About2026-01-29T15:02:51+00:00

National Institute of
Health Career Certification

About Health Career CERTS

OUR FOUNDERS

National Institute of Health Career Certification

Shahnaz Ghassemi Ph.D.,
Shahnaz Ghassemi Ph.D.,
is a co-founder of HealthCareerCerts and a dedicated educator, scientist, and workforce development leader. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and brings extensive experience as both an educator and a research scientist in industry. As a co-leader of HealthCareerCerts, Shahnaz is deeply committed to making healthcare education accessible through affordable, flexible, and high-quality learning pathways. She works closely with academic institutions, healthcare partners, and workforce organizations to deliver certification programs that are practical, inclusive, and directly aligned with real-world healthcare needs. Since co-founding the organization, she has played a key role in building strategic partnerships that expand impact and opportunity, helping learners across the country gain essential skills, confidence, and meaningful careers in healthcare. Seeing hundreds of students thrive within the supportive learning community she helps lead continues to inspire and drive her mission forward.
Fraidoon Hovaizi Ph.D.,
Fraidoon Hovaizi Ph.D.,
is a co-founder of HealthCareerCerts and a lifelong champion of education, innovation, and community empowerment. He holds a Ph.D. in Resource Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and dedicates his work to expanding equitable access to education worldwide. As a visionary entrepreneur and community builder, Fraidoon pioneered distance education in 1997, with a mission to create global learning opportunities that enable individuals everywhere to improve their social and economic mobility through higher education. In the early 2000s, he contributed his expertise to international development initiatives through his work with World Bank programs, further strengthening his commitment to education, workforce development, and global opportunity. As a co-founder of HealthCareerCerts, he remains intensely focused on addressing healthcare staffing shortages while empowering learners, regardless of location or background, to earn certification, build meaningful careers, and move forward confidently toward their life goals.

Our Values

At HealthCareer Certs, our mission is to empower a diverse range of learners—whether students advancing toward higher education, job seekers pursuing new careers, or employers seeking competent and certified professionals. We aim to enhance professional development through innovative, accessible, and affordable healthcare education. Our meticulously designed distance learning programs provide flexible pathways for career advancement, addressing the needs of individuals and organizations alike.
We envision HealthCareer Certs as a leader in allied health professional development, delivering high-quality training that not only builds exemplary healthcare professionals but also enhances patient care and health outcomes. By collaborating with employers and educators, we aim to create a workforce that meets industry demands for well-trained, certified individuals ready to make an impact in the healthcare field.
Our goal is to positively impact students, job seekers, and employers by offering comprehensive, interactive training programs. Whether you’re an individual looking to start a new career, a student preparing for higher education, or an employer looking for competent, certified professionals, we provide the skills, qualifications, and confidence needed to succeed. Our aim is to foster lifelong learning and career development, ensuring that our graduates meet the evolving demands of the healthcare industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the training programs online or in-person?2026-01-03T02:58:09+00:00

All of our programs are 100% online, offering flexibility for students to complete their coursework at their own pace.

Programs are followed by an optional unpaid externship for hands-on experience.

HealthCareer Certs has partnerships with clinics nationwide to provide externship placements at a location convenient to the student.

What’s on the CCMA Exam?2026-01-03T02:58:33+00:00

Time Limit: 3 hours

Question Format: 150 scored multiple-choice questions, plus 30 unscored pretest questions. Each question has four possible answers.

Topic Breakdown:

Topic # of Questions Percentage
Clinical Patient Care 84 56%
Foundational Knowledge & Basic Science 15 10%
Patient Care Coordination & Education 12 8%
Administrative Assisting 12 8%
Communication & Customer Service 12 8%
Medical Law & Ethics 7 5%
Anatomy & Physiology 8 5%
Total 150 100%

Test Format:

The exam is administered either:

  • At an authorized testing center or
  • Online, with live proctoring.

Prohibited Items:

Calculators, cheat sheets, study guides, and electronic devices are not allowed in the testing room.

What Tuition Payment Options Are Available?2026-01-03T02:58:48+00:00

Upfront Payment: Pay your full tuition upfront for convenience and savings.

