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Regarding job hunting, there’s no shortage of opportunities for healthcare professionals in information technology.
The demand for workers with cyber security and data analytics skills is projected to grow by 19% from now until 2026.
You might consider obtaining certification to help you stand out from the crowd.
You can pursue many types of certification as an IT professional, including those that will allow you to prove your expertise in HIPAA compliance and other aspects of the healthcare industry.
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What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, is a United States federal law designed to protect the integrity of the nation’s healthcare system by safeguarding patient privacy and mandating specific data security standards.
While HIPAA was first introduced in 1996, it was significantly revamped and strengthened in 2013 with the advent of the Affordable Care Act.
In addition to being more relevant than ever, HIPAA compliance is now a critical component of any healthcare business or organization.
Why is HIPAA Certification Important?
If you’re a healthcare professional, HIPAA compliance is likely already a part of your job description.
However, if you’re looking to make a career change in the healthcare field, it can be helpful to go above and beyond the minimum requirements for your chosen job by obtaining certification.
Depending on the type of certification you obtain, your official certification designation could be listed on your employment application and provide an immediate leg up on other candidates seeking the same position.
Even if you don’t plan on switching jobs, pursuing an additional certification can help you advance your career while making you more in-demand as an employee.
Which Certification Should You Get?
There are many different types of certification you can pursue as an IT professional, including those that will allow you to prove your expertise in HIPAA compliance and other aspects related to the healthcare industry.
One of healthcare IT professionals’ most common certification types is the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification.
The International Association of Privacy Professionals offers this exam and is recognized by many organizations as a gold standard of achievement in the information management sector.
Other common certification types include the Certified HIPAA Professional (CHP) exam and the Certified Information Security Risk Assessor (CISRA) exam.
How to Prepare for a Certification Exam?
Suppose you’ve decided to pursue a certification exam to prove your expertise in HIPAA compliance.
In that case, it’s important to note that certification does not directly result from completing a bloodborne pathogens training course or reading a few books.
Instead, certification is proof of mastery that a professional exam can only obtain. You needn’t be a professional test taker to succeed on certification exams.
While you will need to put in the time and effort required to succeed on any professional exam, some study tips can help you maximize your results.
First and foremost, you should set a study schedule and routine that allows you to prepare for your exam while maintaining your full-time job adequately and any other obligations you may have.
Conclusion
As an IT professional, you spend your days solving problems, implementing systems, and troubleshooting issues.
However, when you walk out the door at the end of the day, employers will no longer care about what you did at work.
Instead, they’ll be interested in what you’ve done to prove you’re qualified for the job.
Specifically, they’ll want to know if you’ve obtained a certification that proves your expertise in HIPAA compliance and other critical aspects of the healthcare field.
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