Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose the master's program or the certificate program?
Both programs are designed for professionals with prior experience in the health industry. The master's program is appropriate for those who seek advanced training in informatics and wish to redirect their careers to becoming health informatics researchers or clinical health IT directors at the systems-level. The graduate program is a competitive, 43-unit residential program housed at the School of Medicine in Sacramento, CA. Selected courses within the program, are delivered online; however, students are expected to be in residence for the majority of their studies. Most spend 2 years in their coursework, and then complete a master's-level research project and thesis. The certificate program is intended to provide a shorter, focused educational experience with an applied focus (versus a research emphasis). This 18-unit program is designed for those who wish to participate in the design and implementation of a clinical informatics program and/or work with health-related information in a clinical or public health setting. Both programs are open to IT professionals who wish to transition to a health-related setting; however, preparatory coursework may be recommended depending on your professional background.
Are the certificate courses transferable to the UC Davis master's program?
Possibly. There is not a direct, one-to-one relationship between courses in the certificate and master's programs, so the certificate courses are not automatically transferable to the master's. That said, UC Davis policy allows students to transfer up to 12 units into a graduate program on a case-by-case basis, subject to the approval of the graduate program chair. He/she would take into consideration your particular background in determining how/if to apply the courses, assuming you are successful in gaining admission to the master's. This is similar to the process used at most academic institutions.
How long will it take me to complete the certificate program?
Once in full operation, students should be able to complete the program in 1 year. However, as this is our first year, we recommend that you plan on spending 18 months to complete the 6-course program. This allows a little wiggle room in planning/scheduling for the first year.
Is the certificate program accredited?
All courses are reviewed and approved by the UC Davis Health Informatics program. However, the program is not currently accredited by any professional organization. Our program advisors are active in the national governing body, AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association); however, we did not seek AMIA’s endorsement because of a very high revenue sharing requirement that would have meant significantly higher prices for our students. That said, we have incorporated many of AMIA’s core competencies into the program of study. For IT professionals, there are a variety of certifications available to individuals through AIHMA (American Health Information Management Association), which typically require the ability to complete a certification examination of some kind. These certifications are for IT staff and those in technical positions (coders, IT administrators), not health informaticists. You can learn more about both associations on the Web:
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
To earn the certificate, students complete six courses (5 required and 1 elective), submit an application and pay a $45 application fee.
What is the cost per hour of the course?
Our fees are charged on a course-by-course basis. Prices for introductory level courses are $950. A few of the more technical courses are $1,200. All in all, you can expect to pay approximately $6,450 for the 18-unit program.
May I enroll in individual courses without completing the certificate?
Yes, courses are open for individual enrollment if you meet all published prerequisites. You may also choose to sample a course or two before applying to the certificate. If you plan to complete the certificate program, we recommend you apply by the time you enroll in your second or third course. That way, you will be sure to receive any program updates.
I don't have a background in healthcare. Am I qualified to enter this program?
The certificate program is geared primarily to those with a background in healthcare in either a clinical role (e.g., nurse, physician, pharmacists) or analytical role (e.g., data analyst in hospital system or public health setting). We also encourage participation from those who possess a strong background in information technology, and wish to work in an IT capacity in a health-related setting. For those without any background in the health industry, we recommend you take an introductory course in U.S. healthcare and/or do some preparatory reading. Some good references include:
- An Introduction to the US Health Care System by Steven Jonas
- Health Care Politics and Policy in America by Kant Patel
Since I am new to the healthcare field, what are the prospects of finding employment with this certification? For what kinds of roles does this certificate prepare me?
If you have no prior experience in healthcare or information technology, it will be difficult to enter this field at a professional level. If you are thinking about changing careers, we recommend you do some prior research by reviewing jobs, the required qualifications, and salary levels. A few good sources include:
For those with strong IT backgrounds, there a variety of technical jobs in the health industry—much like in other industry settings (e.g., coders, programmers, systems analysts, security experts, system administrators). Your job prospects will depend upon the market in which you are applying (location, number of health institutions, availability of IT labor force in the area, etc.), as well as your skills and experience in IT. What this program will do is give you the knowledge about how information systems are being applied in clinical and public health settings.
What is the salary range I can expect to earn once I am successfully employed?
Salaries vary greatly depending on the particular job you perform and the market you work in. Please see the resources referenced in the answer above.
