Certificate Programs
Associate Degrees
Bachelor’s Degree
Request More Information
Healthcare Certificate Programs
On Campus and Online
Achieving certification status as a medical assistant, dental assistant, or medical coding specialist is a worthwhile investment in your healthcare career. Certificate programs at Northwestern College provide additional skills for individuals currently working in healthcare, and useful qualifications for those entering the healthcare industry. Our certificate programs are job-focused, providing networking opportunities for students, including externships and career services.
Focused, Short-Term Healthcare Certificate Programs
Available at our campus in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and online, Northwestern College offers healthcare certificate programs for medical assistants, dental assistants, and medical coding specialists that can be completed in just one year. There are no general education classes required, and the coursework is focused on gaining the knowledge and practical skills to help students work in healthcare. Our healthcare certifications are attractive to employers and help students advance their medical careers.
Our certificate programs include:
Medical Assisting
Train for a multi-faceted role in medical assisting, performing a wide range of patient-centered clinical and administrative tasks.
Dental Assisting
Develop skills in patient education and administrative coordination to increase the delivery and quality of oral health care.
Coding Specialist
Enhance your coding knowledge and gain skills for entry-level coding positions by learning about current classification systems and how to use them in both acute and ambulatory care settings.
Career Opportunities
- Medical Assisting Certificate Program
- Dental Assisting Certificate Program
- Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program
Medical Assisting Certificate Program
Earn a certificate in medical assisting that can open doors across the healthcare industry. Each healthcare environment offers opportunities to develop more skills and learn more techniques. Certified medical assistants have skills that are easily transferable to a variety of healthcare settings, including:
- Physician offices
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Assisting living facilities
- Research facilities
- Medical specialty offices
- Government agencies
Medical assistants usually interact with patients, often taking vital signs, placing them in examination rooms, and educating them about medical conditions or treatments. But they also handle billing and coding paperwork and electronic health records, schedule appointments, and perform other tasks.
At Northwestern College, the medical assistant program consists of 48 credit hours, requires an externship, and is available on campus and 100% online. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists (AMT) Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam.
Apply Now
Dental Assisting Certificate Program
Dental care is important to human health, and the dental field needs qualified motivated staff. With a dental assistingcertificate from Northwestern College, graduates find work in several areas, such as:
- Private dental offices
- Specialty practices, such as orthodontia, oral surgery, or periodontics
- Government agencies
Dental assistants make sure the office runs smoothly, interacting with patients and handling scheduling tasks, billing duties, and patient records. In some cases, dental assistants may help with direct patient care and laboratory tasks, as well. Certified dental assistants have earned transferable, valuable skills, and they often obtain specialized skills in the dental setting.
Consisting of 48 credit hours and requiring an externship, the dental assistant certificate program at Northwestern College is taught on campus in Bridgeview, IL. Graduates are qualified to sit for the American Medical Technologists RegisteredDental Assistant exam.
Medical Coding Specialist Certificate Program
Students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science degree inHealth Information Technologyat Northwestern College also can earn the medical coding specialist certificate. If you are new to the healthcare industry, learning more about medical codes, and becoming amedical coding specialistcan positively impact your career.
Employers throughout the healthcare sector need skilled medical coding specialists to maintain the accuracy of electronic health records, track billing and payment data, and assist medical researchers. Medical coding specialists work in many facilities, including:
- Hospitals
- Public health clinics
- Research departments at universities
- Government agencies
- Insurance companies
- Nursing facilities
Associate Degree Programs
On Campus and Online
Earning an associate degree can be an excellent way to begin your studies in higher education, and it also can be a springboard to a more fulfilling job or a career that is more highly paid. At Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and serving the greater Chicago area, students who graduate with an associate degree in Radiologic Technology, Nursing, or Health Information Technology are ready to join the skilled workforce in a relatively short time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with an associate degree earned an average of $114 more per week in 2017, almost $6,000 annually, than high school graduates without college credits.
Our associate degree programs include:
Radiologic Technology
Receive hands-on training in the use of diagnostic imaging equipment, as well as classroom studies in radiologic-specific subjects such as physics and anatomy. After graduation, students are qualified for licensing examinations and starting their new careers in radiography.
Nursing
In the Violet L. Schumacher School of Nursing at Northwestern College, students in the associate degree program can take advantage of the growing demand for nurses in healthcare. The program welcomes applications by students who currently work as LPNs, as well as those who are new to the field. Graduating students are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses.
