Planning for Career Requirements

Camilla is looking for a basic education credential that she can earn through a college or technical school program; she wants the program to take approximately two years. What type of degree should she consider?

Associate's degree

What might you need to do to renew your credentials?

submit paperwork fill out an application retake exams

Certification

the process of earning a certificate

Credentialing

the process of verifying a healthcare worker's credentials

Why are background checks run when applying for licensure?

to make sure people do not have criminal backgrounds that would interfere with the nature of their work

_________ is the process of earning an official statement that proves the completion of a specialized training program.

Certification

Examples of some careers that require licensure include:

Doctors Nurses Health technology engineers

___________ is the most entry-level of the health science career education credentials and can be acquired through technical school.

Health science technology education

Education

academic training that provides people with the skills, knowledge, and information necessary for acquiring careers. When people graduate from education programs, they receive diplomas or degrees that serve as credentials; education is a type of credential.

A basic, 2-year college level degree is a/an ______.

associate's degree

Employers verify documentation to make sure credentials are:

authentic

Acquiring Registration

The registration process is similar to the process for getting licensed. People must take and pass an exam and file an official record that attests to their professional qualifications. A lot of paperwork is involved and background checks often are performed on those who are applying for registration. An example of a registered position is a registered nurse, or RN. Not all nurses are registered nurses. They must go through the registration process in order to become RNs. That process involves passing the national nurses' registration exam, known as NCLEX-RN.

Which of the following are part of the process for acquiring both licensure and registration credentials?

background checks application paperwork passing an exam

If you want a healthcare career in support service, which of the following credentials might apply to that career field choice?

certificate educatioin

If you want to specialize in something - such as nutrition - to enhance your career, you would get a/an _______ credential.

certification

Which of the following is a special academic program that some professionals have to take to maintain their credentials?

continuing education

Registration

healthcare professionals are officially recognized by the professional association or government agency as having specialty qualifications. Registration is similar to licensure, except not every registered professional can practice independently. Registration can help people maintain professional titles and jobs. Not all healthcare careers require registration. This credential mainly applies to doctors, nurses, and other clinical specialists.

Which of the following are the primary types of healthcare credentials?

registration licensure education certifications

___________is the process of becoming officially recognized for a specialization through a professional organization or government agency.

Registration

Why might a professional lose his or her credential?

The professional does something that is illegal.. The professional does not attend mandatory continuing education programs. The professional has complaints filed against him or her.

Why is it important to earn credentials?

They allow you to specialize in something. They prove that you have the expertise or skills and knowledge to do a job.

The four main types of credentials you may need for a career in health care are:

Education Certification Licensure Registration In the healthcare field, different types of careers have their own credential requirements. These will be explored next.

What is similar about the processes for acquiring education and certification credentials?

They both require students to take and pass exams.

People can receive academic credentials at several educational levels. Those include:

Health science technology education (HSTE) — technical training credential acquired through special technical schools Associate's degree — basic education credential acquired through a college or training program, usually a 2-year program Bachelor's degree — education credential acquired through colleges and universities, traditionally a 4-year program Master's degree — advanced education credential acquired through graduate programs at colleges and universities Doctorate — expert-level education credential acquired through doctoral programs at colleges and universities

Acquiring Licensure

To become licensed, you must meet educational requirements, as well as take and pass a licensing exam issued by a particular licensing organization or government body. The need for licensure may vary from state to state. When healthcare professionals wish to become licensed, their application, paperwork, and exam results are reviewed by licensing review boards that grant or deny the license. Background checks often are performed to make sure people do not have criminal histories that will conflict with the nature of their work

Acquiring Education Credentials

To begin your healthcare-career journey, you first must choose the type of education degree and credential you would like to acquire — for example, an associate's or bachelor's degree. Keep in mind that you can start out on an academic path and then continue advancing your credentials in the future. It also is important to remember how the education levels progress. For example, you need a bachelor's degree before you can get a master's degree and a master's degree before a doctorate degree. To receive an education credential, you must complete the full academic program you signed up for. Often that involves taking a certain number of credit hours and passing final exams in each class at the end of each semester. When you graduate from the academic program, you acquire your education credential.

Acquiring Certification

Certifications are for people who know what type of healthcare career they want. They are designed to prepare individuals for very specific fields in the industry. Certification programs have admission requirements, which many include a specific educational background, such as an associate's or bachelor's degree. It's important to find out what the admission requirements are for each certification program that interests you. After completing the program and passing the test, you are granted your certification.

