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Health Literacy Specialist Certificate Program

Earn AHIMA-Approved CEUs through the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) Health Literacy Courses
IHA Health Literacy Specialist Certificate Program Logo

The IHA Health Literacy Specialist Certificate Program arms health information professionals with the skills to apply health literacy principles to patient communications and materials, website design, and advocate for health literacy best practices in their organizations.

  • The self-paced interactive curriculum includes 50 lessons across 7-course domains: communication, education, ethics, systems and policies, public health, community engagement and culture, and diversity.
  • 33 AHIMA CEUs are available throughout the curriculum.
  • Each micro-credential is assessment-based. Participants must pass a 50-question exam to receive a digital badge and a certificate of completion.
  • Participants who complete all 7 micro-credentials receive the Health Literacy Specialist (HLS) Certificate and digital badge.  

LEARN MORE and REGISTER HERE 

Enter AHIMA promotional codes below at check-out to receive special AHIMA member and supporter pricing.

*CEUs are also available in CHES/MCHES, CPH, California (CA) Nursing CNE, and Librarians MLA. 

Course AHIMA Promotion Code AHIMA Member and Supporter Price AHIMA CEUs Available*
Language, Culture and Diversity  AHILCD0722  $120 3 CEUs 

Differences in language and culture can get in the way of effective communication. What happens when we must communicate with those who see things differently than we do or even speak a different language? What if their health and well-being partly depend on what we say, what we do, and how well we communicate? Learn how to effectively provide information, service, or care across potential communication barriers whether you interact directly with people or write and design written materials for distribution.

 

Ethics  AHIETH0722  $140 7 CEUs  

Build an ethical foundation of trust with patients, the public, and research participants as you explore the relationship between health literacy and health equity, social justice, and community-based initiatives. 

 

Community Engagement  AHICE0722  $100 Not available  

Community health literacy initiatives can be very effective because they are developed by and for community members, and because they reach people where they work, go to school, and live. Build relationships with partners to assess community needs to implement and evaluate health literacy initiatives. 

 

Public Health  AHIPH0722  $160 4 CEUs  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines public health as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities, and individuals.” A public health approach to health literacy considers how to bring equity to health information and communication, considering that low health literacy is common for many groups of people. 

 

Education  AHIED0722  $100 Not available  

Create evidence-based health content for audiences with low literacy, and develop community health literacy education programs and health literacy training for healthcare providers by assessing and addressing learning needs and preferences.

 

Communication  AHICOM0722  $180 9 CEUs

Develop your communication skills to promote health literacy, including effectively identifying needs and interests of unique audiences, developing plain language materials, and proper use of the health literacy practice of teach-back.

 

Organizational Systems and Policies   AHIORG0722  $200 10 CEUs

Discover the link between social determinants of health and health literacy, understand the business case for promoting health literacy, and apply health literacy principles when developing policies, procedures, and quality and safety initiatives within organizations. 

 

7 Course Bundle   AHI70722  $640 33 CEUs

Greatest Value! Take all seven courses to earn your Health Literacy Specialist Certificate and digital badge! 

The HLS Certificate Program puts you on the right track to achieve personal growth and become part of the solution for Health Literacy for Health EquityTM and is a flexible, affordable way to start or continue your health information professional development journey. 

Achieve personal growth and credibility by: 

  • Demonstrating your knowledge, staying up to date on evidence-based health literacy content, and filling in any gaps in your industry knowledge. 
  • Gaining the confidence to serve as a subject matter expert leading the effort to infuse health literacy into all aspects of your organization. 

“Understanding and applying health literacy principles is a natural complement to health information professionals’ roles in the health system. More education on these topics will positively impact patients through improved system design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination.”  

- Lakesha Kinnerson, MPH, RHIA

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All proceeds from AHIMA members and supporters who enroll in the IHA health literacy courses support AHIMA Foundation programs, research, and projects.  

Published 06/08/2022
Last Updated 07/11/2022
Source AHIMA Foundation (Copyright © 2022)