Healthcare Certifications
Gulf Coast State College Continuing Education offers career-focused education designed to help students quickly enter the workforce. Through an academic partnership, we can offer the following online healthcare training that incorporates interactive learning tools such as hands-on practice, videos, games, forums, and chat rooms into its curriculum. Each course provides information concerning job description, career outlook, course objectives, outline, fees, payment options, videos, and more! All courses with an externship include a soft skills module to prepare for the externship. All courses provide student and graduate support.
Phlebotomy Technician Program I Classroom-Based I 90-Hrs.
Prepare for a career as a phlebotomist in this 90-hour course. You will prepare for a national certification exam and learn how to collect blood specimens from patients and blood donors for laboratory analysis. Also, you will study infection control techniques and how to interact with others. Employment of Phlebotomists is expected to grow 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations (bls.gov).
Important qualities: compassion, detail-oriented, dexterity, hand-eye coordination, physical stamina, professional appearance, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Textbooks and supplies are included, but you must bring a notepad and pen to class. If you are participating in this program for future employment in the healthcare industry, you must be able to pass a background check and drug screen. The national certification exam is not included in the cost of the program, but GCSC is a testing site.
Prerequisites to participate in the Phlebotomy Technician Program: Proof of FL-approved HIPAA and Infection Control training, Basic Life Support (CPR for healthcare providers), and a professional resume. Fax documents to 850-747-3258 or mail to S. Lock, Continuing Education, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 West U.S. Hwy. 98, Panama City, FL 32401.
Tues. & Thur., October 17, 2023 – January 11, 2024 I 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
AND Sat., November 4, November 18, & December 9 I 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Student Union East Room 244
Fee: $1699
Behavioral and Psychiatric Health Technician Online | 394 hrs.
Behavioral health and psychiatric technician training teaches the skills you need to provide direct services and support to patients who display patterns of disruptive behavior that require management and intervention. The most successful behavioral health and psychiatric technicians have a genuine desire to help others—they’re ethical, kind, and possess incredible empathy. That’s because they spend a significant bulk of their time addressing the personal needs of their patients, assisting with daily grooming and therapeutic activities.
If you’re patient, motivated, and love the idea of working with psychiatrists and other medical professionals to implement treatment plans for patients with behavior disorders, this career path has phenomenal potential. Behavioral and psychiatric health technicians are excellent listeners who possess strong observational skills and a solid understanding of what it takes to treat individuals with behavioral disorders.
Proper certification opens a lot of doors. That’s why our program prepares Learners to sit for the CEHRS and the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians Level 1 exams.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $4099
EKG Technician Online with Clinical Externship | 375 hrs. + 20 Clinical hrs.
Ready to get certified for one of the most widely hired roles in healthcare? This program was designed to help you pass the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam and set you up for success as part of a fast-paced cardiology team. You’ll learn how to operate the electrocardiogram—an essential piece of hospital equipment—and work with doctors to interpret the results for patients. You’ll even earn 20 clinical hours of hands-on experience, so if you’re ready to jump into the action ASAP, EKG technician training is the course of action for you.
One Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $2799
Healthcare IT Online | 323 hrs.
Gain healthcare and IT job skills in one fell swoop. Healthcare information technicians work in healthcare facilities and public health agencies as part of an internal IT team. They install and maintain electronic health record systems and provide general technical support. Ready to upgrade your skills, career, and lifestyle? This Health IT Program was designed to help you pass the PC Pro Certification, CompTIA A+ 220-1001 Core 1, and CompTIA A+ 220-1002 Core 2 Exams, putting you on the hiring radar of hospitals and clinics everywhere. You’ll learn to navigate hardware, software, systems, networks, and healthcare facilities, and you’ll be part of the nation’s much-needed push toward streamlining and standardizing electronic health records—a sweet gig to say the least.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $4299
Hemodialysis Technician Online with Clinical Externship | 106 hrs. + 250 Clinical hrs.
Hemodialysis technicians provide life-saving medical intervention to patients with chronic kidney disease or renal failure. Hemodialysis techs operate the blood-filtering dialysis machine and monitor patients during treatment. Since hemodialysis patients can’t rely on their kidneys to filter their blood, they rely on hemodialysis machines. As a hemodialysis tech, the care you provide will help these patients live life to the fullest. Complete the BONENT-approved hemodialysis technician training program and pass the hemodialysis technician certification practice exam, and you’ll be set to take the Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) exam—and you’ll be a shoe-in for your first job.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $4199
Medical Administrative Assistant with EHR Online | 260 hrs.
Prepare to earn two high-demand medical administrative assistant certifications. As a medical administrative assistant, you’ll be in charge of providing stellar customer service to patients and keeping a medical office running smoothly. That includes, among various other daily tasks, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance, and submitting claims. With this program, you’ll also get EHR training, which means you’ll be qualified to prepare and update patients’ electronic health records. Bonus! What does a medical assistant do? A lot. You'll be busy with both clinical and administrative responsibilities, performing general patient care, and playing a key role in keeping healthcare facilities running smoothly.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $3199
Medical Assistant Online with Clinical Externship | 483 hrs. + 100 Clinical hrs.
To be successful as a medical assistant, you need to be organized, adaptable, and empathic. If you’ve got the right training, and you’re also nurturing by nature, then this might be the path you should follow. This online medical assistant program is developed by industry professionals with decades of real-world experience. An over-achieving curriculum ensures that you’re the best of the best. It thoroughly trains you on both routine patient care and clinical office procedures. But it’s way more than just training. Thanks to our vast network of partners, you’ll get 100 hours worth of experience working in a clinical setting—empowering you with the knowledge to earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and Certified EKG Technician (CET) credentials.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $4299
Medical Billing Online | 368 hrs.
