If you’re interested in creating and implementing positive change in today’s healthcare institutions, you might consider pursuing a healthcare innovation certificate.
Healthcare innovation professionals are leaders and game-changers in the medical field, as they work to create ground-breaking processes, systems, and technologies.
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In general, healthcare occupations are expected to experience much faster than average job growth over the next ten years. A graduate certificate in health care innovation can help you develop the skills to pursue opportunities in the health care practice arena.
Online Healthcare Innovation Certificate Programs
Earning an online certificate in healthcare innovation can be a beneficial pursuit for students who want to learn more about driving change in the healthcare industry. Healthcare innovation can be a broad area of expertise, but it generally involves improving policies and processes.
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The goal of healthcare innovation professionals is usually to improve patient treatment in a healthcare setting. By enrolling in a graduate certificate program, you will likely study some of the following topics:
- Process improvement
- Project management
- Technology
- Change initiatives
- Training and mentoring
- Marketing
- Operations management
Healthcare innovation professionals may have the chance to address issues like the ones below:
- Rising costs
- Access to healthcare
- Quality of treatment
- Measuring outcomes
- Change management
Many of the career opportunities associated with healthcare innovation involve leadership and behind-the-scenes work in the healthcare field, in areas like administration and technology.
Some examples of these roles are health information techs, health services managers, and health educators. Because health care innovation covers a broad range of topics, a graduate certificate in health care innovation may also be applied to roles like clinical nurse specialists and community health workers.
Graduate certificates in health care innovation are intended for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and are looking to expand their knowledge of the healthcare industry. Many online programs can be completed on a flexible schedule or at your own pace.
Healthcare Innovations Careers & Salaries
Certificates in healthcare innovation may help prepare you for a variety of career opportunities in the healthcare field, depending on your education, skills, expertise, and other factors.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are some of the roles and median salaries associated with the field of healthcare innovation.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Training and Development Managers | $120,130 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,340 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $100,170 |
| General and Operations Managers | $97,970 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $64,120 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $61,570 |
| Health Education Specialists | $60,600 |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $55,560 |
| Medical Records Specialists | $46,660 |
| Community Health Workers | $46,590 |
Graduates tend to apply their certificates to their current jobs and career paths, although some may choose to pursue entirely new roles. Careers associated with healthcare innovation include medical records specialists, health information techs, healthcare operations management, and health education specialists.
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Many of these occupations are expected to experience faster than average job growth over the next ten years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare jobs in general are projected to grow by 13%.
Healthcare Innovation Certificate Curriculum & Courses
The in-person or online courses you may take as part of a healthcare leadership and innovation certificate program vary, as they can cover a wide range of subjects. Some topics you may encounter include project management, product design, and human resources.
Below are examples of in-person or online courses you may take while pursuing a certificate in healthcare innovation:
- Systems Thinking in a Complex Environment: You’ll learn to simplify the complex world of healthcare through various systems thinking ideologies.
- Innovation and the Individual: This course covers tools, such as ethical wisdom, to help develop your innovation skills.
- Integrative Design Studio: You’ll explore product innovation from start to finish and learn how to apply your knowledge in a practical setting.
- Improvement Science and Outcomes Management: This course dives into different ways to analyze processes, with the goal of making them safer and more efficient.
- Innovation Leadership: Leading from Within: You’ll learn skills to help you become an effective leader, including how to maximize organizational impact.
- Building a Culture of Innovation in Health Systems: This class looks at innovation through a human lens and emphasizes the importance of relationships.
- Outcomes Evaluation: You’ll learn how to measure and evaluate the work of other professionals in the healthcare field.
- Innovation Proposal: Culminating Experience: In this course, you’ll be able to apply your knowledge of healthcare innovation by creating a change management plan.
- Holistic Leadership in Health Care Delivery: You’ll look at health care practice and health policy leadership through a variety of lenses to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to lead effectively.
