“What [the public does] not see is the massive web of organizations that the health unit coordinator is at the center of. They are touching base in multiple formats with departments throughout the facility and beyond to ensure that their family and friends receive the best care.”
Christopher Anderson, CHUC, BSITM, Vice President of the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators
When a patient is admitted to a hospital or long-term care facility, they are assumed to receive care from nurses and doctors. However, families and patients may not realize that hospital admissions and stays are administratively complicated and are overseen by health unit coordinators.
Health unit coordinators work behind the scenes in hospitals, clinics, outpatient clinics, and care facilities to ensure patients have everything they need during their stay. Duties for health unit coordinators include preparing a hospital room for a patient, ordering supplies as needed, coordinating medical procedures, and supervising the stay. This critical administrative role ensures the hospital stay can be as uneventful as possible.
While some health unit coordinators complete on-the-job training, completing a health unit coordinator education program is becoming an industry standard. These programs vary in length and scope from an online self-paced certificate to an associate’s degree. Typically, the more education a student completes in this field, the better their chances of employment, higher earnings, and future advancement.
An optional step health unit coordinators can take that can also help with employability is to earn a certification through the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC) Certification Board. Some employers may even require applicants to already hold this certification. NAHUC certification demonstrates a high degree of competency in patient care coordination, order management, and customer service.
Continue reading to learn the necessary steps to enter this essential healthcare field, including types of degrees, program admission requirements, and top schools.
Meet the Expert: Christopher Anderson, CHUC, BSITM
Christopher Anderson began his health unit coordinating career in 2005 and became certified. In 2019, he entered an education role for health unit coordinators and later management for telemetry techs and unit coordinators. He later moved to a director position of business operations. In May 2024, he was graciously welcomed into the board of directors as vice president of the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators.
Anderson earned his bachelor’s degree in business management in information technology from Western Governors University. Notably, in 2021, the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators named him the “Educator of the Year.”
HealthcareDegree.com:What is something you wish the public understood about health unit coordinators?
Anderson: People should be made aware of the scope of health unit coordinators. The public daily sees them participating in the care of their family and friends from the nursing units, on the telephone, answering call bells, and reaching out to nurses and nursing assistants. What they do not see is the massive web of organizations that the health unit coordinator is at the center of. They are touching base in multiple formats with departments throughout the facility and beyond to ensure that their family and friends receive the best care.
HealthcareDegree.com:What advice would you give to aspiring health unit coordinator students?
Anderson: I would give aspiring health unit coordinators two pieces of advice, the same as I would give to anyone considering furthering their education. The first is to set a goal—both to start and to complete. This education can be started whenever someone wishes, so it is easy to procrastinate. Don’t wait! Set that goal and get going.
The second is to seek out help. Find like-minded individuals, people already in the field, NAHUC, and family and/or friends to help you through this. Don’t jump into an education program alone. Find a support system.
Health Unit Coordinator Specializations & Degree Types
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The primary education for health unit coordinators is a certificate or diploma. These programs are relatively short and can be completed in as little as a semester in some cases. There are longer, more involved programs such as an associate degree, which provide students with more in-depth preparation for this career.
Some health unit coordinator programs offer additional certifications, such as medical customer service. These additional certificates can often be completed concurrently with the health unit coordinator program.
Admissions Requirements for Health Unit Coordinator Programs
Admission requirements for health unit coordinator programs vary based on the level of the program. Simple certificate programs that can be completed entirely online may have no admission requirements, while full-time in-person associate degree programs may require a high school diploma or GED. Generally speaking, health unit coordinator programs are relatively easy to enter as this is considered entry-level healthcare work.
Health Unit Coordinator Program Accreditation
Educational program accreditation is an important factor to consider when choosing a health unit coordinator program. Accreditation assures students, employers, and patients that a program has met rigorous quality standards of faculty, facilities, and curriculum.
Currently, there are no programmatic accreditation organizations for health unit coordinator programs. Therefore, students should ensure that their school has some level of accreditation. The primary accreditation for most programs is regional accreditation from one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
On-Campus Health Unit Coordinator Degree Programs
The intense one-semester health unit coordinator certificate program at Anoka Technical College prepares students to provide exceptional customer service to customers. Students must complete six classes in order to earn this certificate. Required coursework includes medical terminology, computer technologies for communication, medical office procedures, and electronic health records. In addition, all students must complete a critical thinking course to help them learn the skills they need to make sound decisions when working as a health unit coordinator.
Although most students complete this certificate in one semester, there are part-time options available to accommodate students who have other obligations. While this program is just a certificate, courses completed for this program can be transferred to other degree programs at Anoka, including an associate degree.