Do you enjoy dotting i’s and crossing t’s? Would you like to work in healthcare, but hate needles? If you’re analytical, autonomous and good at solving complex problems, then you might love a medical billing career. This medical billing program will take your skills and knowledge to new heights, giving you what you need to sit for the CBCS certification exam with confidence. Our medical billing online training was developed by industry experts with real-world input from employers. Our medical billing training is designed to help you quickly develop all the knowledge and skills needed to thoroughly understand the healthcare reimbursement process and methods. But, our program is way more than just training. It’s preparation for industry certification and employment. When you complete our program you’ll get a free Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam voucher, (a $117 value). So you’ll be able to get certified right away, then jump into your medical billing career and start earning.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $3399
Medical Coding and Billing for Outpatient Services Online | 618 hrs.
Do you have an eye for detail? Are you assertive and analytically minded? Would you like to work in healthcare, but spend your time working from home? Then you’d love a medical billing and coding career. Medical billing and coding jobs consist of managing patients’ electronic health records. It’s critical work considering that every patient is someone’s mother, husband, child, or other precious family member. As part of your daily responsibilities, you’ll assign standardized codes to the procedures performed by the healthcare facility you work for. Sounds relatively straightforward, but this is the first step in helping patients get their medical bills covered, so they have one less thing to worry about.
All medical facilities need a medical coding and billing specialist because these professionals are the bridge between insurance and patient invoices. A doctor or office manager could perform this type of job. However, patient care is their focus, so hiring an expert to do this is ideal.
What does it mean to be a bridge between the medical office and insurance? A medical coding and billing expert helps health systems manage insurance claims, invoices, and payments.
While certification isn’t mandatory, most employers prefer their employees to be certified. Especially in the highly regulated and privacy-driven field of healthcare. Certification greatly improves your employment opportunities and earning potential and sets you apart from other job seekers. Our medical coding and billing program prepares you for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) certifications. Your training includes a free voucher to take the exam of your choice, a $399 value.
Fee: $4199
Medical Office Manager Online | 389 hrs.
Are you a natural-born leader and organizer? Think you have what it takes to manage the daily (sometimes unpredictable) operations of a medical practice or clinic, all while maintaining a particular level of professionalism? Then you’ll love being a certified medical office manager! What does an office manager do in a medical office? A lot. You’ll be a crucial member of the team and a critical part of keeping the medical office running smoothly, particularly in terms of administration and billing. Medical office manager certification isn’t usually required for employment, but earning your credentials is one of the best ways to start your new career. It sets you apart from other job seekers and gives you a solid point of leverage for negotiating pay. Certification is built into the medical office management training online with three free exam vouchers, a $351 value. (That makes it even easier to earn your credentials right away.)
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $4199
Medical Scribe | Online | 80 hrs.
Medical scribes have become more and more common in medical offices. But they do a lot more than check-off boxes on EHRs—they record critical information and allow physicians more time to focus on their patients. Medical scribes aren’t on the frontlines of healthcare, which is good for those who prefer a little more predictability in their daily routines. They generally work behind the scenes —sometimes from the comfort of their own home—listening to dictations and converting them into written documents.
One-Page Information + Program Outline
Fee: $3599
Medical Transcription Editor Online | 630 hrs.
As a medical transcriptionist, you’ll be typing (i.e. transcribing) audio recordings of doctors’ notes for patients’ medical records. You can also opt for an editing position, where you’ll proof and correct reports generated by speech-recognition software. What are a medical transcriptionist'’'s requirements? Generally speaking, they turn audio recordings into official written medical records. This Medical Transcription Editing training program is certified and approved by the Approval Committee for Certificate Programs (ACCP), which is a joint committee established by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
One-Sheet Information + Program Outline
Fee: $3799
Patient Care Technician Online with Clinical Externship | 362 hrs. + 100 Clinical hrs.
Craving a career that has a direct, positive impact on peoples’ lives? This patient care technician program was designed to help you become a certified patient care tech so you can provide basic care to folks who need it. You’ll learn to bathe, feed, manage supplies, collect lab specimens, and take the vital signs of sick and injured patients. This program includes a 100-hour externship opportunity. When patients are struggling due to illness, age, or injury, you’ll be there to provide basic care and help boost their quality of life.
One-Sheet Information + Program Outline
Fee: $3799
Pharmacy Technician with Clinical Externship | 292 hrs. + 130 Clinical hrs.
Looking for a medical job that will allow you to play to your strengths? Are you a precise person who likes helping people? Are you adaptable, friendly, and honest? Your pharmacy technician training will prepare you to work under the guidance of a pharmacist. You’ll be a crucial member of the team and a critical part of keeping the pharmacy running smoothly. Regulations and requirements vary by state. However, this pharmacy technician program ensures that you’ll be ready to start working no matter where you live. (The only exception is Washington state, where this program is not recognized. Please refer to your state’s Board of Pharmacy website for guidelines.) Getting your pharmacy technician certification online is always a plus. It improves your employment opportunities and sets you apart from-and above-other candidates. Additionally, many experts say that pharmacy technicians who earn national certification are often paid more by their employers. This online Pharmacy Technician program includes a free voucher to take the PTCB exam, a $129 value.
One-Sheet Information + Program Outline
Fee: $4199