- Business Principles for Product Innovation: This class covers business practices that can be applied to product development, including project management and smart decision-making.
Many curriculums for healthcare innovation certificates only consist of 4 to 5 classes, so it’s helpful to check a program’s listed coursework when determining which certificate is best for you.
Admissions Requirements
Although innovative healthcare management programs may have varying admissions requirements, here are a few commons ones:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Personal statement
Some schools may want to see a bachelor’s degree in a specific area, like science. Some may also have a minimum college GPA requirement. Depending on the graduate certificate program, you may be required to have prior professional experience in the healthcare field. Many schools have an admissions deadline, which you can usually find on their website.
Accreditation
If a school is regionally accredited, it has been evaluated and found to meet a series of standards for academic quality.
Regional accreditation is important both for application to healthcare innovation graduate programs and for pursuit of career opportunities. If a graduate certificate is earned at a regionally accredited school, it may also be able to count toward a graduate degree. Many employers also look to see that you have received your education from a regionally accredited institution.
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To find out if the school you’re interested in is regionally accredited, you can visit the US Department of Education’s website.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid can be a valuable tool to help you afford higher education. On the Federal Student Aid website, you can browse a variety of options that may be available to you, and you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Grants, student loans, and work-study programs are among the types of assistance you may be able to qualify for. Many grants are awarded based on a student’s financial need, while scholarships can be granted based on academic excellence, talent, area of study, and other factors.
In some cases, schools have their own grants or scholarships. Public and private organizations may offer scholarship opportunities as well.
What Is a Healthcare Innovation Certificate?
A healthcare innovation certificate is an academic credential awarded to students who have completed a program in healthcare innovation. The goal of these programs is to empower students to create positive change in the people and processes of healthcare organizations.
Innovation healthcare management programs generally try to help students identify problems and create efficient and innovative solutions. They may focus on teaching leadership, process improvement, and change management skills, among others. Students may be able to apply these graduate certificates to their current careers, or they may use them to pursue a new career path in the healthcare field.
What Can You Do with a Certificate in Healthcare Innovation?
A graduate certificate in health innovations is a versatile credential that can be applied to a multitude of careers. Many graduates pursue leadership, education, and administration roles, while others may pursue a certificate program to grow in their current profession.
Medical and health services managers, training and development managers, and health education specialists are among the higher-paying roles associated with healthcare innovation. Graduates may also pursue opportunities as training and development specialists, community health workers, medical records specialists, and health information technologists.
Some graduate certificates in healthcare innovation are also able to count toward relevant masters degree programs, such as healthcare administration degrees online or on campus.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Healthcare Innovation Certificate Online?
The timeframe for completing a healthcare innovation certificate online varies. It can depend on factors like whether you enroll full-time and how many credits you take at a time.
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In general, these certificates may be completed in 1 year or less, as long as students are enrolled full-time. It may take longer if you choose to take fewer credits each semester and enroll part-time. Many online programs are flexible and allow you to choose the course load that is right for you.
What’s the Difference Between a Graduate Certificate vs. Masters in Healthcare Innovation?
Although graduate certificate and masters healthcare innovation programs generally cover similar subjects, these programs can vary in a few ways.
- Admissions process. Masters degree programs may require more admissions materials.
- Timeframe. Masters programs often take longer to complete than certificate programs since they tend to require more credit hours.
- Depth of study. Since masters programs involve more on-campus or online courses, they’re also able to cover more topics and have more in-depth study of the field.
- Tuition. Because masters programs are generally longer, they tend to be more costly.
Both options can help you learn more about healthcare innovation, but your short-term and long-term goals may help you determine which path is best for you.
Is a Healthcare Innovation Certificate Worth It?
Yes, a healthcare innovation certificate is worth it for many students. A healthcare innovation graduate certificate can help equip you with knowledge and skills to pursue job opportunities in the healthcare field.
