Physical Therapy, Massage & Medical Training in LA

Southern California Health Institute, San Fernando Valley:
Located in North Hollywood in the east San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, Southern California Health Institute (SOCHi) is an accredited school which provides full-time certificate courses in in-demand health and wellness career fields including: Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding Specialist, Professional Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy Aide / Sports Rehab, and Personal Fitness Trainer / Health & Wellness Professional.

Full-time Certificate Programs / Career Training:
Financial aid may be available. We also provide job placement assistance. 

SOCHi offers an education that challenges, inspires, and prepares students for success. Our integrated massage therapy, and physical therapy aide/sports rehabilitation curriculum is designed to offer the best of both worlds; a combination of academic rigor and practical application of theory.

It is our responsibility to encourage and foster the value of life-long learning, to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive information available, and to give the student the support necessary to successfully earn their certificate.


•  Advanced Professional Massage Therapy Certificate Program
37 weeks, full-time, with 185 hours of out-of-class work

SOCHi focuses our teaching on European medical massage therapy, which was developed in Russia and later in Germany some hundreds of years ago.

This method of therapy is non-invasive in nature and has been shown to be extremely effective in treating and preventing injuries, stress and illness. In addition, our curriculum is rich with other methodologies, such as:

- Swedish massage
- Thai massage
- Sports massage
- Deep tissue
- Shiatsu
- Reflexology
- Acupressure
- Aromatherapy
- Hot stone
- Pregnancy massage
- Chair massage
- Trigger point

After successfully completing this program, you become qualified for the California State Massage Council Professional Massage Therapist Certification, and are eligible to sit for the national certification exam for massage therapy offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).


•  Physical Therapy Aide / Sports Rehabilitation Certificate Program
38 weeks, full-time, with 185 hours of out-of-class work

This program is our most unique offering and provides you with career training as a physical therapy & sports rehab aide and a massage therapist.

The program applies an integrated approach to health and wellness by incorporating medical massage and physical therapy modalities.

Courses include:

- Swedish massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Sports massage
- Physical therapy modalities
- Therapeutic stretching
- Therapeutic exercise

After successfully completing this program, you become qualified for the California State Massage Council Professional Massage Therapist Certification and are eligible to sit for the national certification exam for massage therapy offered by the NCBTMB.


•  Personal Fitness Trainer / Health and Wellness Professional Program:
45 weeks, full-time

The program was designed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) to prepare you for an entry-level position as a personal fitness trainer. Our comprehensive curriculum is based on scientific research, fitness expert experience and is aligned with key critical occupational skills and abilities.

Courses include Kinesiology of Human Movement, Anatomy and Physiology, Principles of Weight Management, Exercise Psychology, Exercise Physiology, Corrective Exercise, Sports-specific training, Client Assessment and Fitness Program Design, Leadership Skills, Professional Development, First Aid and CPR.

A combination of scientific content areas, laboratory performance domains, and work-related activities allow you to experience a blend of didactic and hands-on learning.

We prepare our students to sit for voluntary certification exams as a personal fitness trainer and corrective exercise specialist. Successful completion of the program also provides you certification as a fitness nutrition specialist, weight loss specialist, and lifespan specialist; all provided by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Dr. Micheal A. Clark, DPT, MS, CES, PES, is the founder of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the creator of NASM’s exclusive optimum performance training™ (OPT) model used by thousands of health and fitness professionals worldwide.


•  Medical Assistant Certificate Program:
36 weeks, full-time - includes 150-hour externship

This program is designed to provide students with the entry-level skills and knowledge necessary to become a team member in a medical clinic, medical admin setting, or other health care setting.

The course focuses on helping students develop skills in administrative and clinical procedures, patient examination prep, back-office clinical procedures, administration of medications, and laboratory procedures.

On successful completion of the classroom and laboratory training, students are required to complete 150 hours of externship.

Upon graduation, students will:

- Receive a membership in the California Medical Assistants Association (CCMA)
- Be prepared for employment as entry-level Medical Assistants
- Be eligible to sit the California Certifying Board of Medical Assistants (CCBMA) certification exam.
 

•  Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Certificate Program:
- Full-time course
- Become a Medical Biller and Coder Specialist in Under 9 Months! 

The 900 Clock Hour Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Program at Southern California Health Institute provides the student with training in all areas of medical billing and coding procedures for outpatient settings.

The program’s educational materials are designed to prepare the student for entry level employment in the field of medical billing and coding where healthcare reimbursement has been changing and evolving at an alarming pace. Having a staff that is knowledgeable and skilled in navigating these changes for a practitioners' services is an invaluable asset.

Learn the ins and outs of this ever-changing world and how to stay current with the medical reimbursement trends by investing in education with us at Sochi. Hands on experience with electronic health records and billing and coding simulation software will give you the confidence to meet the challenges of medical reimbursement in today's rapidly growing industry.

The Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program also offers training in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, the business of a medical office, as well as familiarizing you with all the diagnostic and procedural codes of the CPT, ICD-10 and HCPCS and how to use these tools to successfully bill and collect payments for outpatient services. The capstone consists of a 150 hour externship in a professional setting that will prepare you for placement.

Completion of the courses will prepare you for basic entry level work in billing and if you excel there, it may lead you to higher levels of employment available to medical coders.


Continuing Education Workshops & Seminars:
Short intensive courses in massage, therapy & wellness

We provide a variety of workshops & seminars to enhance the therapist’s skill-set. Workshops / seminars include:

• Acupressure for Tension Headaches
• Applied Kinesiology
• Aromatherapy
• Ankle Disorders
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief
• Chair Massage
• Discovering & Eliminating Chi Blocks
• Hip Disorders
• Hot Stone Therapy
• Shiatsu Massage
• Sports Massage
• Lymphatic Drainage
• Pregnancy Massage
• Reflexology
• Thai Massage


Student Testimonials / Reviews:
•  "Going to Southern California Health Institute was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. I love my instructors, Ms. Arteka and Ms. Linda. They were very helpful in class and my everyday life. I'm grateful to be apart of the SOCHI Family."
Deontae

•  "As a working graduate student of the Southern California Health Institute (SOCHI), I have to say the experience there was top notch. The curriculum is second to none. Hands on training in all the available programs starts pretty much immediately. One of my favorite things is cross learning and communicating between students/programs."
Mario