Each medical certificate or diploma program consists of lectures, clinical courses and externship experiences. A phlebotomy certificate course typically lasts 4-6 months, during which time students learn to draw blood from veins for testing or treatment. Radiologic techs, also known as radiographers, take and develop x-rays and administer non-radioactive materials into a patient's blood stream for diagnostic purposes. Program graduates of various certificates or diplomas can become certified in their medical specialty through professional organizations.
- Program Levels in Medical Certificate: Certificates and Diplomas are both available.
- Medical Certificate Program Fields: Phlebotomist Certificate, radiologic technologist certificate, medical assistant diploma, diagnostic medical sonographer diploma.
- Prerequisites: GED or high school diploma is required for all of the programs as well as related college level classes such as biology, anatomy and medical terminology.
- Program Length: Phlebotomy certificate lasts 4-6 months; RT Certificates last 2 years; Medical assistant diplomas last 18 months; Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Diplomas take 1-2 years.
Students interested in receiving medical certification as a phlebotomist must have a high school diploma or GED. Graduates of a phlebotomy certificate program are prepared for entry-level employment in labs, clinics, hospitals and blood banks.
Students participate in hands-on lab work and at least one professional work experience. Medical topics include:
- Health care legalities and ethics
- Circulatory system
- Blood collection
- Specimen handling
- Medical vocabulary
Radiologic Technologist (RT) Certificate
Working with physicians, radiologic technicians prepare patients and operate the diagnostic equipment. These medical certificate programs can be completed in approximately 24 months.
Radiologic technician students learn general radiology procedures in the certificate programs and specialize in areas like mammography or computed tomography. Radiology certificate students must typically earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to complete the program successfully. Topics of study include:
- Medical safety procedures
- Radiologic apparatus operations
- Patient care and positioning
- Disease and the body
- Medical laws
Medical Assistant Diploma
The duties of a medical assistant depend on the size of the practice, office location and specialty. For the most part, medical assistants perform administrative and general clinical tasks, such as venipuncture, vital sign assessments and medication distribution. Medical assistant diploma programs take approximately 18 months to complete.
At the diploma level, medical assistant students earn professional work experience in clinics, doctors' offices and hospitals. Medical assistant courses cover:
- Clinical terminology
- First aid and CPR
- Medical record keeping
- Medical office management software
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Diploma
Diagnostic medical sonographers are professionals who use computer technology to produce images of the human body. They assist physicians in diagnosing and monitoring patient conditions
with ultrasound and other non-radiographic imaging tools. Diploma programs take 1-2 years to complete.
Diploma participants participate in seminars, lab work and clinical practica. Classes cover:
- Strategies for taking ultrasounds
- Diagnostic imaging of the abdomen
- Doppler imaging techniques
- Medical sonography for pregnant women
- Interpreting scans
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
During the 2012-2022 time period, employment of medical and clinical laboratory technicians is predicted to rise 22%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov ). In 2014, phlebotomists across the U.S. earned a median yearly salary of $30,670, according to the BLS.
Employment of radiologic technologists and technicians is expected to rise 21% from 2012 to 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS reported that in 2014, radiologic technologists made a median annual salary of $55,870.
In 2014, the median annual salary for a medical assistant in the U.S. was $29,960, according to the BLS. Employment of medical assistants was expected to climb 29%, faster than the national average, over the 2012-2022 decade, according to BLS employment forecasts.
The 2014 median annual salary for diagnostic medical sonographers was $67,530, according to the BLS. Additionally, employment of medical sonographers was predicted to increase by 39% from 2012 to 2022, which is much faster than average.
While the majority of states require radiologic techs to obtain licensure, graduates of a certificate program can also earn voluntary certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. ARRT's medical certification requires applicants to have a high school diploma, complete an accredited radiologic technology program and pass the organization's exam. While certification is voluntary, many employers require radiologic technologists to be certified. Certification is renewable every two years, provided the individual completes 24 hours of continuing medical education.
Most states require phlebotomists to pass a practical, clinical test to obtain licensure. Voluntary certifications are also offered through the National Phlebotomy Association and the American Medical Technologists organization. Certification renewal is usually contingent on the completion of continuing education.
In order to become a certified medical assistant (CMA), an individual must have a high school diploma or a GED, have graduated from an accredited medical assistant program and pass the American Association of Medical Assistants' CMA examination. CMAs have to renew certification every five years by earning continuing education credits or by taking a recertification examination.
Graduates of an accredited diagnostic sonography program can sit for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers exam. Upon successful completion of the test, applicants earn the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer credential, with specialty accreditations available in gynecological, abdominal, breast, fetal and brain sonography. To maintain certification, sonographers must meet continuing education requirements every three years and pay an annual fee.