How To Become A Health Program Specialist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a health program specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Sara Oswalt Ph.D.

Although the size and nature of the providers may vary, health program specialists work together with healthcare providers. They are employed by public and private hospitals to help ensure the proper dissemination of information about a hospital's services. Community clinics also use their expertise in designing and implementing outreach programs. These programs are often available at a free or discounted rate for individuals who need them in the community.

Program specialists are in charge of overseeing various programs within the hospital or clinic. They are also involved in communicating with healthcare providers and making resources available to carry out a particular operation.

They must possess significant experience in a related field; their experience determines their pay grade and supervisory status. However, some hospitals and clinics employ multiple program specialists in the same category and distinguish them using a ranking system based on work experience and skill level.

What general advice would you give to a health program specialist?

Sara Oswalt Ph.D.

Department Chair and Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio

Try to get as much experience as you can, even if it's volunteering. Experiencing different roles and settings provides a better understanding of what kind of organization you want to work for and what kind of job you want. This can be especially important if that first job isn't ideal. The reality is many folks take a first job just to get one, and this is okay because you need experience in the field. Continuing to volunteer allows you to learn more about yourself, your community and how you fit. It can also help make connections that allow you to learn about new opportunities when they do occur.

ScoreHealth Program SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.8

Avg. Salary $48,114

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.23%

Asian 5.69%

Black or African American 10.19%

Hispanic or Latino 14.41%

Unknown 6.19%

White 62.29%

Gender

female 69.40%

male 30.60%

Age - 45

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a health program specialist

Explore health program specialist education requirements

Most common health program specialist degrees

Bachelor's

59.2 %

Master's

19.0 %

Associate

11.2 %

Start to develop specific health program specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Health Education	11.89%
Data Collection	11.87%
Patients	9.43%
Technical Assistance	7.79%
Social Work	7.55%

Complete relevant health program specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New health program specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a health program specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real health program specialist resumes.

Research health program specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage and maintain medical and legal case files in compliance with HIPAA.
Conduct screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure and osteoporosis.
Coordinate appointments with court and third-party medical facilities and accompany patients to legal appointments, rehabilitation and therapy groups.
Serve as lead staff and successfully provide direct inpatient care in psychiatric setting in support of patient rehabilitation.

Prepare your health program specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your health program specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a health program specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable health program specialist resume templates

Build a professional health program specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your health program specialist resume.