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Health insurance specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a health insurance specialist. Health insurance specialists usually study business, health care administration, or psychology. 51% of health insurance specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 835 real health insurance specialist resumes to see exactly what health insurance specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for health insurance specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online health insurance specialist courses to help get the education required to be a health insurance specialist.
There are certain health insurance specialist certifications that you should consider. These health insurance specialist certifications include Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI).
What education do you need to become a health insurance specialist?
What degree do you need to be a health insurance specialist?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 14%
- High School Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 10%
What should I major in to become a health insurance specialist?
- Business, 30%
- Psychology, 6%
- Insurance, 5%
- Other Majors, 51%
Most common colleges for health insurance specialists
| Health insurance specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 13.10% |
| University of Baltimore | 10.71% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 8.33% |
| Morgan State University | 5.95% |
| Florida International University | 4.76% |
Best majors for health insurance specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 30.3% |
| 2 | Health Care Administration | 7.9% |
| 3 | Psychology | 6.1% |
| 4 | Insurance | 4.7% |
| 5 | Accounting | 4.7% |
Best colleges for health insurance specialists
The best colleges for health insurance specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A health insurance specialist 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 insurance specialists. 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 insurance specialists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
3. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. Baylor University
Waco, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$45,542
Enrollment
14,159
8. University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,912
Enrollment
14,245
9. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
20 best online courses for health insurance specialists
Advertising disclosure
1. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
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...
2. CVS Health Call Center Customer Service
The demand for call center customer service representatives is huge, there are thousands of open job roles in the US alone. If you are someone that enjoys talking to people and solving problems and are ready for new experiences, then this program is right for you. Customer service in a call center is an exciting career where every day is a new day and a new adventure. If you're considering a career in retail customer service and you're someone who is passionate about providing exceptional...
3. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
Health Information Technology HIT...
4. Fundamentals of Insurance - 2
Part 2...
5. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities
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...
6. The Business of Health Care
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,...
7. Fundamentals of Insurance - 1
Part 1...
8. Understanding HIPAA for the Medical Office
A healthcare professional's guide to understanding the requirements HIPAA...
9. Data and Health Indicators in Public Health Practice
Epidemiology is often described as the cornerstone science in public health. Epidemiology in public health practice uses study design and analyses to identify causes in an outbreak situation, guides interventions to improve population health, and evaluates programs and policies. In this course, we'll define the role of the professional epidemiologist as it relates to public health services, functions, and competencies. With that foundation in mind, we'll introduce you to the problem solving...
10. Medical Billing and Coding Fundamentals
Through this Specialization, students learn the essential skills of an Insurance Billing Specialist. Knowledge of human anatomy and medicine is necessary for any healthcare role, so students are also taught this terminology and structure. Additionally, this Specialization includes skills to stand out to employers by teaching professionalism, communication, and soft skills specific to an allied health environment...
11. Excel Skills for Insurance Professionals
From Vlookups to Pivot Tables: Learn the Excel basics anyone working in the insurance industry needs to know!...
12. Health Data 101
An Introduction to Health Data for data analysts...
13. Healthcare Marketplace
The first course, Healthcare Marketplace Overview, covers all of the major sub-sectors of the healthcare industry including the physician, hospital, insurer and medical technology markets, including a historical perspective. The second course, Healthcare Delivery Providers, takes an in-depth look at the system of healthcare delivery and the transformations occurring to improve the health of populations and communities. The third course,Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Innovations, gives the...
14. Understanding HIPAA Compliance
This course helps you understand the various rules under HIPAA and how to be compliant with that...
15. Health Coaching Certification Holistic Wellness Health Coach
Health Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Health Coaching Specialists in Holistic Wellness Health Coaching...
16. HIPAA Compliance Complete Course
Protecting Patients and Practices...
17. Understanding and Complying with HIPAA
This program will train you on the HIPAA and provide an overview on the rules governing protected health information...
18. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Health & Wellness
Learn about holistic health, wellness, key biomarkers, good sleep and ways to optimize your health...
19. Health Masterclass: How To Transform Your Health & Life
Master The 3 Surprising Steps That Can Finally Transform Your Health In The Next 30 Days...
20. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...
Top 10 most affordable universities for health insurance specialists
The most affordable schools for health insurance specialists are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for health insurance specialists 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 insurance specialists.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for health insurance specialists
The hardest universities for health insurance specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for health insurance specialists 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 insurance specialists 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for health insurance specialists
The easiest schools for health insurance specialists to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a health insurance specialist 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 insurance specialists.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
8. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
Average health insurance specialist salary by education level
| Health insurance specialist education level | Health insurance specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $65,962 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $57,530 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,057 |
| Doctorate Degree | $63,107 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,392 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025