs.