Building a career in allied health requires continuous learning and professional development. You can enhance your career by stacking credentials, which means earning multiple certifications over time. You can build a career that is unique to your personal goals while also increasing your value in the workplace.
This post explains how stacking credentials works, its benefits, and how American Medical Technologists (AMT) can help you.
What Are Stackable Credentials?
Stackable credentials means earning multiple certifications to build a wider skill set and strengthen your professional knowledge. In health care, stacking credentials is a great way to advance your career and reach your long-term goals. This allows professionals to customize their personal development by choosing credentials that align with their interests, responsibilities, and aspirations.
The two main types of credentials you can stack: professional certifications and certificate courses. Understanding the difference between these two is essential for crafting a career path that supports your career goals.
- Certification: This is a professional credential earned through a third-party organization after completing education or experience. Certifications validate your expertise in a specific area, such as medical assisting or phlebotomy. Certification typically allows you to use initials after your name such as RMA(AMT).
- Certificate Courses: These focus on a specific topic and consist of an online course or a series of courses. After completing them, you will take an assessment. The AMT REACH Immunization Certificate Course provides training on immunizations, a valuable skill in many health care settings. Completing the course earns you a certificate and a digital badge, which you can share with potential employers to show your skills.
The Department of Education supports stackable credentials as part of its initiative to promote career and technical education. This concept helps students and professionals improve their skills while balancing work, life, and education.
Horizontal and Vertical Stacking: Different Approaches to Career Building
Stacking credentials can be done either horizontally, vertically, or using a combination of both approaches. The method you choose depends on your personal career goals and the specific skills you wish to develop.
Horizontal Stacking
Horizontal stacking involves earning credentials that complement your current role by broadening your skill set across related areas. This approach helps entry-level workers expand their skills without moving into a higher-level role. A Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) might pursue a Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) certification to add another layer of expertise to their responsibilities.
Another example of horizontal stacking is earning a certificate through an online course. AMT’s REACH Certificate Program offers various courses. These include the Immunization Certificate Course and the Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) course.
These courses give health care professionals foundational knowledge in specific areas without the time commitment of a full certification. By taking these courses, you can enhance your professional knowledge and improve your communication skills. This is important for both patient care and interactions with colleagues.
Vertical Stacking
Vertical stacking, by contrast, focuses on advancing your career by moving up to more specialized or leadership positions. In this approach, you build on your foundational knowledge by pursuing higher-level certifications or further education. After earning the RMA certification, a health care professional might pursue a certification as a Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS). This opens doors to administrative roles or even project management positions within medical practices or hospitals.
This vertical stacking approach allows you to create a more focused career pathway that supports your long-term career goals. This is perfect for those looking to move into leadership or specialized roles that require higher-level credentials.
Combination Stacking
Many professionals find that a combination of horizontal and vertical stacking works best for them. This method allows you to develop a broad range of skills while also advancing in your chosen career path.
For example, an RMA might first complete a certificate course in immunization, followed by a phlebotomy certification. Later, they might pursue a CMAS certification to qualify for a leadership role in medical administration. By stacking horizontally and vertically, you can tailor your career to meet your professional and personal development goals.
How AMT Supports Your Credential Stacking Journey
AMT offers certifications and certificate courses to help you stack credentials for your current career needs and future goals. AMT’s resources help you create a flexible career path that meets industry standards while balancing work and life.
AMT REACH Certificate Program
The AMT REACH Certificate Program provides online courses to help you expand your skills. They are ideal for professionals who want to stay updated in the industry. Each course includes knowledge checks, quizzes, and a final assessment to ensure successful completion.
After you complete a course, you receive a digital badge that you can add to your resume. You can also share it on social media platforms to help potential employers verify your skills.
Professional Certifications
AMT offers 12 professional certifications, each designed to validate your qualifications in a specific area of allied health. Whether you're interested in medical assisting, phlebotomy, or another field, AMT offers certifications that match your career goals. Employers across the United States recognize AMT Certifications. This recognition helps you stand out in a competitive job market.
AMT also supports professionals through its variety of training programs, which include both free and paid exam preparation resources. This support helps ensure that candidates are well-prepared for their certification exams, leading to higher rates of success.
Benefits of Stacking Credentials
Stacking credentials offers many benefits for those starting their careers or wanting to advance into specialized roles. Some of the most significant benefits include:
- Increased Marketability: Stacking credentials makes you more appealing to employers because it shows you have a diverse skill set. This is particularly important in health care, where employers value employees who can handle multiple responsibilities effectively.
- Better Work-Life Balance: Earning a certificate online allows you to balance your professional development with your daily responsibilities. AMT designs its certificate programs to be flexible, making it easier for working professionals to pursue continuing education.
- Personal Development: Stacking credentials helps you continue improving your skills and knowledge. You can control your professional journey by earning certificates and certifications that align with your career goals.
- Career Advancement: Vertical stacking of credentials positions you for leadership or specialized roles. Employers value professional certifications and often seek candidates committed to ongoing learning.
Conclusion
Stacking credentials is a powerful strategy for career growth, especially in the healthcare field. AMT offers a variety of resources to help you along your journey. By utilizing AMT’s programs, you can create a career pathway that aligns with your goals. This approach also helps you increase your value in the workplace.