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Health program specialist vs assessment specialist

The differences between health program specialists and assessment specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a health program specialist, becoming an assessment specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an assessment specialist has an average salary of $64,402, which is higher than the $48,114 average annual salary of a health program specialist.

The top three skills for a health program specialist include health education, data collection and patients. The most important skills for an assessment specialist are social work, patients, and edition.

Health program specialist vs assessment specialist overview

Health Program SpecialistAssessment Specialist
Yearly salary$48,114$64,402
Hourly rate$23.13$30.96
Growth rate6%9%
Number of jobs114,82590,625
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4545
Years of experience64

What does a health program specialist do?

A health program specialist is in charge of planning and developing health programs in communities or facilities. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify client needs, gathering and analyzing data, spearheading different activities that promote healthy lifestyles, assessing existing programs to determine areas needing improvement, and coordinating with health care experts. Furthermore, as a health program specialist, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while adhering to the vision and mission of the organization or community.

What does an assessment specialist do?

An assessment specialist is an administrative professional who is responsible for designing and conducting assessment tests for a variety of academic clients. Assessment specialists are required to coordinate and implement the student testing program, which includes assessing an individual child's needs, potentials, and limitations. They must monitor special education or talent and gifted (TAG) staff to ensure that objectives are met. Assessment specialists must also need to know state laws and federal that pertain to educational assessments.

Health program specialist vs assessment specialist salary

Health program specialists and assessment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Program SpecialistAssessment Specialist
Average salary$48,114$64,402
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $69,000Between $47,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CATrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew Jersey
Best paying companyAppleMicrosoft
Best paying industryGovernmentTechnology

Differences between health program specialist and assessment specialist education

There are a few differences between a health program specialist and an assessment specialist in terms of educational background:

Health Program SpecialistAssessment Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Health program specialist vs assessment specialist demographics

Here are the differences between health program specialists' and assessment specialists' demographics:

Health Program SpecialistAssessment Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 30.6% Female, 69.4%Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage7%15%

Differences between health program specialist and assessment specialist duties and responsibilities

Health program specialist example 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.
  • Create exercise prescriptions for rehabilitation.
  • Program communication and development working with service providers, healthcare association and organizations to establish a state-wide tobacco treatment safety network.
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Assessment specialist example responsibilities.

  • Screen, identify, diagnose using DSM nomenclature, treat and manage mental health and/or substance abuse problems.
  • Collaborate with clinical staff regarding patient care during testing and any accommodations or adjustments require for patients being test.
  • Work with school assessment coordinators; train and evaluate staff.
  • Examine EMR documentation to determine resident's needs as required by CMS' MDS regulations.
  • Comply with CMS guidelines for Medicaid residents for admission, quarterly and significant change updates as appropriate.
  • Research and create original content for monthly SOE meetings; PowerPoint with synchronous live web camera interactions with faculty.
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Health program specialist vs assessment specialist skills

Common health program specialist skills
  • Health Education, 12%
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Technical Assistance, 8%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common assessment specialist skills
  • Social Work, 21%
  • Patients, 18%
  • Edition, 7%
  • Professional Development, 3%
  • Mental Health Assessments, 3%
  • Crisis Intervention, 3%

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