Online Healthcare and Medical Career Training

Medical office, billing and coding training

These roles work with records, insurance and patients at the front desk. Much of the learning can happen online, which makes them popular with career changers.

• Medical billing and coding: coders translate visits into ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS codes; billers turn them into claims. Employers often prefer a credential such as the AAPC’s CPC or AHIMA’s CCA or CCS, which you earn by passing an exam after formal training.
• Medical office administration and medical receptionist: scheduling, check-in, insurance verification and HIPAA-compliant communication. Usually a high school diploma plus on-the-job training or a short certificate.
• Health information management: health information technologists manage the accuracy and privacy of patient records, usually after a certificate or associate degree.

Patient care training

Patient-care jobs need hands-on clinical practice that no online course can replace:

• Nursing assistants (CNAs) complete a state-approved program (federal rules require at least 75 hours, including supervised clinical hours) and pass a state competency exam.
• Medical assistants typically complete a certificate program with an externship, and many employers prefer certification such as the CMA or RMA.
• Pharmacy technicians must register with or be licensed by the state pharmacy board in most states, and many employers prefer PTCB or NHA certification.
• Phlebotomists need supervised venipuncture practice; a few states, including California, require a state certificate.

Our courses prepare you for those programs and interviews by teaching the duties, medical terminology, procedures and safety and compliance standards of each job. They don’t replace them.

How to start a career in healthcare

1. Pick a direction: patient-facing (hands-on care) or behind the scenes (records, billing, administration). The healthcare career quiz helps.
2. Compare roles by pay, training time and daily work on the healthcare careers page.
3. Check your state’s rules for the role, and look for accredited or state-approved programs.
4. Learn the basics first. A job-title training covers the vocabulary and tasks, so you start your program ahead.
5. Get the entry requirements in order: background check, immunizations and CPR/BLS certification are common.
6. Start in an entry role and climb. Many nurses and technologists began as CNAs, medical assistants or unit clerks, often with employer tuition help.

Healthcare careers without a degree

Many healthcare jobs start with a certificate of a year or less, for example medical assistant (median pay $45,690), phlebotomist ($45,230) and pharmacy technician ($45,750). See the best entry-level healthcare jobs.

Medical terminology, compliance and customer service

Every healthcare training includes an essential vocabulary module with practice drills, a safety and compliance module (privacy, infection control and professional standards for that role) and a module on the skills employers look for, including patient communication. All healthcare trainings are listed in the training catalog.