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Health careers instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a health careers instructor. Health careers instructors usually study nursing, psychology, or business. 61% of health careers instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 877 real health careers instructor resumes to see exactly what health careers instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for health careers instructors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online health careers instructor courses to help get the education required to be a health careers instructor.

There are certain health careers instructor certifications that you should consider. These health careers instructor certifications include Medical Assistant and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

What education do you need to become a health careers instructor?

What degree do you need to be a health careers instructor?

The most common degree for health careers instructors is bachelor's degree, with 61% of health careers instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 19% and master's degree degree at 11%.
  • Bachelor's, 61%
  • Master's, 19%
  • Associate, 11%
  • Doctorate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a health careers instructor?

You should major in nursing to become a health careers instructor. 14% of health careers instructors major in nursing. Other common majors for a health careers instructor include psychology and business.

Most common colleges for health careers instructors

Health careers instructors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Northern Illinois University, and University of Florida. Here are the most common colleges for health careers instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Health careers instructor common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix11.50%
Northern Illinois University10.62%
University of Florida7.96%
University of Iowa7.96%
University of Northern Iowa5.31%

Best majors for health careers instructors

RankMajorPercentages
1Nursing13.8%
2Psychology12.5%
3Business9.0%
4Health Education8.0%
5Education7.6%

Best colleges for health careers instructors

The best colleges for health careers instructors are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

A health careers instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for health careers instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become health careers instructors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

7. SUNY at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$10,099

Enrollment

21,404

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

9. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

20 best online courses for health careers instructors

Advertising disclosure

1. Professionalism in Allied Health

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This course will benefit anyone considering a career in allied health, as well as those already working the field. Allied Health Professionals must be committed to the key attributes of professionalism and strive to reflect this within the delivery of patient-centered, safe, and effective care. “Professionalism” is a broad term which reflects many different skills and abilities. For an individual to exhibit professionalism, they must be armed with specific skills and abilities that do not...

2. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...

3. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate

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Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...

4. Managing mental health issues in the workplace

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4.1
(891)

Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...

5. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

6. Health Informatics for Healthcare Professionals

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This course is best suited for individuals currently in the healthcare sector, as a provider, payer, or administrator. Individuals pursuing a career change to the healthcare sector may also be interested in this course. In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore concepts and topics related to the design and management of health information systems. After an introduction to the history and current status of information systems in healthcare, you will then explore the areas of...

7. Health Coaching Certification Holistic Wellness Health Coach

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Health Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Health Coaching Specialists in Holistic Wellness Health Coaching...

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How to manage mental health in the workplace to boost productivity and be the best boss!...

9. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities

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A strong argument can be made that the health care field is one of the most information-intensive sectors in the U.S. economy and avoidance of the rapid advances in information technology is no longer an option. Consequently, the study of health care information technology and systems has become central to health care delivery effectiveness. This course covers the modern application of information technology that is critical to supporting the vision and operational knowledge of the health care...

10. The Business of Health Care

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This Specialization was designed to help you keep pace with the rapidly changing world of health and health care. Through partnership with Wharton and Penn Medicine, you’ll learn from experts in business acumen, health care management, and health care policy to develop the skills you’ll need to successfully navigate the quickly evolving landscape of this fast-growing field.* By the end of this specialization, you will have a strong foundational understanding of the American health care system,...

11. Mental Health and Wellness Professional (MHW) Diploma Course

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Discover a flexible and comprehensive way of understanding mental health as a Certified Mental Health Professional (MHP)...

12. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Health & Wellness

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Learn about holistic health, wellness, key biomarkers, good sleep and ways to optimize your health...

13. CVS Health Retail Customer Service

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The demand for customer service representatives is huge, there are thousands of open job roles in the US alone. This program prepares you for a retail customer service role. Retail customer service is an exciting career where every day is a new day and a new adventure. The target audience for this certificate is anyone who is customer obsessed and is looking to launch a career in retail customer service.\n\nThis program uniquely prepares you for your new role by using a blend of videos,...

14. Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action

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Humans often fail to make rational decisions that affect their health. This course seeks to heighten understanding of the social and behavioral factors that contribute to health decisions and behaviors, with an ultimate goal of learning how to utilize these factors in improving public health efforts. Through a set of experiential learning exercises, students will learn to apply the science of health behavior change in their own lives. The course is appropriate for students interested in health...

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Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...

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17. Health Systems Development: Introduction to Health Systems

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This specialization is intended for people interested in health systems and how they function. Participants will learn about the global health systems landscape and the challenges and opportunities to achieve better health outcomes. This specialisation is divided into three courses which are offered as massive online open access courses (Courses 1-3), and a fourth course which is offered as part of the Online MPH degree (capstone). The Health Systems Development specialisation is geared toward...

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20. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)

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Top 10 most affordable universities for health careers instructors

The most affordable schools for health careers instructors are California State University - Long Beach, baruch college of the city university of new york, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for health careers instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for health careers instructors.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. California State University - Fresno

Fresno, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,587

Cost of attendance

16,915

7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

10. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for health careers instructors

The hardest universities for health careers instructors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for health careers instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for health careers instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

9. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for health careers instructors

The easiest schools for health careers instructors to get into are Barry University, gwynedd mercy university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a health careers instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for health careers instructors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

7. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

8. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

9. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

10. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

Average health careers instructor salary by education level

Health careers instructors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $48,703 annually. With a Master's degree, health careers instructors earn a median annual income of $48,125 compared to $40,488 for health careers instructors with an Bachelor's degree.
Health careers instructor education levelHealth careers instructor salary
Master's Degree$48,125
Bachelor's Degree$40,488
Doctorate Degree$48,703

Health careers instructor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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