Healthcare Specialist is the perfect place to begin your health care career. The short certificates make you employable in a year and you can work while continuing towards your AAS.
Students in the Healthcare Specialist program are able to study a wide variety of certification options, including Dementia Care, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Certified Nursing Aide, and more. Some of these short- term certifications are eligible for Next Level Jobs, which means tuition can be free.
All students in the Healthcare Specialist program receive clinical hands-on practice in actual healthcare settings with a mix of classroom instruction and time in the lab.
Depending on the certifications they pursue, healthcare specialist students can focus on:
Caring for older adults
Treating people who have dementia
Performing electrocardiograms (EKGs)
Providing home health assistance
Developing expertise in nutrition and wellness
Assisting pharmacists
Collecting blood samples
Dispensing medication
Career Options
Graduates of the Ivy Tech Healthcare Specialist program gain knowledge and skills for roles in doctor's offices, clinics, hospitals, labs and other settings. They hold jobs such as:
Certified Central Service Technician (CCST)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified Electrocardiograph Technician (CET)
Certified Home Health Aide
Certified Pharmacy Technician
Certified Phlebotomist
Qualified Medication Aide (QMA)
Personal Trainer
Degree Types Offered
Credential Type
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
Long-Term Certificate
– known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
Short-Term Certificates
– known as Certificates (CT)
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
fast-growing career Field
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 million new jobs in the healthcare sector between 2021 and 2031, or 13% growth. That projected growth rate is much faster than average.
industry input
Ivy Tech's Healthcare Specialist program works closely with local hospitals, pharmacies and clinics, which help guide the program's content. Their guidance helps ensure that students receive an education that prepares them for real-world experiences.
Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree
The Healthcare Specialist associate degree program provides a comprehensive overview of the field. You can customize your education by pursuing the certifications of your choosing as you work towards the associate degree.
The Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Specialist typically takes four semesters, which equates to two years.
Earn a Certificate on Your Way to an Associate Degree
Students are welcome to begin their Ivy Tech journey by pursuing their associate degree. However, you may wish to pursue a short or long-term certificate first, so you can quickly start working in the healthcare industry while you finish pursuing an associate degree. At Ivy Tech, we call this stacking your credentials because students can apply credits from a previously earned Certificate (CT) or Technical Certificate (TC) to their requirements for an associate degree to avoid duplicating the time, effort, and money put into earning a certificate.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours, including:
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
The Healthcare Specialist Technical Certificate (TC) provides a solid introduction to the healthcare field. You'll gain valuable skills through courses like Medical Terminology and through your chosen coursework.
Students can get this certificate as a step toward earning an associate degree. It allows them to choose from a variety of short-term certificates along with general education courses and electives to give them a rounded educational experience.
The Healthcare Specialist TC typically takes two to three semesters, which equates to one to two years.
FREE through Next Level Jobs
The Healthcare Specialist - Clinical Support certificate is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free Certificate in Healthcare Specialist - Clinical Support. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)
Short-Term Certificates
known as Certificates (CT)
The ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Certificate (CT) program is perfect for those looking to launch careers as exercise specialists. Students focus on analyzing movements of upper and lower extremities to become proficient in evaluating client movement.
Additionally, this short-term certificate offers students an essential foundation in exercise science. An interested student would have a strong interest in health and wellness.
A Central Service Technician Certificate (CT) prepares students for careers as sterile processing technicians or central service professionals. Students learn how to perform the following work with medical supplies in healthcare facilities:
The Central Service Technician CT is a two-semester curriculum, which is about one year.
Class Format
This certificate program is presented in a traditional, in-person format.
Career to Pursue
Earning this certificate can lead to a career as a Certified Central Service Technician (CCST). These professionals often find employment at hospitals but may work in physician or dental offices.
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Students pursuing a Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) Certificate (CT) learn all aspects of how to care for older adults. They especially focus on caring for older adults living in a long-term care setting. This class teaches students about assisting elderly individuals with aspects of daily living:
Certified Nursing Aide CT courses are presented in a traditional, in-person format.
CNA Testing
Following Ivy Tech, students must take an exam to become officially certified as a CNA. Ivy Tech faculty have created a guide to help students navigate the testing process. Read the Guide
Career to Pursue
This certificate can prepare students for a role as a Certified Nursing Assistant. You may also hear this role called a nurse's aid. These professionals typically work in long-term care and assisted living facilities and doctors' offices. Some Certified Nursing Assistants work for hospitals.
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The Dementia Care Certificate (CT) is a class that introduces students to information about the disease and how to treat those battling it. It emphasizes:
Treating the individual as a person
Using proper medical treatments for dementia
Employing proper communication techniques
Keeping the environment safe
Including family members in care
Planning meaningful and fun activities
The class meets all Indiana State Department of Health regulations for healthcare workers in long-term care facilities.
The HLHS 113 Dementia Care course is available through traditional (in-person) or hybrid (blended or learn anywhere) instruction.
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The Electrocardiography (ECG) Technician Certificate (CT) prepares students to perform electrocardiograms (ECGs). It also teaches them to assist with stress testing in a cardiovascular care setting. Students learn about:
Anatomy and physiology of the heart
Pulmonary/systemic blood flow
Procedural technique
Equipment use
The program introduces students to basic heart rhythm analysis, including standard electrical waves and measurement as well as normal and abnormal heart rhythms. Students also learn about cardiovascular drugs as part of rhythm analysis.