Installment Plans: Choose to pay your tuition in manageable installments over the course of your class.

Our goal is to make healthcare certification accessible and affordable for all students. These options provide flexibility while ensuring that your healthcare education is financially manageable.

Can I get college credits after I pass my exam?2026-01-03T02:59:12+00:00
  • Yes, you can earn college credit by passing your exam.
  • Credits can be transferred to other colleges and universities.
  • You will receive credits from the American Council on Education (ACE) after passing exams in:
  • CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant): 5 ACE Credits
  • CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician): 2 ACE Credits
  • CPCT (Certified Patient Care Technician): 1 ACE Credit
  • ACE credits are recognized by over 2,000 colleges and universities.

The credits can be transferred to those institutions, allowing you to:

Save time and money.

Complete a healthcare-related degree without starting from scratch.

Let us know if you are interested, and we will assist in providing you the credits. If you have any questions regarding college credits please email us at collegecredits@healthcareercerts.org

Do you guarantee externship program?2026-01-03T02:59:26+00:00
  • Yes! We have a dedicated department that manages externship placements.
  • Graduates are placed at a hospital or clinic convenient to their location.
  • Our externships provide valuable hands-on experience in a real-world healthcare environment.
  • This opportunity significantly enhances their employment prospects in the healthcare field.
  • We provide externship placement without any additional fees for our students.
  • If you have any questions regarding externships please email us at externship@healthcareercerts.org
What’s your Return & Program Withdrawal Policy?2026-01-03T02:59:40+00:00

At HealthcareerCerts, we value your commitment to advancing your career. Please review our return and withdrawal policies below:

A. 24-Hour Return Policy

Students may request a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. Refunds will not be issued after this period.

All approved refunds will be processed back to the original payment method within 7–10 business days.

How does “100% Tuition Refund” work?2026-01-03T02:59:53+00:00

A full refund will be honored if a student cannot find a job after satisfying the following conditions:

  •  Six months after the student successfully passes the national exam and completes the externship program.
  •  The student must demonstrate active job searching during the six-month period.
  •  The student must maintain regular communication with the externship department, keeping an updated resume and sharing the job search efforts with the department.
  •  The student must not decline any qualified job offers received during the six month period.
  •  This policy applies only to students who joined the program after July 7, 2024, when this policy was adopted.
What’s included in your program tuition?2026-01-03T03:00:10+00:00
  • One-on-One Zoom Meetings: Regular, personalized sessions with your instructor for direct support and guidance.
  • Interactive Online Classroom: Access to engaging online learning tools, including practice quizzes, flashcards, and other study materials to prepare for your certification exam.
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Exam Prep: Comprehensive preparation to ensure you’re ready for the certification exam.
  • Guaranteed Externship Placement: Secured placement in a hospital or clinic in your area to gain hands-on experience and practical skills.
  • Career-Ready Knowledge: Both academic and practical training designed to set you up for success in the healthcare field.

National Institute of
Health Career Certification

Trusted by 5,000+ Students

“10 out of 10, instructors were so kind and willing to answer any questions”

“HealthCareer Certs was overall 10 out of 10, instructors were so kind and willing to answer any questions throughout the course at any given time. For someone like me who was eager to step foot in the field after just receiving my bachelors in biology, I found this course to be greatly structured. I was able to get certified while taking some time to travel, thanks to the course being online, I studied anywhere and everywhere. Would definitely recommend!”

Brianna M.

“I passed my certification exam on the first try because of them!”

Getting my CCMA certification through HealthCareer Certs was such an amazing experience. I cannot recommend this course enough! All of the instructors were so helpful and amazing, everything is self-paced online and I passed my certification exam on the first try because of them! Thank you so much HealthCareer Certs!!! ”

Juliana J.

“I was able to get certified and pass the NHA exam on the first try in only 6 weeks”

I was able to get certified and pass the NHA exam on the first try in only 6 weeks, and I appreciated the ease of the entire process/course and the other support/resources I received. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants their MA certification.”

Olivia

Our graduates are employed at

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