The Best Health Degrees

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Top Healthcare Certifications to Boost Your Job Prospects

Key Information:

  • Healthcare certifications significantly increase job opportunities and earning potential, often boosting salaries by 25–30%.
  • Unlike degrees, certifications focus on targeted, job-ready skills and can be completed faster and at a lower cost.
  • Top certifications in 2025—like CNA, CCMA, EMT, and CPhT—equip professionals for in-demand roles across hospitals, clinics, and labs.
  • Choosing the right certification depends on career goals, time commitment, and market demand, with long-term benefits in job security and career growth.

The United States has among the most competitive job markets in healthcare. If you want to stand out, you need to earn two or more health certifications. It proves you’re great at what you do and ensures you’re sticking to the rules, which will eventually lead to promotions and higher pay.

There’s a big need for certified healthcare workers in the US. Due to the increase in the aging population and medical advancements, there will be more jobs needed in the healthcare industry down the road. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that healthcare jobs will grow by 11% from 2023 to 2033.

Related:

Why Healthcare Certifications Matter

Increased job opportunities

The healthcare field is huge and includes lots of different areas and specialties. Healthcare certifications make you stand out from other candidates in the industry.

Higher salary potential

The country’s Statistics Bureau confirms that healthcare workers who hold a certification make 25-30% more money than those who do not. Their pay goes up even more as they progress in their careers.

Professional credibility

Getting healthcare certifications can help improve patient outcomes. You’ll learn all about the latest medical breakthroughs, helpful tips for dealing with health issues, and how to care for patients in different circumstances.

Certifications vs. Degrees: Understanding the Difference

Here’s a breakdown of their differences:

CERTIFICATIONDEGREE
Focus:
Skills and knowledge in a
certain area.		Focus:
Wide-ranging and thorough education in a
particular subject area.
Length:
Shorter courses lasting from a few
weeks to a few months+		Length:
Programs run from two to six+ years.
Cost: Between $60 and $3,000Cost: Average of $38,270 per student
per year
Goal:
To show skill and knowledge in a
certain field, usually when
applying for a job right away		Goal:
To build a strong foundation for a career,
improve thinking skills,
and create more job opportunities.

Both can lead to more job opportunities and the potential to earn more money. However, healthcare certifications are all about specific skills that the industry acknowledges. On the other hand, degrees give you a broader education.

Top Healthcare Certifications

Here are the best healthcare certifications in 2025.

1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

CNA certification allows you to do nursing tasks like checking vitals, helping doctors and nurses, and doing simple medical procedures. Participants need to:

  • complete at least 75 hours of training
  • pass a two-part exam (written or oral section and skills demonstration)

CNA holders earn an average of $45,816 per year.

2. Medical Assistant Certification (CCMA, CMA, RMA)

If you want to become a medical assistant, there are three certifications you can choose from:

  1. CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant): Offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). It focuses on both clinical and administrative skills.
  2. CMA (Certified Medical Assistant): Awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). CMAs are highly regarded for patient care, record-keeping, and office management roles.
  3. RMA (Registered Medical Assistant): Granted by the American Medical Technologists (AMT), this certification demonstrates proficiency in both clinical and administrative tasks.

3. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

RHIT professionals ensure the accurate and secure management of patient data by helping with patient care, research, and operational efficiency. Upon earning the RHIT certification, you can pursue advanced certifications or roles like the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA.

4. Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

A Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) is in charge of taking blood samples. They make sure that they’re labeled and stored correctly, getting them ready for lab tests. Once you become a CPT, you can work in hospitals, clinics, medical offices, laboratories, and research facilities.

5. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification

Get certified as an EMT at two different levels:

  1. EMT-B for basic life support.
  2. EMT-P for advanced life support.

EMTs learn basic life support skills, while paramedics have more advanced life support training. If you get an EMT certification, it can lead to job options like a paramedic, firefighter, nurse, physician’s assistant, or working in an ER

6. Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

A CCS is an expert in medical billing and coding, ensuring accurate and standardized codes. They make sure that patients receive proper reimbursement from insurance and government programs, as well as for conducting research and monitoring public health.

Illinois-based American Health Information Management Association is the agency that administers the CCS exam. This certificate proves your knowledge of ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems.

7. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

A CPhT is a healthcare professional who assists pharmacists with medication dispensing and patient care management. To become a Certified Pharmacy Technician, you must finish an approved training program or have relevant experience, pass the PTCE, and possibly obtain a state license.

8. Radiologic Technologist Certification (ARRT)

Radiologic technologists play an important role in healthcare by using different imaging techniques (X-rays, MRI, CT scans) to create images of the body for diagnosing and tracking diseases and injuries. In order to be a certified and registered radiologic technologist, you need to finish an authorized program, pass the national certification exam from ARRT, and possibly meet state licensing rules. With a 6% job growth, it’s one of the best fields to pursue.

9. Certified Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)

Physical therapist assistants carry out treatment plans, guide patients in exercises, and give hands-on care to assist patients in regaining movement and function. To get a license as a PTA in the US, you need to complete an approved PTA program, pass the NPTE from the FSBPT, and meet the licensing rules in the state where you want to work.

10. Certified Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)

Medical lab technicians conduct tests, analyze samples, maintain equipment, and ensure quality. Medical laboratory technicians are expected to have positive job prospects, with a stable annual salary of around $60,000 and projected job growth comparable to other professions.

Choosing the Right Certification

Choosing the right and in-demand medical certifications depends on your career goals, position, and what you’re interested in. When choosing a certification, take into account the following:

  1. Career Goals: Align your certification with your desired career path.
  2. Job Market Demand: Look at job ads, industry trends, and professional groups to find certifications that are in high demand. This will help you avoid unemployment.
  3. Certification Costs: Costs vary widely. However, the basic ones cost less, while more advanced certifications can cost up to $3,000.
  4. Format: If you want more flexibility, choose one that is offered online. However, if you want to engage more directly with instructors or peers, you might opt for an in-person or hybrid format.
  5. Time and Commitment: Some certifications can be achieved relatively quickly, while others require more extensive preparation. Think about how much time you can realistically commit to preparing for the certification. If you don’t have much time, look for the fastest healthcare certifications.

How to Get Certified

  • Step 1: Choose a healthcare career certification based on what role you want to pursue. Whichever certification you decide on, make sure that it is accredited.
  • Step 2: Ensure that you meet the basic eligibility requirements.
  • Step 3: Complete/meet the program’s training requirements. All accredited healthcare certifications require you to complete formal training.
  • Step 4: Study using official study guides, practice exams, and preparatory courses.
  • Step 5: Schedule and take the certification exam. If you pass, you’ll receive your certification. But if not, you can always try again.

Medical certification programs can have different prices, with online courses being cheaper than degree programs, depending on the type and school. There are different ways to get money for education, like government grants, scholarships, loans, and help from your employer.

Career Impact and Future Opportunities

Obtaining certifications for healthcare professionals can really help you move up in your career. While you might need to take continuing education (CE) credits to keep your license, the financial rewards are definitely worth it!

With telemedicine, health data management, and emerging medical specialties, professionals will continually have to update their knowledge and skills. Both in-person and online healthcare certifications will remain an important means of keeping professionals up to date with the changes.

Conclusion

Getting certified is important for several reasons:

  1. Showing how good you are.
  2. Landing better paying jobs.
  3. Creating a vast network.
  4. Feeling good about yourself at work while growing as a professional.

The competition is only getting more intense. It’s important to get ahead of the curve early and start earning certifications now!

We hope that this straightforward healthcare certification guide helped you.