What Is It Known For?
Back in 2004, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts started with just one campus and 14 students who wanted healthcare careers. Today, that small beginning has grown into something much bigger. With over 20 programs across multiple campuses, the academy now serves 2,861 students each year, and those numbers stay pretty consistent.
Currently, the California Limited Liability Company, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, LLC, owns and operates the school, keeping its focus on quality allied health and nursing programs. By combining professional skills with hands-on experience, they help students reach both personal and career goals.
Degrees & Certifications
Gurnick Academy provides nursing programs, imaging programs, allied health programs, and medical courses across six California locations plus online options. Students pursue continuing education courses, certificates, diplomas, or degrees including:
- Dental assistant program
- Vocational nurse program
- Associate of Occupational Science in Radiologic Technology
- Associate of Science in Nursing (LVN to RN)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy
- International Nurse Graduate Courses
- And Many More!
Class Schedules
While evening classes aren’t specifically mentioned, the academy structures its programs with working adults in mind. That means online learning options and flexible scheduling to help you balance school with everything else. This flexibility makes it possible to pursue healthcare education without putting life on hold.
Because healthcare requires hands-on skills, clinical experience sits at the center of your education here. Through rotations at affiliated medical facilities, you’ll practice what you’ve learned in real healthcare settings. It’s important to note that different programs require different clinical hours, but these experiences ultimately prepare you for what you’ll actually face in your career.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Acceptance Rate
The academy maintains an open admission policy with a 100% acceptance rate.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
For one academic year, tuition ranges from $4,000 up to $52,000, depending on which program catches your interest. Beyond tuition, you’ll need to budget for books, transportation, and various fees that add to the total. To get a clearer picture of what you’d actually pay after financial aid, the school offers a net price calculator you should check out.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- ADN
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Radiologic Technology
- BSN
- RN to BSN
- Ultrasound Technology
Campus Locations
Concord 1401 Willow Pass Road Suite 450 Concord, CA 94520
Fresno 4747 N 1st Street Suite 192 Fresno, CA 93726
Modesto 4712 Stoddard Road Suite 200 Modesto, CA 95356
Sacramento 8810 Cal Center Drive 3rd Floor Sacramento, CA 95826
San Jose 1641 North First Street San Jose, CA 95112
Van Nuys 15400 Sherman Way Suite 201 Van Nuys, CA 91406
Reviews
Based on reviews in Google, the Gurnick Academy San Jose Campus presents a mixed picture, with older, positive reviews focusing on program quality and newer, highly critical reviews pointing to severe administrative and financial issues. The overall rating is moderate, but recent complaints suggest a concerning pattern in the admissions and financial processes.
Overall Score: 3.7/5 Stars
Common Praises
Program and Clinical Quality: An older review from a clinical partner (6 years ago) praised the MRI students sent to their facility, calling them “professional, hard-working and team players,” which suggests effective clinical training in some programs.
Supportive Instructors and Classmates (Newest Review): The most recent review from a graduate of the LVN program (3 days ago) mentioned that despite facing challenges as an older student, they were supported by the “kindness, motivation, and support” of their classmates and “amazing instructors.”
Initial Admissions Help (Isolated): One older review (3 years ago) noted that the staff was “really helpful,” with one person going “beyond and above” to help them get admitted before their program start date.
Common Criticisms
Administrative Silence After Payment: This is the most consistent and severe recent complaint. Multiple reviewers over the past year have reported that the admissions team becomes “silent” and unresponsive after the applicant pays a fee (e.g., $100 to apply or full tuition). They describe the process as “unnecessarily frustrating and discouraging.”
Accusations of “Scam” and Financial Issues: One reviewer (5 months ago) explicitly labeled the school a “SCAM,” claimed they will “TAKE YOUR MONEY AND GO GHOST,” and noted the institution is “NOT BBB ACCREDITED – SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST YEARS.”
Financial Pressure and Poor Communication: A 3-year-old review described the school as only caring about “the money you pay them,” with the director constantly contacting them to pay past due balances while they were waiting for VA benefits to kick in.
Unprofessionalism and Disrespect: One reviewer from the San Mateo Campus mentioned the faculty showed “blatant disrespect” for students and a director who “over talked and undermined her own staff,” leading them to be “appalled” shortly after paying tuition.
Lack of Organization: A very recent (2 months ago) review simply states the institution is “Very unorganized.”
Momentum
The most critical, detailed complaints about unresponsiveness and an alleged “scam” are the newest, having been posted within the last 2-9 months. This indicates a potential systemic issue in the admissions and financial follow-up process. The owner is actively responding to nearly every recent negative review by apologizing and offering to resolve the issue if the user calls the Assistant Campus Director, at a specific number. However, the repeated nature of the complaints, with new ones appearing after the owner’s responses, suggests that the underlying administrative issues have not been resolved.