Blog

The healthcare industry is one of those sectors that only continue to grow. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that job opportunities in healthcare is projected to increase at 15% from 2019 to 2029 - a rate that’s considered higher than employment figures for all industries.

Despite this, job seekers may, however, be reluctant to pursue a career in the industry, given stringent requirements for most healthcare professionals. For those who wish to pursue a lifelong career in healthcare or wondering if it’s possible to get online medical certifications that pay well, you will be happy to know that several regional universities actually offer the opportunity to study medical programs and get certified online.

Not only will these programs enable you to study at your own pace and get certified in just months, they can also help you land jobs with competitive pay. Read our list of top medical certificate programs you can get online, which universities offer them, and other important details.

 

1. EKG Technician Certificate Program 

Annual median salary (2019): $59,600

Time it takes to complete: 4 months

Possible workplaces: physician’s offices, hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and other healthcare facilities 

View Course

Certification exams the program prepares you for:

• • ASPT – Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician exam
  • NHA Certified EKG Technician exam 

Available in these universities:

• • Auburn University
  • Clemson University
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Louisiana State University Shreveport
  • Montana State University
  • Texas A&M University Texarkana
  • University of Washington
  • Western Kentucky University

EKG technicians are tasked to operate electrocardiogram equipment, or EKG, the result of which help doctors arrive at appropriate medical decisions. Apart from monitoring and conducting EKG for diagnosis and surgery and interpreting their results, EKG technicians are also responsible for maintenance of the equipment (including troubleshooting) and patient prep for other cardio examinations. 

The EKG technician certification program is among the top quick healthcare certifications that pay well, allowing you to finish in just 4 months. The program gives you foundational understanding of cardiovascular anatomy, related medical terminology and ethics, EKG testing, basic interpretation of an EKG strip, and how to spot irregularities in heart rhythms, and myocardial infarction. You will also learn about pacemakers and Holter monitoring.

 

2. Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Program

Annual median salary (2019): $44,751 to $51,752

Time it takes to complete: 4 months

Possible workplaces: Physician’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, chiropractic clinics, physical therapy facilities, and other healthcare settings

View Course

Certification exams the program prepares you for:

• • American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder Exam (CPC or CPC-H Apprentice)
  • American Health Information Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Billing and Coding Specialist Certification (CBCS)

Available in these universities:

• • Auburn University
  • Clemson University
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Louisiana State University Shreveport
  • Montana State University
  • Texas A&M University Texarkana
  • University of Washington
  • Western Kentucky University

In only 4 months, the Medical Billing and Coding Programs prepares you for national exams, making it among the easiest to get certified in in terms of online medical certifications that pay well. It provides in-depth knowledge of CPT, ICD-10, and specialized disciplines including laboratory, surgery, and radiology.

As a medical coder, you will be in charge of reviewing patient’s medical records, code assignment for each case and diagnosis, processing insurance claims for reimbursement, all in accordance with the ICD-10. All these skills help medical researchers and healthcare insurance companies. 

 

3. Dental Assistant Certificate Program

Annual median salary (2019): $40,080

Time it takes to complete: 6 months

Possible workplaces: Dentist’s offices

View Course

Certification exams the program prepares you for:

• • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) exam
    • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam
    • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Infection Control (ICE) exam
    • Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP) exam
  • CPR, BLS or ACLS from a DANB-accepted provider

Available in these universities:

• • Auburn University
  • Clemson University
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Louisiana State University Shreveport
  • Montana State University
  • Texas A&M University Texarkana
  • University of Washington
  • Western Kentucky University

According to the BLS, mycaa dental assistants will remain in demand until 2029, with employment opportunities expected to grow to 7% - faster than the average for all occupations - making it one of the top medical certificate programs that aspiring healthcare workers can obtain.

The Dental Assistant Programs helps prepare you for an entry-level job as an assistant in the dentist’s office, covering critical topics such as oral anatomy and physiology, scheduling appointments, dental accessories and equipment; dental surgery, treatment and prophylactic procedures and radiology; infection control, patient assessment and charting, and dental coding and use of ICD-9-CM codes. These skills prepare you well for both administrative and clinical practice in order to provide effective patient care. Check our mycaa dental assistant program.

 

4. Phlebotomy Technician Certificate Program

Annual median salary (2019): $35,510 to $49,060

Time it takes to complete: 4 months

Possible workplaces: hospitals, neighborhood health centers, medical group practices, HMO’s, public health facilities, veteran hospitals, insurance carriers, and other healthcare settings

View Course

Certification exams the program prepares you for:

• • American Society of Phlebotomy Technician (ASPT) Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam 
  • NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam 

Available in these universities:

• • Auburn University
  • Clemson University
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Louisiana State University Shreveport
  • Montana State University
  • Texas A&M University Texarkana
  • University of Washington
  • Western Kentucky University

Phlebotomy technicians enjoy good on-the-job flexibility compared to other healthcare workers. It  also takes only 4 months to study the requisite program for certification, making it an excellent option for people looking for top medical certificate programs for getting employed fast.

Phlebotomy technicians are responsible for drawing blood specimens and micro-collection for proper laboratory analysis, testing, transfusions, and blood donations. 

 

5. Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate Program

Annual median salary (2019):  $34,800 to $46,000 

Time it takes to complete: 6 months

Possible workplaces: physician’s offices, clinics, chiropractor’s offices, hospitals, and outpatient facilities

View Course

Certification exams the program prepares you for:

• • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam
  • American Society of Phlebotomy Technician (ASPT) Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Exam
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam

Available in these universities:

• • Auburn University
  • Clemson University
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Louisiana State University Shreveport
  • Montana State University
  • Texas A&M University Texarkana
  • University of Washington
  • Western Kentucky University

In addition to the short time it takes for the program to be completed, employment opportunities for students of this program is also the highest for quick healthcare certifications that pay well, growing to 19% until 2029, according to BLS data.

Looking for healthcare medical certifications that pay well  but don’t involve emergent or operative procedures in hospitals? Consider the Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate Program. This program prepares you for a career as a medical assistant, which primarily involves providing clinical and administrative services in doctor’s offices and outpatient facilities. Usual tasks include initial patient assessment, history taking, obtaining vital signs, scheduling physician’s appointments, and patient education. You may also be required to help physicians in diagnosing and treating patients.

Looking for other quick healthcare certifications that pay well but are not included in this list? View our complete list of online medical and healthcare programs. Or get in touch with us on Facebook for inquiries. Our career advisors are always happy to assist. View our MyCAA Courses and more of our training programs.