About those credentials…
Have you ever seen, CCA, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P, CHDA, CHPS, etc., behind someone’s name and not had a clue what it meant — or if it meant anything at all? Those letters aren’t just for show. In fact, those two or three symbols can separate people from the pack or be the reason someone gets the job.
In today’s business environment, anything that differentiates an individual from the crowd and emphasizes commitment to a profession is career critical,” says Kent Johnson, partner for Da Vinci Search, a Minneapolis-based recruiting firm. “As hiring managers pore over the multitude of résumés for an opening, their eyes will naturally pick up those with the all important initials that trail their name.”
Here at Med-Certification, we know how important certifying is. In the business of health care career training for 30 years, it was a logical step to move to testing for aptitude, credentialing the applicant’s knowledge and experience, and providing the Continuing Education Credits, now mandated in health care (HCFA) to establish and maintain provider compliance. The same is true with the legal profession as those who use their services want assurance that their skillsets meet the business requirements.
How can credentialing help you?
Certifications show employers your dedication and commitment to your profession. They show you’re credible and knowledgeable about current trends and best practices in your field. In addition, designations polish all skill sets — not just the hard skills you might need in a position. In fact, 64 percent of employers in a recent survey found social interview skills and the ability to communicate well were the most important assets in a potential employee.
Staying on top of soft skills, such as critical thinking and time management. All the while maintaining expertise in hard skills such as widely used software programs provides candidates and employees with a necessary edge.
Even if you already have a designation, employers expect workers to consistently improve their current skill sets. According to surveys, the following percentages of employers want their employees to sharpen their skills in the following areas: time management (62 percent), customer service (45 percent), Microsoft Excel (44 percent), leadership (39 percent), interpersonal skills (33 percent), business etiquette (26 percent) and business ethics (17 percent). The need to maintain skills with new technology or information is done through Continuing Education Credits easily available at med-certification.com.
While there is no doubt certifications open the door and improve chances of getting an interview, official recognitions are not the silver bullet. Certifications are especially beneficially when coupled with appropriate experience in the field as well.
In some cases, however, certifications might count for more than just an added skill. If a person doesn’t have an actual degree, certifications often serve as well.
What kinds of certifications are out there?
There are literally thousands of certifications available to people, both on and offline, specializing in hard and soft skills, and in every industry. Med-Certification for example, offers more than 10 courses and certification in:
- Medical Billing, Coding, Transcription, Office Manager and Office Assistant,
- Legal Secretary and Paralegal/Legal Assistant. Students from the courses provided are so well versed during the training process that over 90% go on to become certified in their field of study.
Looking to expand your skill set, boost your salary and make yourself more marketable to employers? Here are several certificate programs that you might not have known about to beef up your résumé: Remember that Obama has set aside $37 billion in economic stimulus money for digitization of health records. We’ve added: Medical Scribe, Medical Records Technician to our skill training repertoire! Check the “Training Course” options at the top menu.