The AlliedUP Co-op Blog

The healthcare world is constantly evolving – and career options are nearly limitless.

While your first thoughts about these options may be roles that require lengthy education and/or advanced degrees, there are a number of certifications that can be earned within a reasonable time frame (for some, a year or less) and with a high-school degree or equivalent as the minimum educational requirement.

Here’s a snapshot of 12 in-demand certifications as you build your healthcare career:

1. Certified Coding Specialist Physician-Based (CCS-P): for more expert-level coders who want additional experience in clinical settings. This certification requires some educational and professional experience, as well as a prior certification in the field.
2. Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT): With this certification, you are qualified to assist with patient physicals, medication administration, and other tasks. You can also assist with answering patient questions and with physician-assigned lab work.
3. Certified EKG Technician (CET): specializes in rendering electrocardiogram (EKG) testing for patients.
4. Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT): CPT gathers blood specimens for testing purposes. Bloodwork is one of the biggest ways to indicate health issues, so this type of specialist is always in demand.
5. Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA): CCMAs complete numerous clinical tasks, including administering medications, checking vital signs, recording medical histories, and educating patients on preventative care.
6. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): This certification allows you to perform various nursing duties as you assist physicians and registered nurses. For instance, you may help with patients’ personal hygiene or even perform basic clinical procedures.
7. Registered Behavior Technician (RBT): As an RBT, you are trained to notice behavioral disorders that may impact patients’ medical care. You will work directly with patients and also administer some treatments to help round out their total care plan.
8. Certified Professional Coder (CPC): As a CPC, you will learn medical coding principles associated with three coding books: CPT, ICD-10 AM, and HCPCS. While moving toward this certification, you may also want to consider certification as a medical billing and coding professional.
9. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT): This certification helps you know which drugs to prescribe to patients. You’ll be adept at measuring quantities to fill prescriptions, as well as packaging, labeling, and other requirements, and how to work with prescription purchasing and inventory.
10. Physical Therapy Technician Certification (PTTC): Becoming a physical therapy aide and earning this certification are great steps to launch your career in physical therapy.
11. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS): One of the most versatile certifications you can earn, the CEHRS opens the door to many possibilities, including becoming a certified healthcare documentation specialist or a medical records specialist.
12. Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) LA+: This certification combines skills required in healthcare with an interest in information technology. If this piques your interest, you may want to consider other options in healthcare IT.

To learn more about these certifications or to get started in or advance your career in any area of allied healthcare, search our available jobs or contact AlliedUP Co-Operative, Inc. today.