American Career College History

While the college's facilities and career training programs have grown significantly, one very important aspect has never changed: American Career College has understood that a high-quality education can mean the difference between a part-time job and a fulfilling, long-term career.

The college takes its commitment to its students seriously and continually seeks opportunities to enhance students' classroom and laboratory experiences, from including well-equipped dental assisting labs to the latest training in surgical technology. All of this is done to ensure that college graduates will step confidently, comfortably and successfully into their chosen health care careers.

ACC History: Our Milestones

Founded as American College of Optics, on January 11, 1978, ACC was devoted exclusively to the optical dispensing profession. In 1985, the college moved to Wilshire Boulevard, and four years later relocated to its present facility at 4021 Rosewood Avenue in Los Angeles, California.

In September 1990, the college expanded its curricula to include the Pharmacy Technician Program, and changed its name to American College of Optechs. During the next decade, the college's curricula continued to expand to include other specialized allied health programs such as Medical Assistant, and Medical Billing and Coding.

To better reflect its increasingly comprehensive curricula and expanding educational mission, the college permanently changed its name to American Career College in 1993. In November 2000, the Orange County campus opened as a branch of the Los Angeles campus.

In 2006, American Career College opened its Inland Empire campus in Norco, and in July 2008, moved to its new home in Ontario–marking another major milestone in its eventful history. The strikingly beautiful campus is a 64,000-square-foot modern learning facility with advanced laboratories, classrooms and student amenities.

In 2009 American Career College saw many milestones. Both our Los Angeles and Anaheim campuses received "Outstanding Achievement" awards from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). In addition, our Ontario campus received ABHES programmatic accreditation for the Surgical Technology program!

Between the years of 2013 and 2018, American Career College was named best health care college as voted by: The San Bernardino Sun, Redlands Daily Facts, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Long Beach Press Telegram, and Los Angeles Daily News.

In 2017, the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program celebrated their first graduating class!

Today, American Career College proudly serves more than 2,500 students throughout its three-campus system. With an over 30% referral rate from current or former students, the college attracts new students through its reputation for outstanding faculty, classrooms and laboratories, along with its wide spectrum of health care specialties.

From respiratory therapy to pharmacy technician, from vocational nursing to dental assisting, American Career College is preparing a new generation of health care professionals for challenging and fulfilling careers in the constantly changing and demanding health care industry.