Study Certificate III in Health Administration online
Develop practical administration skills for working in hospitals, medical centres, specialist practices, community health services and other healthcare organisations. HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration is designed for people who want to work in administrative roles within the health sector, as well as existing administration workers who want to develop health-specific skills.
With Phillips Institute, you can study through flexible online learning and assessment while developing skills in medical terminology, patient records, privacy and confidentiality, medical accounts, customer service, workplace information and professional communication.
The course may suit people interested in roles such as health administration officer, medical receptionist, admissions clerk, ward clerk or administrative assistant in a healthcare setting.
Course at a glance
- Qualification: HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration
- Delivery: Flexible online learning and assessment
- Indicative study sequence: Approximately 26 weeks
- Maximum course duration: Up to 12 months, depending on individual circumstances
- Units: 13 units – 5 core and 8 electives
- Course fee: $2,500
- Work placement: No fixed-hour work placement is required for this qualification
- RPL and credit transfer: Available for eligible applicants with relevant previous training, skills or experience
- Study location: Online, with any required practical assessment arrangements confirmed during the pre-training review
Who is this course suitable for?
HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration may suit people entering healthcare administration for the first time as well as existing workers who want to strengthen or formalise their administrative skills. It may be suitable if you:
- want to move into medical or health administration;
- currently work in reception or administration and would like healthcare-specific skills;
- work in a hospital, medical centre, specialist practice, allied health service or community health organisation;
- already work in a hospital or health service and want to move into, or formalise your skills for, administration, reception, admissions, ward clerk or records-related work;
- are returning to the workforce and are interested in an administrative role in healthcare;
- want to develop skills in medical terminology, patient records, medical accounts and confidentiality; or
- are looking for a nationally recognised qualification that can provide a foundation for further study in health or business administration.
What will I learn?
The Phillips Institute program has been designed around practical administration skills that can be applied across a range of healthcare environments. During the course you will develop skills in areas including:
- understanding and using medical terminology;
- maintaining patient and health records;
- protecting privacy, confidentiality and security of medical information;
- preparing and processing medical accounts;
- organising and retrieving workplace information;
- communicating effectively with patients, colleagues and health professionals;
- providing professional customer service;
- managing first-point-of-contact interactions;
- producing professional workplace documents;
- infection prevention and control; and
- workplace health and safety.
About the course
HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration reflects the role of administrative workers in the health industry. Health administration workers may undertake routine administrative and customer-service activities while using discretion and judgement within established procedures.
The work can involve communicating with patients and healthcare professionals, managing information and records, using medical terminology and supporting the efficient operation of healthcare services.
Phillips Institute delivers the program primarily through flexible online learning and assessment. Students complete learning activities, knowledge assessments, practical administrative tasks, projects and simulated workplace activities using realistic health administration contexts. Trainer and assessor support is available throughout the course.
Online study and assessment
Most of the qualification can be completed through Phillips Institute’s online learning and assessment environment. Assessment methods may include:
- online knowledge questions;
- healthcare administration case studies;
- projects and document-production activities;
- simulated workplace tasks;
- oral questioning or trainer discussions where appropriate;
- practical demonstrations; and
- workplace evidence where specifically required by a unit of competency.
Online delivery is intended to provide flexibility for students balancing study with employment, family or other commitments.
Practical assessment and workplace requirements
This qualification does not include a prescribed fixed-hour work placement.
Some practical assessment activities require skills to be demonstrated in an appropriate work setting. Where workplace access is not available, Phillips Institute will determine whether an approved simulated assessment environment can be used in accordance with the requirements of the relevant unit of competency.
Practical assessment arrangements will be discussed with students as part of the pre-training review and enrolment process.
How long does Certificate III in Health Administration take?
The Phillips Institute program follows an indicative learning and assessment sequence of approximately 26 weeks. Students may have up to 12 months to complete the qualification, depending on individual circumstances, study progress, previous training and any approved credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning. Online study allows students to work through course requirements flexibly while continuing to meet the required training and assessment activities.
Career opportunities in health administration
Health administration staff support the day-to-day operation of healthcare services and may work in settings such as:
- hospitals;
- medical centres and general practices;
- specialist medical practices;
- community health services;
- allied health practices; and
- other healthcare organisations.
Depending on the organisation, experience and position requirements, employment opportunities may include roles such as:
- Health Administration Officer
- Medical Receptionist
- Admissions Clerk
- Ward Clerk
- Administrative Assistant
- Health Administrative Worker
Entry and study requirements
HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration has no formal entry requirements under the national training package. Phillips Institute applicants will undertake a pre-training review to help determine whether the course is suitable for their goals and whether they have the language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills required for Certificate III level study. Because the course is delivered online, students will need:
- regular access to a suitable computer;
- a reliable internet connection;
- the ability to access and use the online learning environment;
- basic digital and document-production skills, or the capacity to develop them during training;
- the ability to participate in any practical assessment arrangements identified during the pre-training review.
