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Online Healthcare Leadership Certificate

The online undergraduate Healthcare Leadership (HCL) Certificate is designed to prepare students with project management, finance, HR and quality evaluation skills to positively impact their organization and the healthcare system, and advance their career.

UofL’s online certificate in Healthcare Leadership prepares you to stand out as you aspire to new roles, enriching your ability to lead and manage in a variety of healthcare settings. You’ll learn to navigate organizational challenges, drive change, and improve performance metrics while also expanding your decision-making skills and becoming more confident in your abilities as a manager and leader.

The online certificate is offered by the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at the University of Louisville.

How Much Will I Pay?

Tuition & Aid

Work Ready KY Scholarship Available for Online HCL Certificate Students
Complete your application as soon as possible to be considered for this KHEAA opportunity. LEARN MORE

This certificate does not qualify for Title IV federal financial aid. Tuition rate does not include costs associated with a specific course or program, such as textbooks.

Highlights

  • Stay relevant and build confidence in your skills and abilities with courses covering management fundamentals, HR, finance, accounting and quality evaluation.
  • Go even further: certificate credit hours can be applied towards UofL’s Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning.
  • Take advantage of the flexibility and convenience of 100% online classes and 24/7 access to learning tools.
  • Learn from world-class faculty who have extensive experience in the field.
  • Move through your coursework in an accelerated 8-week timeframe.
  • Graduate within 1 semester (full-time students).

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100% ONLINE COURSES

Complete this program on your own time through fully online classes.

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12 CREDIT HOURS

This certificate consists of only 4 highly-specialized courses.

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$527 PER CREDIT HOUR

Take advantage of UofL’s military-friendly rate of $250 per credit hour (for active duty).

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Online learning video - Online Healthcare Leadership Certificate

Prepare for diverse leadership opportunities, career growth, and more in the ever-growing healthcare field!


Outcome

Healthcare occupations are projected to grow 15% by 2029, adding about 2.4 million jobs – which is much faster than the average for all occupations (bls.gov). The UofL Healthcare Leadership certificate prepares you to be part of this growth, helping you advance your career in health administration and/or healthcare management roles as well as clinic, service and department level positions in public or private healthcare organizations. Roles vary by industry, level and sector, including:

  • Clinic manager/administrator
  • Community health operations manager
  • Health insurance manager
  • Health systems specialist
  • Healthcare process administrator
  • Healthcare logistics manager
  • Healthcare organization manager
  • Military healthcare, operations manager/director
  • Nursing supervisor
  • Pharmacy, lab, radiology administrator
  • Public health manager

Application Deadline Term Start Date
August 1 Fall I August
October 1 Fall II October
December 1 Spring I January
February 1 Spring II Late February
May 1 Summer May

Steps to Apply

  1. Complete the Take Flight (undergraduate) application (select Post-Bac or Visiting Student > College Visitor, when prompted)
  2. $30 non-refundable application fee
  3. Submit official college transcripts from all previous institutions
  4. Submit current resume
  5. Check for Scholarships

Note: Electronic transcripts are only accepted directly from the institution(s). Please have electronic transcripts sent to adetran@louisville.edu.

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Admission in good standing requires:

  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7 to be admitted in good standing (applicants with a 2.0 - 2.69 GPA may inquire about conditional admission)
  • 1 year of work experience in a healthcare leadership or related role

Not meeting the admission requirements?

If you do not meet one or more admission requirement(s), you may submit a petition for admission requirement waiver within the application form, in conjunction with all other application materials, explaining 1) how this program fits in your career planning and 2) why the unmet requirement(s) will not be a barrier to success in this program.

For more information on the admission and application process, please contact our Online Learning Enrollment Counselors at 800.871.8635 or by email at online@louisville.edu.


The online Undergraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership is a 12-credit hour program. All courses are delivered online through 8-week terms.


Course List Hours
LEAD 309 Managing Projects in Healthcare Organizations 3
LEAD 410 Fundamentals of Healthcare Human Resource Management 3
LEAD 430 Healthcare Finance and Accounting 3
LEAD 432 Healthcare Quality Evaluation 3
Total Minimum Required Credit Hours 12

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Course Descriptions

  • Is there a part-time and a full-time option?

    Yes, you can complete this program as either a part-time or a full-time student. As a part-time student, you can take more time to complete the program. As a full-time student, it is possible to complete this certificate in just one semester by taking all 12 credit hours at the same time!

  • I don’t have a 2.25 GPA, could I be accepted provisionally?

    Yes, provisional admission is possible. The Admissions Committee will assess applications on a case-by-case basis, carefully considering all qualifications.

  • Is the online leadership in healthcare certificate suitable for me as an out-of-state student?

    Yes, this program is applicable to students nationwide. Students can apply and enroll to UofL’s online programs, including this HR certificate from anywhere in the world. Out-of-state online students pay the same tuition rates as in-state students, which provides great savings.

  • Is UofL’s online certificate program for healthcare administrators open to international students?

    Yes, the online Healthcare Leadership certificate program is open to international students. Please view our international admissions requirements for more information.

  • Are there any additional fees outside of tuition?

    No, there are no additional fees. However, you will need to purchase the textbooks specific to your chosen courses.

  • Can I transfer in credits?

    No, transfer credits are not accepted for the certificate program. All 12 credits required in this program must be completed at UofL.

  • How long are the courses?

    The courses are offered in an accelerated 8-week format, allowing you to focus on one discipline at a time.

  • Can I take summer classes?

    Yes, classes are offered year-round including summer.

  • Can I take some classes on campus if I want?

    No. All Healthcare Leadership Certificate courses are delivered in a 100% online format. These courses are not offered on-campus at this time.

  • I don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Do I need one to be admitted to this program?

    No, this program is an undergraduate certificate and does not require a bachelor’s degree for admission, though you do need at least 1 year of work experience. Once you successfully complete the certificate, you can apply the credits earned in the certificate program towards your B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Learning degree.

  • Can I apply the certificate credits towards my bachelor’s degree?

    Yes, once you successfully complete the certificate, you can apply the earned credits towards your B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Learning degree.

  • I have experience in healthcare but not in leadership roles; can I still apply? Can I apply if I don’t have work experience in the healthcare field?

    Currently, at least 1 year of work experience in healthcare leadership or a related role is required to apply. If you do not meet one or more admission requirement(s), you may submit a petition for admission requirement waiver within the application form, in conjunction with all other application materials, explaining 1) how this program fits in your career planning and 2) why the unmet requirement(s) will not be a barrier to success in this program. Please visit our Apply tab for the most up-to-date information. You can also contact our Online Learning Enrollment Counselors by email at online@louisville.edu or by calling 800.871.8635.

  • What are the pre-requisites for this program?

    First, you will need to complete Take Flight (undergraduate) application (select Post-Bac or Visiting Student > College Visitor, when prompted). This program requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7 to be admitted in good standing (applicants with a 2.0 - 2.69 GPA may inquire about conditional admission), and at least 1 year of work experience in a healthcare leadership or related role to apply.

  • Is there aid available?

    Currently we do not offer financial aid for this program. Please see our Financial Aid tab for more information.