Healthcare Paralegal Certificate

This program is designed to provide paralegal education and the skills necessary for students with a medical background to expand their careers into the legal arena. It is open to students who have previously earned 60 hours of credit or baccalaureate or associate degree, and who have at least 4000 hours of nursing experience. Students will learn substantive law and procedural practices. This program is designed to allow the graduates to meet the needs of that sector of the business community which requires expertise in medical as well as legal issues, including law firms, hospitals, insurance companies, consulting firms, government agencies, and health care systems. The successful graduate will be able to bring specialized medical training and experience to the legal field, particularly in litigation-related practice, and will be able to apply legal knowledge and skills to health-care related occupations such as risk management. Ten courses are required for the certificate. Studies for this certificate program may be combined with courses in the bachelor degree programs in Paralegal Studies or Social and Health Services. Paralegals are prohibited from the practice of law except when allowed by law or court rule. This program is approved by the American Bar Association. A minimum of 10 semester credits of legal specialty courses must be taken in a traditional classroom setting.