Online Health Science Certificates: Compare Programs & More

Online Certified Health Science Professional Programs to Help You Advance

When discussing health science certificate programs, it’s important to distinguish between undergraduate and graduate certificates. Undergraduate certificates typically feature general health science curriculums that prepare students for various entry-level jobs in health services, while graduate-level certificates offer specialized training to current health professionals, allowing them to deepen their pool of knowledge and get ahead in their current careers.

One thing all certificate programs mentioned in this guide have in common is that they feature online components. In fact, it’s not uncommon for certificate content to be presented 100% online, often in an asynchronous format that allows students to log on and attend to their coursework according to their own schedules. To give you an idea of just what online health science certificates are all about, here are profiles for exemplary online graduate and undergraduate certificate programs.

Student Help Center: Common Health Science Certificate Questions Answered

If you’ve read to this point, you’ve likely got a foundational understanding of what health science certificate programs are about, but you also probably have a few questions yet to be answered. To help, here are the answers to five questions often asked by prospective students about online health science certificates.

What should I look for to ensure that the health science certificate program I’m looking at is a quality one?

Proper accreditation is a major indicator of academic quality in postsecondary education, including health science certificate programs. You’ll be looking for two types of accreditation during your search: institutional and programmatic. Institutional accreditation of U.S.-based colleges and universities is administered by several national and regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You can check the current accreditation status by using the DoE’s accreditation record search engine.

How long will it take to earn my online certificate in health science?

One of the major benefits of choosing a certificate over a full degree is that certificates require substantially less time to earn; this being said, with the great variety of types of online health science certificates, it’s no surprise that completion times vary from program to program. The two factors that affect program lengths the most are the total credits needed and the student’s study pace (full-time, part-time, self-paced). Generally speaking, most undergraduate health science certificates can be earned in around one year, while graduate health science certificate completion times can range from several months to two years.

How much will my health sciences certificate program cost?

The costs of online health science certificate programs also vary by program, with most coming in around $5,000 but going up to $15,000. The biggest factors affecting costs for certificate programs are the same as those for degree programs, including whether the school is public or private and the student’s sate residency status. Additionally, tuition rates for graduate certificates tend to be higher than those for undergraduate certificates.

Can I get financial aid to help pay for my online certificate in health science?

Yes. Most of the financial aid available to health science degree students is also available to certificate students. Popular types include scholarships and grants (both in-house and external), employer tuition reimbursement opportunities, work studies, and student loans. Contact the financial aid offices at the schools you’re considering to find out about the funding resources you may be eligible for.

Can I transfer the credits earned in my online health science certificate program into a degree program?

In many cases, yes. Schools that offer health science certificates often allow students to transfer course credits earned in their certificate programs into degree programs in the same or similar academic field. It’s important to note, however, that transferability may only be possible between certificate and degree programs offered by the same school.

Career Details for a Certified Health Science Professional

As we mentioned above, undergraduate certificates in health science prepare students like you to take on a wide range of entry-level jobs in the healthcare field and get an early boost to your resume. Graduate-level health science certificates prepare current healthcare professionals to gain knowledge and skills in many specialized practice areas, providing foundational coursework leading to continued study to prepare for professional and clinical occupations in public health, postsecondary education and research, and even in becoming a physician.

Below are five entry-level careers popular with undergraduate health science certificate holders. Remember that a health science graduate certificate will often prepare students for senior-level careers in the same fields.

Community Health Worker

Community health workers promote wellness by providing counseling services that help individuals adopt healthier lifestyles. They also aid patients and clients by advocating for them with healthcare providers, insurers, and social services agencies. Community health workers are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, and community-based organizations. A strong background in health science could help a lot in a role like this.

Healthcare Sales and Marketing Representatives

Healthcare sales and marketing representatives work for manufacturers and distributors of medical and healthcare products and services (medical devices, pharmaceuticals, health insurance, etc.) in various promotional, marketing, and sales roles. Success in this career requires self-discipline and motivation, strong communication skills, and a solid understanding of the healthcare industry. A health science certificate may make you more appealing to employers and customers alike, as it would allow you to talk the talk of the medical professionals you sell to.

Health Education Specialist

Health educators create and maintain health education programs that promote illness prevention and healthy lifestyles for individuals, families, and communities. Strong communication skills are particularly important for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships within the community and for making presentations at conferences, workshops, schools, and in other settings. For those seeking to help their community, getting certified in health science may allow you to do a lot of tangible good.

Health Information Technologist

Health information technologists design, develop, implement, and manage computerized records systems used to collect and store clinical data for healthcare facilities and organizations. They may also advise clients and train staff in systems use. Graduate health science certificates offer current HITs the opportunity to advance into jobs in related specialized fields like health informatics.

Medical and Health Service Managers

Medical and health service managers are the businesspeople in the healthcare industry. They plan, institute, and carry out the business policies and activities for health services providers in a wide range of settings. Undergraduate health science certificate holders are often employed in entry-level managerial assistant roles. For those with a degree in business seeking a high-ranking administrative position in the healthcare field, a health science graduate certificate can be a great choice.

Top Rated Online Health Science Certificates

One of the best ways to start your search for online certificates in health science is to look at what the top schools offer. To make your search easier, we’ve identified the best certificates out there today. The rankings below were selected by considering several program elements essential to students, including academic quality, affordability, study convenience, support services, and more; further details can be seen by clicking the ”About Rankings” button.