SAN MARCOS -- Multipronged efforts to ease critical shortages of health-care workers will get a little boost Monday when Cal State San Marcos launches two certificate programs.

The seven- and 10-week courses are designed to prepare students to become pharmacy technicians, EKG technicians or medical billing and coding workers.

Offered through the university's Extended Learning program, the billing and coding class will begin Monday evening and meet twice a week through Sept. 3. The EKG tech classes will start Tuesday evening and meet twice weekly through Aug. 12.

Extended Learning program Assistant Dean Suzanne Lingold said Thursday that, combined with practical work experience that is recommended but not required, the courses will qualify participants to take the state exams they need to receive certificates that will allow them to take on the targeted jobs.

Each course still has open seats, though interested students must enroll by Monday, she said.

The Extended Learning program offers professional and continuing education to adults and organizations throughout the region.

Lingold said the health care worker courses were added at regional business and health care industry leaders' request.

"They are considered a high-demand occupation as identified by the San Diego Workforce Partnership," she said. "The health care community in general is asking for them."

The need for health care workers is nothing new. Industry leaders have been saying for several years that a nationwide shortage of nurses, medical technicians and other health care employees makes it hard for hospitals, doctors' offices and medical providers to maintain sufficient staffing levels.

Industry leaders have said the problem is particularly bad in California, where high living costs make it difficult for those workers to make a go of it financially.

Steve Escoboza, president and chief executive officer of the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, said Thursday that a confluence of factors is to blame. As examples, he cited an ever-expanding population, an aging work force, insufficient numbers of young people entering the field, and the introduction of high-tech medical equipment that requires specialized training to operate.

Palomar Pomerado Health spokesman Andy Hoang agreed.

"It's a serious, serious challenge that not only PPH faces but (every health care provider) statewide," he said.

Palomar Pomerado and Tri-City Healthcare District are public hospital systems and two of North County's biggest employers of health care workers. Both districts have taken steps aimed at increasing the local pool of health care workers in recent years.

The efforts have included Palomar Pomerado's contribution of more than $2 million to help establish a nursing school at CSUSM.

Tri-City, meanwhile, has given Palomar and MiraCosta colleges grants to start or expand health-care training programs on their campuses.

Both districts have also teamed up with high schools to create programs that identify students who are interested in health care careers and channel them into preparatory classes.

Escoboza said officials at his organization, which represents more than 35 hospitals and health care systems in the region, were pleased to see CSUSM start offering the new courses.

"I think just to meet the growing demand, we want to see as many programs -- educational programs -- that create interest on the part of young people to get into the health care field (as we can)," he said.

The medical billing and coding course costs $1,499, or $1,531.50 with a university parking permit. The EKG technician courses cost $999, or $1,021.50 with a parking permit.

Lingold said some financial assistance is available through the Workforce Partnership. The courses will be repeated in the fall, she said.

For information, call (760) 750-4020 or go to www.csusm.edu/el.

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.