- Location: Anoka, MN
- Duration: One semester
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
One component that sets the health unit coordinator certificate program at City College of San Francisco apart is the required 20 hours of on-the-job training. While this may not seem like an extensive internship, it does provide valuable hands-on experience students wouldn’t get otherwise. Graduates of this program work in nursing homes, health facilities, and hospitals, providing exceptional patient care services.
Only two courses are required to complete this course: basic life support and health unit coordination. Currently, there are no prerequisite education requirements. However, extensive health requirements include a negative tuberculosis screening or test, proof of immunizations, and a current physical. Current medical insurance is also required.
- Location: San Francisco, CA
- Duration: One semester
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
With realistic classroom and clinical training, Clover Park Technical College’s health unit coordinator certificate graduates are ready to enter the workforce. Competencies students gain in this program include human relations, communication, supply management, and patient record maintenance. In total, students must complete 44 quarter-hours of coursework to earn this certificate. While this makes for an intensive two quarters, students can choose to complete this certificate in a more flexible part-time format.
Required coursework for this certificate includes anatomy and physiology for health unit coordinators, introduction to health unit coordinating, introduction to communication in the health unit coordinator role, and legal and ethical aspects of unit coordinating. There are online information sessions students can attend in order to determine if this program is a good fit.
- Location: Lakewood, WA
- Duration: Two quarters
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The Health Unit Coordinator Certificate program at Tri-C is a self-paced short-term certificate focusing on nonclinical responsibilities in healthcare settings. Students are required to complete courses in English composition and medical terminology. Health unit coordinators manage nonclinical tasks in nursing units, including transcribing physician orders and coordinating activities among healthcare team members.
Graduates can work in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, emergency departments, clinics, and long-term care facilities. This program emphasizes the importance of coordination and clerical duties in patient care environments.
- Location: Cleveland, OH
- Duration: One semester
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
San Diego College of Continuing Education
The health unit coordinator program at San Diego College of Continuing Education consists of 275 hours and educates individuals on overseeing non-clinical tasks within patient care settings and departments. It covers various topics, including ethical considerations, patient medical records management, medical transcription, and order processing. Additionally, the program offers guidance on understanding and articulating fundamental medical terms and industry-specific vocabulary essential in healthcare operations.
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Duration: Two courses
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Online or Hybrid Health Unit Coordinator Degree Program
For students looking for a more advanced degree, the online bachelor’s of science in health services coordinator at Western Governors University can be an excellent choice. Graduates of this program are well suited to entry-level work and more senior roles as health unit coordinators.
In addition to being an outstanding academic program, other factors that set this program apart include affordability, generous scholarships, and a strong track record for graduate employment.
Western Governors University charges tuition per six-month period versus per credit or semester. This means motivated students can complete their coursework quickly and save a significant amount of tuition expenses. Since this program is offered entirely online, students can complete their coursework at their own pace, be it quick or slow.
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The online health unit coordinator certificate at Charter College can be completed in as little as ten months. This flexible program teaches all of the courses virtually, allowing students to complete their work at their own pace and on their own time. There are also less rigorous part-time options. This program covers the fundamentals of healthcare delivery, patient care, hospital unit management, medical insurance, and records management.
Upon completing this program, students will be eligible to sit for the NAHUC exam. While this exam is typically completed at the closest Charter College location, it can be proctored at most testing facilities or even virtually. A computer is included in the cost of tuition to help students complete this online program.
- Location: Vancouver, WA
- Duration: Ten months
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s online health unit coordinator certificate prepares students with marketable skills for entry-level work as medical clerical workers. This certificate can be completed in just two semesters of part-time study. In total, students must earn a minimum of ten credits in three classes and one lab. Most of this program is offered online; however, students must complete an on-site unpaid clinical observation in their final semester. This observation can be completed at a site near the students.
The required classes for this program are medical terminology, orientation to health records, and health unit coordinator training. The medical terminology course is comprehensive and can be too rigorous for some students. Students who need more flexibility can take two slower-paced medical terminology courses instead.
- Location: Cincinnati, OH
- Duration: Two part-time semesters
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College offers a one-year technical diploma in healthcare unit coordination. Students can choose to complete this program on campus or through flexible online learning.
Upon graduation, students will have the skills to provide high-quality patient care, transcribe medical records, and general healthcare clerical support. Successful students will already have strong communication skills, empathy, good work habits, and an understanding of confidentiality.
To complete this program, students must earn at least 19 semester credit hours of coursework. Required classes include medical terminology, the culture of healthcare, and written communication. Students who want to earn additional credentials can also complete a healthcare customer service certificate while earning this diploma.
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
University of North Georgia–Dahlonega
The online certified health unit coordinator program at the University of North Georgia–Dahlonega is self-paced. Upon registration for this certificate, students will receive all course materials to work through it at their own pace. However, this does not mean that students must complete their work alone. There is ample support, including faculty office hours and designated student peer support advisors.
