5 Medical Certifications You Can Learn Online

Deciding which career path to take can be difficult, especially since you want to make sure you are deciding on a career that will have employment opportunities for when your done achieving your education. Choosing to pursue a career and getting post-secondary education is a big decision. You want to make sure you are making the right choice for yourself, so it is recommended to take your time and research jobs, view job descriptions, and talk to people in the career to see what they say.

Medical Certifications

Getting into the healthcare field, is a popular choice, with many occupations to choose from. The healthcare industry does show signs of high projected job growth over the next ten years. Below are five medical certifications that you can learn online.

Pharmacy Technician

Salary:  $22,000 – $43,000

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers pharmacy technician training. Enrolling in the pharmacy technician program will teach participants the skills needed to receive requests for prescriptions for healthcare professionals and patients. Participants will also learn to measure accurately, package, and label medications for prescriptions. If you complete a certificate program, you will be able to perform the following tasks, such as:

• Receiving and processing prescription requests from patients, or electronically ones sent from doctor’s offices
• Accurately counting, weighing, pouring and mixing medications
• Preparing accurate prescription labels
• Preparing and processing insurance claim forms and managing inventory
• Establishing and maintaining patient profiles, as well as updating patient’s information on an electronic database.

Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT)

Salary: $21,000 – $67,000

A certified patient care technician is accredited by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Participants that pass a certification exam will be recognized as Nationally Certified Allied Healthcare professionals. The CPCT exam consists of 100 questions and 20 pretest questions, and takes 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete. The exam tests your knowledge of patient care, compliance, professional responsibility, safety, phlebotomy, and infection control. An individual that completes a CPCT certification will perform the following jobs:

• Gaining knowledge of medical terminology, disease process, anatomy, and physiology
• Understanding the responsibilities of basic patient care, such as bathing, feeding, and catheter care
• Performing safety checks and ensuring cleanliness inpatient rooms
• Recognizing the importance of special care, concerns, and settings
• Understanding EKG readings and monitoring vital signs
• Learning how to performing phlebotomy procedures
• Understanding the responsibilities of communication and professionalism.

Certified Health Unit Coordinator (CHUC)

Salary: $26,000 – $52,000

The National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC) provides professional standards of practice and education for certified health unit coordinators. CHUC’s are professional healthcare works that perform the non-clinical functions in a nursing unit or department. Participants that complete the CHUC certification will perform the following tasks:

• Adhering to customer or patient satisfaction service initiatives
• Respecting cultural diversity
• Complying with regulatory agency guidelines or rules
• Protecting confidentiality and patients rights
• Processing admissions, discharging and transferring
• Managing physician orders
• Interpreting hospital terminology and abbreviations
• Operating communication equipment and computers
• Identifying and correcting potential hazards.

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Salary: $21,00 – $45,000

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant is administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The CMAA helps individuals gain the skills needed to provide administrative support in a medical setting. People who complete a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant certificate will perform the following tasks:

• Complying with basic medical ethics
• Understanding and utilizing medical terminology needed for administrative duties in a medical setting
• Evaluating a medical office’s scheduling needs and appropriately booking patient services
• Correctly obtaining patient information, verifying insurance coverage, and preparing encounter forms
• Filing medical records correctly and performing basic financial and other general office procedures

Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)

Salary: $28,000 – $48,000

The certified billing and coding specialist certification program teaches individuals the skills needed to gather and review crucial patient information, verifying patient information and documentation, auditing bills, assigning codes to procedures, and diagnoses.  Individuals who complete CBCS certification can perform the following jobs:

• Identifying major laws, regulations, and guidelines related to medical billing
• Understanding various insurance types and plans, and appropriately rules for a coverage determination
• Completing and submitting health insurance claims for reimbursements accurately
• Comprehending payment adjudication, various claim statuses, and the resubmissions process

Each of the medical certifications above shows promise for a great career.