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If you want to pursue a new career or grow in your current career, a healthcare innovation certificate might be able to help. Many of the occupations associated with healthcare innovation are expected to grow over the next ten years. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 28% job growth for medical and health service managers and 12% job growth for health education specialists and community health workers.
Universities Offering Online Graduate Certificates in Healthcare Innovation Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Advent Health University offers a Driving Innovation in Healthcare Graduate Certificate. The program may be an excellent next step for students who plan to pursue leadership and administrative roles within the field of healthcare. This program boasts an online learning format, round-the-clock technical support, and expert instructors. To earn the certificate, six courses for a total of 15 credits must be completed.
Advent Health University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Arcadia University offers a Healthcare Management and Leadership Certificate. This program is intended for healthcare practitioners who want to deepen their leadership skills and prepare for career advancement opportunities. The curriculum blends synchronous and asynchronous online learning formats. Students can typically complete the certificate requirements in 1 to 3 years, depending on their chosen course load.
Arcadia University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Arizona State University offers an online program for a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation. Students with a passion for leadership and enacting positive change in healthcare may find an ideal fit in this program. Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours to obtain the certificate. Classes cover topics like innovation methods, systems thinking, and outcome evaluation.
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Bryant University offers an Innovative Healthcare Leadership Graduate Certificate. Potential courses include Innovative Practice Management, Healthcare Law and Ethics, and Innovative Leadership and Design Thinking. The program’s courses are housed entirely online, and each one is 10 weeks long. Students can select one of four start dates for their online courses offered each year.
Bryant University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Champlain College offers an online program for a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration. This program may be an excellent next step for healthcare professionals interested in pursuing advanced leadership roles.
The curriculum consists of 15 credit hours. Classes are designed to help students develop comprehensive knowledge of project management, innovative leadership, financial management, and healthcare law.
Champlain College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Temple University offers a Healthcare Innovation Management Graduate Certificate. Classes cover topics like entrepreneurial thinking, healthcare economics and finance, systems organization and development, and innovation strategy. This 12 credit program utilizes a hybrid learning format that provides students with both convenient online and hands-on, in-person learning opportunities.
Temple University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Central Florida offers a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Systems Engineering. This program may be an excellent fit for students looking to deepen their skills without undertaking a full master’s degree. Each class is 7 weeks long and can be completed 100% online. Graduates often pursue careers as healthcare analysts, hospital process engineers, or continuous improvement specialists.
The University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Connecticut offers a Healthcare Innovation Graduate Certificate. This program is designed for practitioners and non-medical healthcare professionals interested in pursuing innovative leadership roles in their field. The curriculum consists of 12 total credit hours that can be completed entirely online. Applications for incoming students are reviewed on a rolling basis.
The University of Connecticut is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of Pennsylvania offers a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation. Students can tailor their education to their professional goals by selecting electives in topics like health equity, behavioral economics, or health policy. The program utilizes both asynchronous online and synchronous virtual learning modalities. Most students can complete the required coursework within 2 years of part-time attendance.
The University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Virginia Commonwealth University offers a Healthcare Innovation Graduate Certificate. This program aims to provide students with the leadership skills to guide innovation and system improvement in a variety of healthcare settings.
Students can complete the program’s 12 required credit hours 100% online. The online courses cover concepts like problem identification, product development, and intellectual property protection.
VCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Getting Your Healthcare Innovation Certificate Online
If you enjoy leading, coming up with new ideas, developing innovative solutions, influencing health policy, or working behind the scenes in healthcare, then you might consider advancing your qualifications with a graduate certificate in healthcare innovation.
It can also be a beneficial pursuit if you love your current job but want to expand your perspective and expertise within the healthcare industry. Plus, many online healthcare certificate programs offer flexible schedule options. Positions in the healthcare industry are projected to experience faster than average growth over the next decade.
If you’re ready to further your education in this growing sector, you can start exploring accredited universities to see which healthcare innovation certificate programs appeal to you.
