8 Healthcare Certification Programs That Can Boost Your Career

Expand your healthcare proficiency and knowledge with these certification programs.

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

When it comes to providing healthcare, there’s little room for error. That’s why employers rely on healthcare professionals who have demonstrated proficiency and knowledge in their field. Pursuing healthcare certification is a great way to boost your competency and show employers you know what you’re doing—especially if you’re just starting out. And if you already have your foot in the door, getting a certification can further expand and validate your expertise. Plus, listing certification on your resume will increase your chances of getting a job interview.

Many healthcare jobs are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare management positions are expected to increase by 32% over the next ten years. In this article, we outline key healthcare certificate programs that can help you excel in this ever-growing industry.

8 Key Healthcare Certification Programs

If you’re considering healthcare certification, you have many options to choose from, including the following:

  1. Healthcare Compliance Certification
  2. Healthcare Administration Certificate
  3. Healthcare Management Certification
  4. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  5. Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
  6. Phlebotomist Certificate
  7. EKG Technician Certification
  8. Medical Biller and Coder Certification

1. Healthcare Compliance Certification

A healthcare compliance certificate (CHC) from the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) demonstrates your knowledge of compliance processes, legal obligations, and regulations that are relevant to the healthcare industry.

How to get certified: You must pass the Compliance Certification Board exam to be eligible for compliance certification. Before you take the exam, you’re required to have at least one year of full-time healthcare compliance experience or 1,500 hours of compliance job duties earned within two years of your application date.

What you’d make: Compliance officers in the healthcare field typically earn $74,548 per year.

Find healthcare management jobs on Monster.

2. Healthcare Administration Certificate

This healthcare certification will prepare you to oversee daily healthcare administration functions such as keeping track of budgets, updating health records, and medical service management. Learn more about how certification can help boost your value by reading Monster’s guide on how to become a healthcare administrator.

How to get certified: Several organizations offer healthcare administration certificate programs. That includes:

For each certification, you’ll need to complete a minimum number of years working in the field and/or specific education requirements and a multiple-choice exam.

What you’d make: The median salary for healthcare administrators is $61,010 per year.

Find healthcare administration jobs on Monster.

3. Healthcare Management Certification

When you enroll in a healthcare management certificate program, you will gain proficiency in organizational leadership, health policy, risk management, and information management.

How to get certified: You can find several colleges that offer undergraduate and graduate healthcare management certification programs. To be eligible for certification, you must complete coursework in health policy, health information management, healthcare leadership, risk management, and quality improvement.

What you’d make: Healthcare managers earn a median salary of $104,280 per year.

Find healthcare management jobs on Monster.

4. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

A CNA certificate allows you to work under the supervision of a licensed or registered nurse, providing basic care to patients. When you complete a CNA certification program, you will be eligible to work in a nursing care facility, hospital, retirement community, or for a home healthcare service.

How to get certified: First, be sure to check your state requirements for becoming a CNA before enrolling in a certification program. You must complete the number of training hours required in your state and pass a state-issued, multiple-choice and clinical skills exam.

You can get in-person and online CNA training at community colleges, trade schools, medical facilities, and medical organizations. For example, Red Cross offers 4 to 8 weeks of CNA training that consists of classroom education and clinical experience under the supervision of a registered nurse.

What you’d make: CNAs typically get paid an hourly wage between $11.93 and $19.69.

Find CNA jobs on Monster.

5. Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

While most states don’t require medical assistants to be certified, employers often prefer candidates who have obtained a certificate. A medical assistant certification program will cover physical assessments, medical histories, diagnostic procedures, communication skills, emergency response, and much more.

How to get certified: Several organizations offer CMA programs, including the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and other programs accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

To be eligible for certification, you must have a high school diploma or GED, complete the program coursework, and pass an exam of multiple-choice questions that cover clinical competency, administrative, legal and ethical issues, and communication.

What you’d make: Medical assistants earn a median hourly wage of $17.07.

Find medical assistant jobs on Monster.

6. Phlebotomist Certification

Phlebotomists are only required to get healthcare certification in California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington. Even if you live in a state that doesn’t require certification, nearly all employers prefer candidates who have obtained a professional certificate. When you complete a certified phlebotomist program, you will expand your knowledge of cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, blood collection procedures, medical terminology, and laboratory protocols.

How to get certified: You can find phlebotomist certification programs through several organizations, including:

Phlebotomist certification programs require you to have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass an exam that typically consists of multiple-choice questions on infection control, equipment selection and orders, site preparation, collections, patient ID, and common problems and corrections.

What you’d make: The median hourly wage for phlebotomists is $17.53.

Find phlebotomy jobs on Monster.

7. EKG Technician Certification

There are no state or federal regulations requiring EKG technicians to be certified, but having a certification will put you at the front of the line with employers. An EKG technician certificate program will test your ability to monitor cardiovascular activity with electrocardiograms and stress tests.

How to get certified: The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers EKG technician certificates to become a Certified EKG Technician (CET). To be eligible, you must be a high school graduate or possess a GED. You must also have completed an EKG technician education or training program or have one year of supervised work experience within the last three years.

Once you’ve established eligibility, you must pass an exam, which consists of 100 questions covering safety, compliance, coordinated patient care, as well as EKG acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. The NHA offers study guides, practice tests, and test plans to help you prepare ahead of time.

What you’d make: EKG technicians typically earn $33.29 per hour.

Find EKG technician jobs on Monster.

8. Medical Biller and Coder Certification

If you’re a medical biller or coder, healthcare certification isn’t a requirement. However, it can put you significantly ahead of other qualified applicants by demonstrating your ability to organize, update, and manage patients’ medical information.

How to get certified: Certifications for medical billers and coders include the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

  • To be eligible for the CPC designation, you must complete a training program with the AAPC or have prior coding experience and then pass the exam.
  • If you wish to pursue the CCS designation, you must complete the required coursework, have at least two years of coding experience, hold another medical coding credential, and pass the exam.

Learn more about these credentials by reading Monster’s guide on how to become a medical coder.

What you’d make: The median wage for medical billers is $18.87 per hour.

Find medical billings and coding jobs on Monster.

Sign Up Today to Put Your Healthcare Certification to Work

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