This program covers cultural diversity, critical thinking, medical terminology, and information communication. It adequately prepares graduates to sit for the NAHUC exam and even includes a voucher for the cost of the exam.
- Location: Dahlonega, GA
- Duration: Varies
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
How Long Does it Take to Become a Health Unit Coordinator?
It takes on average six months to complete the education required to become a health unit coordinator. There are both longer and shorter programs, so students can choose an educational path that suits their career aspirations. Generally speaking, the longer the program, the better opportunities for advancement.
How To Become a Health Unit Coordinator – Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Graduate from High School or Complete a GED (Four Years)
The majority of employers require health unit coordinators to have completed high school or earned a GED as a minimum level of education. A high school diploma or GED demonstrates a commitment to completing an educational program and a base level of work ethic. Aspiring health unit coordinators should focus on health, science, and communication classes.
Step 2: Complete Health Unit Coordinator Education (Varies)
While health unit coordinator education is not required, it is highly recommended and can help with employment and advancement opportunities. Programs vary in length from one semester all the way up to a two-year associate’s degree.
Step 3: Obtain Certification or State Licensing, if Required (Timelines Vary)
Health unit coordinator certification is not mandated, although it may be required by many employers. Most health unit coordinators earn certification through the NAHUC. State licensing is not required for health unit coordinators. See the certification and licensure section below for further details.
What Do Health Unit Coordinators Do?
Health unit coordinators primarily work in hospitals, although they can also be found in clinics, medical offices, and long-term care facilities. They are essential members of large healthcare delivery teams. While day-to-day responsibilities can vary based on place of employment, typical duties include:
- Communicating with various departments in a facility to coordinate a patient’s admission to a hospital room
- Ensuring that a room in a hospital or care facility has all the necessary supplies for a patient
- Booking procedures and transportation for admitted patients
- Transcribing doctors’ medical notes
- Maintaining supply lists and reordering as necessary
- Entering patient information into electronic health records and maintaining confidentiality
Health Unit Coordinator Certifications & Licensure
Currently, there are no state licensing requirements for health unit coordinators. However, if the role involves extensive direct patient interaction, it may fall under the scope of medical assisting and be subject to state licensing. Professionals in this field should consult with their local licensing boards and human resources departments to ensure they have the qualifications.
Certification as a health unit coordinator is voluntary, although highly recommended, as many employers require it. The most common certification health unit coordinators earn is through the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC) Certification Board. This NAHUC has been around for 30 years and assures employers, patients, and other healthcare workers that certificate holders have demonstrated competency in health unit coordination.
To be eligible for NAHUC certification, candidates must have graduated from high school or have a GED. In addition, applicants must currently be employed as a health unit coordinator or have completed a health unit coordinator education program. The exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions that must be answered in two and a half hours. The exam covers order management, communication/customer service, professional development and coordination of health unit, equipment, and technical procedures,
How Much Do Health Unit Coordinators Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2023), health unit coordinators are classified as medical secretaries and administrative assistants. The 749,500 medical secretaries and administrative assistants in the US earn $43,380 per year on average. Here are the percentiles:
- 10th percentile: $31,900
- 25th percentile: $36,540
- 50th percentile (median): $40,640
- 75th percentile: $47,930
- 90th percentile: $58,340
Health Unit Coordinator Career Alternatives
Here are a few alternatives to a career as a health unit coordinator.
Become a Medical Assistant
Medical assistants provide administrative and clinical support to various healthcare teams. They often interact extensively with patients, taking vitals, gathering medical history, assisting with medical procedures, and collecting specimens for lab tests.
- Typical Education: Certificate or diploma
- Licensing or Certifying Organization: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) for Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) from the National Healthcareer Association, Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing, Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from the American Medical Technologists
Become a Phlebotomist
Healthcare professionals whose exclusive job is to draw blood for lab tests are called phlebotomists. Typically, phlebotomists work in diagnostic laboratories, although they can also be employed at hospitals and clinics.
- Typical Education: Certificate or diploma
- Licensing or Certifying Organization: American Medical Technologists (AMT), National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP-BOC)
Become a Surgical Technologist
Surgical technologists establish and maintain a sterile field for surgery or other procedures. Other duties include ensuring the proper tools for a procedure are available, maintaining inventory, and ordering surgical supplies.
- Typical Education: Certification
- Licensing or Certifying Organization: National Board of Surgical Technology
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAt HealthcareDegree.com, Kimmy Gustafson has delivered in-depth and insightful articles since 2019, aiding prospective students to navigate the complexities of choosing the right healthcare degree. Her recent work includes topics such as the ethics of gene editing and physician assistant’s fight for autonomy.
Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.