Continuing education

an academic program professionals take to take to update the skills required for their specialties. Doctors and nurses are examples of professionals that must take continuing education courses in order to maintain and renew their credentials. The continuing education requirements vary by state, as well as by credential. For example, doctors often need more continuing education hours than nurses.

Licensure

an expert-level credential that gives people the privilege to practice their specialties as a professional. When you are licensed, you can practice independently or make yourself more marketable to employers because of your expert-level skills.

certificate

an official statement that proves the completion of a specialized training program in a particular field of study. Certifications make you a more marketable job candidate. In health care, certifications show employers you have a specialty. For example, a nurse who wants to specialize in nutrition can earn a nutrition certification to broaden his or her career. That nurse may end up working with patients who need help with diet and nutrition.

If you want a 4-year college or university degree, you would get your ___________.

bachelor's degree

Which degree do you need before you can get your master's degree?

bachelor's degree

Daniel is a registered nurse (RN) who has been hired by a hospital. He has a bachelor's degree from a university. Daniel also has a certification in children's nursing. His new employer needs to credential him. Based on Daniel's credentials, what documents can he expect his employer to collect and verify?

certification document registration document bachelor's degree

What is the name for the process of collecting and verifying credentials?

credentialing

If you want to become an expert and receive expert-level educational training, you should sign up for a ________.

doctorate degree

If you want a career in biotechnology or healthcare informatics, which of the following credentials might apply?

education licensure certification

What might you need to have in order to get your certification?

education credential

If you want academic training to expand your future healthcare career goals, you would get some type of _________credential.

educational

If you want to practice your career independently as an expert-level professional, open your own office, and set your own hours, you can apply for your _______ credential.

licensure

A _________ is an advanced degree that you can get from a college or university.

master's degree

When acquiring an education credential, which of the following must you have before you can get a doctorate degree?

master's degree

Credentials

official qualifications that are awarded to people who demonstrate expertise or a specialization in a particular area. Credentials are important because they prove you have the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job. Without the proper credentials, employers cannot be certain a person is qualified for a position. For example, when you earn a high school diploma, the diploma serves as a credential that proves you fulfilled the graduation requirements for high school.

If you want to demonstrate your qualifications with a government body or professional organization, you can get a/an _________________ credential.

registration

The credentialing process involves:

-Collecting documentation --Employers will request copies of your educational degree, certification, license, and/or registration. -Verifying documentation --Employers will verify that your documentation is authentic. That is done in a number of ways, including contacting colleges/universities and certification programs, as well as checking licensure and registration databases.

Many types of healthcare careers are available, each with its own credential requirements:

-Direct services careers --Clinical or medical careers that work directly with patients --Sample careers: doctor, nurse, technician, specialist --Applicable credentials: education, certification, licensure, registration -Support services careers --Careers that support the direct services careers and have minimal contact with patients --Sample careers: administrative jobs, medical coders, billers --Applicable credentials: education and certification -Health informatics and biotechnology careers --Careers in information technology, medical equipment, and biotechnology --Sample careers: computer engineers, chemists, laboratory technicians --Applicable credentials: education, certification, and licensure

Importance of Credentialing

Credentialing is an important step in maintaining a safe, high-quality workplace. If healthcare workers' credentials are not verified, employers risk hiring people who may have limited knowledge and training. That can lead to potential hazards in the workplace, such as errors, mistakes, and patient injuries. By taking the time to credential healthcare workers, employers are eliminating some of those risks and hazards to achieve a better, safer work environment.

Credentialing Penalties

It is possible for a healthcare professional to lose his or her credentials or to have the credentials temporarily suspended by the credentialing board or panel. Some of the things that can cause credentialing penalties include: If a professional participates in illegal or criminal activity If a professional fails his or her credentialing exam or application process If patients file complaints against the professional If the professional forgets to renew the credential on time If the professional does not attend mandatory continuing education programs For licensed and registered professionals, a special review committee decides on a case-by-case basis whether to give the credentials back.

_______ is an expert-level credential that allows people to practice their specialties as professionals.

Licensure

Credential Renewals

Some credentials require renewal every few years, such as certifications, licenses, and registrations. The credential renewal process involves completing paperwork, including filling out a renewal application. However, certain types of credentials, such as certifications, may require people to retake exams; that ensures their knowledge is up to date.