Students who require additional learning support should discuss this with Phillips Institute during the enrolment process.
Units of competency
HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration comprises 13 units of competency: 5 core units and 8 elective units.
Core units – 5
- CHCCOM005 – Communicate and work in health or community services
- CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people
- HLTINF006 – Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
- HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and safety
- BSBMED301 – Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
Elective units – 8
- BSBINS302 – Organise workplace information
- BSBINS307 – Retrieve information from records
- BSBMED302 – Prepare and process medical accounts
- BSBMED303 – Maintain patient records
- BSBMED305 – Apply the principles of confidentiality, privacy and security within the medical environment
- BSBTEC301 – Design and produce business documents
- BSBOPS304 – Deliver and monitor a service to customers
- CHCCOM001 – Provide first point of contact
Elective units have been selected to support a practical health administration vocational outcome. Unit availability and course structure may be subject to change where required to maintain compliance with the relevant training package.
Recognition of Prior Learning and credit transfer
If you have previously completed nationally recognised training, you may be eligible for credit transfer for equivalent units already achieved. Experienced applicants may also be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) where they can provide sufficient evidence of current skills and knowledge relevant to the requirements of the qualification. RPL is assessed individually and is not guaranteed solely on the basis of employment history.
Pathways
HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration can provide a foundation for further study in health administration, business administration or related health-sector qualifications. Graduates may choose to continue developing their skills through higher-level vocational education or other relevant study depending on their career goals.
Frequently asked questions about HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration
Can I study Certificate III in Health Administration online?
Yes. Phillips Institute delivers HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration through flexible online learning and assessment. Any practical assessment arrangements required for individual units will be discussed during the pre-training review and enrolment process.
Does Certificate III in Health Administration require work placement?
No fixed number of work placement hours is prescribed for this qualification. Some practical skills must be demonstrated in an appropriate work setting. Where workplace access is not available, Phillips Institute will determine whether an approved simulated assessment environment can be used in accordance with the requirements of the relevant unit of competency.
Do I need to be working in healthcare before I enrol?
No. Employment in healthcare is not an entry requirement for HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration. Any practical assessment arrangements that apply to you will be discussed during the pre-training review before training commences.
Can I complete practical assessment in my current workplace?
Possibly. If you are currently employed, Phillips Institute can review whether your workplace provides suitable activities, facilities, resources and assessment opportunities for the relevant practical requirements.
What if I do not have access to a workplace?
You can still enquire about the course. Phillips Institute will discuss the practical assessment requirements with you during the pre-training review. Where permitted by the relevant unit of competency, an approved simulated assessment environment may be used.
Can this course help me become a medical receptionist?
HLT37315 develops skills relevant to medical reception and health administration, including medical terminology, patient records, medical accounts, customer service and first-point-of-contact communication. Employment requirements are determined by individual employers.
Does the course include medical terminology?
Yes. BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately is one of the five core units in HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration.
Will I learn medical billing?
Yes. Phillips Institute has selected BSBMED302 Prepare and process medical accounts as an elective. This develops skills relevant to areas such as medical fee structures, appointments, referrals and the processing of medical accounts.
What types of workplaces employ health administration staff?
Health administration roles may be found in hospitals, medical centres and general practices, specialist practices, community health services, allied health practices and other healthcare organisations.
I already work in a hospital but not in administration. Is HLT37315 suitable if I want to move into an admin role?
Yes. HLT37315 may suit existing hospital and health service staff who want to transition into administration, reception, admissions, ward clerk or related support roles. Previous healthcare administration experience is not required. Your existing familiarity with a hospital or health service environment may be useful, while the course develops health-specific administration skills such as medical terminology, patient records, privacy, medical accounts and professional communication.
How long does HLT37315 take?
The Phillips Institute program follows an indicative learning and assessment sequence of approximately 26 weeks. Students may have up to 12 months to complete the qualification depending on individual circumstances, study progress and any approved credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning.
Can I apply for Recognition of Prior Learning?
Yes. Applicants with relevant current skills and experience may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is an assessment process and applicants must provide sufficient evidence that the requirements of the relevant unit or units of competency have already been met.
Still have questions about Certificate III in Health Administration?
Talk to Phillips Institute about online study, your previous experience, current workplace, practical assessment requirements or whether this course is suitable for your career goals.
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