Health Information Technology
Students who are attracted to work in the healthcare industry - and enjoy statistics and digital technology - can train for high-demand information technology careers. Graduating students are qualified to work as medical records technicians and health information technicians. Previous experience in healthcare can be helpful when entering this program, though it is not required.
Apply to An Associate Degree Program
Advisors are available to answer any questions about programs at Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL, serving the greater Chicago area. If you have been considering a career in healthcare, applying to an associate of the applied science degree program in Radiologic Technology, Nursing, or Health Information Technology might be the first step on a journey toward finding well-paid work that you love. Contact ustoday for more information about our associate degree programs at Northwestern College.
Apply Now
Bachelor's Degree Program
Bachelor’s degrees represent several years of hard work and dedication to a field and often are a minimum requirement for entry-level and management positions in healthcare. At Northwestern College in Oak Lawn, IL, and the greater Chicago area, we offer an online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Health Information Management. Our bachelor’s degree program allows students to move directly into the workplace or pursue advanced degrees as graduate students.
Health Information Management
100% Online
Offered fully online for the flexibility and convenience of our students, this program is specifically designed for those who already have previous education or experience in the area of health information technology and want to take what they know to the next level. Learn how to competently manage patient health information and information systems while also meeting the American Health Information Management Association’s standards of quality, integrity, respect, and leadership.
- Program Overview
- Leadership Preparation
- Professional Exam Eligibility
- Advance Your Current Career
Program Overview
Fully online, this bachelor’s degree program is built on Northwestern College’s Associate of Applied Science Degree inHealth Information Technology(HIT). Applicants to the B.S. program must have completed either our HIT program, or one similarly accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The program includes general education courses, such as psychology, professional writing, algebra, and statistics, as well as professional preparation in financial administration, information governance, data mining, and human resource leadership theory.
Graduates meet challenging goals in the health information technology degree program, such as effective communication skills, self-directed learning abilities, and demonstrated experience in critical thinking and problem-solving. They are well prepared to join the ranks of professionals in health information management and to take on roles in healthcare, including positions within institutions, insurance, and government.
Apply Today
Why have students been choosing Northwestern Collegesince 1902? We continue to help them prepare for rewarding careers. If you are looking to increase your level of responsibility in your current field or are interested in joining healthcare professionals and allies as they work to improve the health and lives of patients and families, apply to earn a bachelor’s degree today. Our graduates qualify for positions in hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies, public health agencies, research institutions, and medical practices.Request informationabout the Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management at Northwestern College today.
Apply Now
Leadership Preparation
PREPARATION FOR LEADERSHIP ROLES IN HEALTHCARE
Earning a bachelor’s degree at Northwestern College provides students with a unique opportunity. Students gain knowledge and skills that are vital to working in the fast-growing healthcare sector. Our comprehensive, online bachelor’s degree program prepares students for leadership roles. They manage healthcare teams, patient data, and billing mechanisms, and participate in strategic planning and economic forecasting.
In an increasingly digital environment that requires patient medical records to be available to multiple healthcare and allied professionals in a variety of locations, information management professionals are charged with keeping records safe and accessible. The trust of patients and institutional partners rests on honoring confidentiality, while also facilitating fast, effective patient care. As graduates of the B.S. degree in Health Information Management at Northwestern College, our alumni are prepared to analyze and learn from medical data, while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations that govern data sharing.
Professional Exam Eligibility
At the end of the program, students are eligible to sit for the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) examination. According to AHIMA, RHIAs:
- Prepare budgets
- Manage operational units
- Work on all levels of organizations
- Administer and manage patient health data
- Use classification systems and medical terminologies
Advance Your Current Career
Earning a bachelor’s degree in healthcareprogramscan be a game-changer for your career path. If you are already working in patient care, insurance, public health, or in a related field, you may be considering enrolling in an educational program. If you have experience with medical records, billing services, or data entry and analysis, you are already aware that a bachelor’s degree in health information management could facilitate a step up in your career path.
If you are currently employed in the healthcare sector, you are well-positioned to apply for the B.S. in Health Information Management at Northwestern College. We have found that prior experience in healthcare is beneficial for those who undertake this challenging and engaging program. However, anyone who wants to make a difference in patient care and improve healthcare delivery will find the health information management program to be a stimulating and beneficial path to a fulfilling career.
Transfer Previous Credits
Often, students have previously studied and earned college credits in a related field that might be relevant to their new course of study. Some or all credits already earned on a college transcript can be transferable when students are accepted into an associate degree program. Ask our Admissions Departmentfor specific information about transfer credits and whether you can gain credit for previous coursework.