Electrocardiography Technician CT courses are presented through traditional, in-person instruction.
Career to Pursue
The certificate can lead to a career as a Certified Electrocardiograph Technician (CET). These professionals typically work in hospitals, physician offices and urgent care facilities.
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Ivy Tech's Long Term Care Specialist Certificate (CT) prepares students for certification in Dementia Care, Home Health Aide from the Indiana Home Care Workforce Training Program. After completing this Ivy Tech certificate program, students are eligible for Indiana State Department of Health testing for Certified Nurse Registry.
The certificate program offers opportunities to learn about topics such as:
Ivy Tech offers the Nutrition and Wellness CT course in a traditional, in-person format.
Careers
This certificate can help prepare you for careers in home-based healthcare.
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The Pharmacy Technician Certificate (CT) prepares students to become medical professionals who work alongside pharmacists. Pharmacy technicians assist in preparing and dispensing medications, helping to ensure that patients receive the best care.
Courses toward a Pharmacy Technician CT are presented in a traditional, in-person format.
Careers
After successfully passing a national exam, students who earn a Pharmacy Technician CT can become Certified Pharmacy Technicians. These professionals work in retail or hospital pharmacies.
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The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate (CT) prepares students for work collecting blood samples. They learn how to:
Prepare people for blood draws
Put patients at ease if they're anxious or afraid of needles
Verify a person's identity before drawing blood
Ensure proper labeling of collection vials
Sanitize equipment before blood collections
Perform blood draws and provide transfusions
Assist people who have adverse reactions to blood draws or transfusions
Maintain, track and store blood samples for delivery
Ivy Tech's Phlebotomy Technician CT is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free Phlebotomy Technician CT. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelors, masters, etc.)*
*Note: Students who are admitted to the Next Level Jobs program to pursue the Phlebotomy Technician CT are required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing, and physical exam.
Students who earn this certificate can take a national exam can become Certified Phlebotomists. This career often leads to work at a hospital, but these professionals also can work in physicians' offices or blood or plasma donation centers.
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The Qualified Medication Aide (QMA) Certificate (CT) teaches students how to safely:
Dispense and administer medications in a long-term care setting
Care for skin
Administer insulin
Students also learn how to monitor patients for side effects related to medications.
After completing this CT, students are eligible to take the Indiana State Department of Health competency evaluation test for QMAs for nursing assistants.
Students must have a high school diploma, transcripts or high school equivalency. They also must have 1,000 hours of experience working as a CNA during the last two years and currently be on the Indiana CNA Registry.
Required Course
This certificate requires only one, five-credit hour course: HLHS 117 QMA Preparation
Ivy Tech offers the QMA CT course in a traditional, in-person setting.
QMA Testing
Following Ivy Tech, students must take an exam to become officially certified as a QMA. Ivy Tech faculty have created a guide to help students navigate the testing process. Read the Guide
Career to Pursue
Individuals with this certificate can hold roles as a QMA, typically working in long-term care settings. Often long-term facilities will sponsor a CNA to earn this certification.
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Program Details
Healthcare Specialist is offered at 26 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:
Campus
ACSM Certified Personal Trainer CT
Central Service Technician CT
Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) CT
Dementia Care CT
Electrocardiography (ECG) Technician CT
Long Term Care Specialist (Geriatric Care Specialist) CT
Is the Healthcare Specialist Program Right for Me?
Ivy Tech's Healthcare Specialist program is designed for students who:
Are interested in a healthcare career—but not sure which specific role.
Would like to quickly start an entry-level role in the healthcare industry before pursuing a certificate or degree that requires more time to complete.
The variety of short-term certificates available in the program provide plenty of avenues for discovering the right path to pursue. You can choose to work:
Caring for the elderly
Providing dementia care
Treating people in their homes
Working in a pharmacy
In general, though, professionals in roles related to the Healthcare Specialist program typically are or have:
Good interpersonal and communication skills
Caring and patient personality to be part of patients' support system
Detail-oriented
Quick-thinking
A like of fast-pasted environments
Strong ability to multi-task
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, informatics may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
Prerequisite Courses for the Healthcare Specialist Program
The majority of the courses in this degree require demonstrated competency through appropriate assessment or by earning a grade of "C" or better in:
ENGL 093 Introduction to College Writing
And one of the following courses:
ENGL 083 Reading Strategies for College
ENGL 095 Integrated Reading and Writing
ENGL 075 Co-Requisite Integrated Reading and Writing
No Expiration of Credits
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Background Check and Exams
Students who are admitted to the program will be required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing and physical exam.
Healthcare Specialist Course Descriptions
Descriptions of Healthcare Specialist courses can be found in our course catalog. View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you're looking for, and then enter the name of the class in the search bar.
If you're a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Class Formats
Healthcare Specialist courses are available via in-person and hybrid (blended or learn anywhere) formats to give you the most flexibility. Choose the format that you learn best in and fits best with your life.
Applying to Ivy Tech is Free & Easy
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00pm-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5:00pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12:00pm Zoom Link
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
lcomer@ivytech.edu
574-289-7001 ext 025728 
