American Society of Law, Medicine, & Ethics

Health Care Compliance Certification Program Begins this Fall

The Hamline University School of Law Health Law Institute will offer the opportunity for students and attorneys to train to become Certified Health Care Compliance Officers starting in the 2008-09 academic year, which begins in August of 2008.

Hamline's Health Care Compliance Certificate Program is the only one of its kind in the Upper Midwest, and one of only four programs in the nation accredited by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). The 13-credit cutting-edge program is designed to be completed within a year. The program will offer two core compliance courses in the fall semester and two in the spring semester. The courses will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and is expected to draw law students, alumni and attorneys from many sectors of the legal community.

To become a certified compliance professional, applicants must pass the CCB exam. "There are many continuing legal education programs and seminars that allow attorneys to obtain general information about compliance issues," says Marcia Miller, Assistant Director of Hamline's Health Law Institute. "But Hamline's comprehensive Health Care Compliance Certification Program will prepare students and attorneys to take the CCB exam."

Why Compliance?

CCB certification sets individuals apart in a rapidly developing profession. Health care organizations, medical device companies, research facilities, and others are looking for compliance professionals who understand health care laws and regulations; can develop and execute successful compliance programs; and can ethically handle compliance violations. A health care compliance certificate will provide Hamline students and alumni with a significant advantage in the competitive health care compliance field.


How Can You Become a Certified Health Care Compliance Officer?

Health care employers increasingly prefer certified compliance officers. To become certified in health care compliance, a compliance officer must pass a certification exam, with the prerequisite minimum of one year of compliance experience and 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). However, an aspiring compliance officer can forgo the year of experience and 20 CEUs and take the certification exam if he or she attends an accredited certification program.

Hamline students can register for fall semester courses during the regular registration period in April. Non-Hamline students should contact Assistant Director, Marcia K. Miller at 651-523-2625; mmiller14@hamline.edu.

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