Health Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of health specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for health specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of health specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for health specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Health Specialists?
Do health specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do health specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for health specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Health Specialists
Jobs Postings for Health Specialists By Education
- No Education Listed: 7,344 (39%)
- High School or GED: 7,224 (38%)
- Bachelor's degree: 3,363 (18%)
- Master's degree: 659 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 389 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of health specialists. According to job data, no education was required for 39% of positions. In 38% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 18% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Health Specialists
Jobs Postings for Health Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,711 (32%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,952 (51%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,446 (12%)
- 7-9 Years: 162 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 309 (3%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for health specialists. In 51% of job postings for Health Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for health specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Health Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for health specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 2 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective health specialists, and in 2023 a total of 14 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective health specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Health Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Health Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Information Privacy Assurance and Security. | 8 |
| Disease Registry Data Management. | 6 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Health Specialists
Turn patient data into knowledge that improves lives with Franklin’s M.S. in Health Informatics. Finish your master's online in as few as 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Earn your M.S. in Information Technology degree with a focus in Healthcare 100% online in as few as 16 months.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Health Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by health specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for health specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Health Specialists
Based on 20,225 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Health Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Records | 9,898 | 49% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 5,783 | 29% |
| Medicare | 3,924 | 19% |
| Nursing | 3,914 | 19% |
| Auditing | 3,744 | 19% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Health Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 6,861 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 5,704 | 28% |
| Management | 4,365 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,338 | 17% |
| Writing | 3,206 | 16% |
Based on 20,225 job postings related to health specialists, medical records was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 49% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for electronic medical record, medicare, nursing, auditing and medical terminology were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for health specialists, followed by customer service, management, detail oriented, writing and english language.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Records | 9,898 | 49% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 5,783 | 29% |
| Medicare | 3,924 | 19% |
| Nursing | 3,914 | 19% |
| Auditing | 3,744 | 19% |
| Medical Terminology | 3,653 | 18% |
| Health Information Management | 3,552 | 18% |
| Data Entry | 3,130 | 15% |
| Medicaid | 2,949 | 15% |
| Billing | 2,886 | 14% |
| Process Improvement | 2,292 | 11% |
| Office Equipment | 2,250 | 11% |
| Long-Term Care | 2,035 | 10% |
| Medical Privacy | 1,902 | 9% |
| ICD Coding (ICD-9/ICD-10) | 1,798 | 9% |
| Managed Care | 1,703 | 8% |
| Minimum Data Set | 1,637 | 8% |
| Workflow Management | 1,551 | 8% |
| Outbound Calls | 1,379 | 7% |
| Opening Mail | 1,342 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 6,861 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 5,704 | 28% |
| Management | 4,365 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,338 | 17% |
| Writing | 3,206 | 16% |
| English Language | 3,013 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 2,782 | 14% |
| Leadership | 2,757 | 14% |
| Operations | 2,563 | 13% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,493 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 2,445 | 12% |
| Microsoft Office | 2,343 | 12% |
| Computer Literacy | 2,246 | 11% |
| Clerical Works | 2,140 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,016 | 10% |
| Research | 1,934 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,901 | 9% |
| Administrative Functions | 1,836 | 9% |
| Lifting Ability | 1,814 | 9% |
| Filing | 1,684 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about health specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for health specialists.
What do health specialists do?
How much do health specialists make?
All Occupations
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