Public health careers are a good bet. By and large, they are expected to grow in the next decade. For example, jobs in the community health field are expected to grow at a 13 percent rate through 2029.
Job prospects for public health students depend on a number of factors. Among them is how well you’re educated. Taking public health online courses – and more specifically, online public health courses with certificates – can help you prove to possible employers that you have what it takes to do the job well.
Featured Programs
- Harvard University The Health Effects of Climate Change
- Foundations of Public Health Practice
- Epidemics- The Dynamics of Infectious Disease
Disclaimer: Some courses may include an affiliate link. Courses were chosen first based on the methodology with affiliate links only added after the ranking was complete.
When looking for free online public health courses with certificates (and paid ones too), you must be aware of certain factors that make a good online course.
For our rankings, we have identified three characteristics to keep an eye on:
- Affordability
- Type of Certificate
- Flexibility
Each of these three factors can greatly influence the value of a course. Though affordability is often the primary factor people look at, it shouldn’t be the only factor that is examined.
Instead, we believe that a more comprehensive view of these courses is needed. The more information you have, the better-informed decision you can make.
Let’s explore these three factors and the methodology we’ve used to rank the best online public health with certificates.
Methodology to Determine the Best Accredited Online Psychology Courses
Though a Google search of the “best online public health courses with certificates” will get you plenty of results, not all of those results offer you the same level of value.
To help eliminate courses that aren’t quite up to par, we developed a three-factor method by which we can evaluate public health online courses.
As noted above, these three factors are affordability, type of certificate, and flexibility. But why did we choose these three measures?
The next section will allow us to explain our method in more detail. But in short, these factors give us the ability to evaluate courses on a micro and macro level. On the one hand, you can use each individual measure to drill down to the specific features the course offers you. And on the other hand, you can use the overall score we assign each course as a quick macro view of the courses.
Ranking public health online courses in this manner gives you more information for evaluating which ones are right for you.
Let’s discuss the parts of this method in more detail.
Affordability
Naturally, the cost of public health online courses is a major part of our rankings. In fact, it is the factor that is worth the most points.
It should be noted that just because a course is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a good course. There were plenty of inexpensive and free online public health courses with certificates that didn’t make our final rankings.
At the same time, just because a course is expensive doesn’t mean it’s high-quality. Again, there were many paid courses that didn’t make it into our rankings.
Money is often the number one priority for students. You want to get a good education. But you want to do so without spending a huge amount of money, too.
This being the case, we rank online public health courses with certificates using the following affordability scale:
- Free: 6 points
- Up to $50: 5 points
- $51-$100: 4 points
- $101-$150: 3 points
- $151-$200: 2 points
- $201 and above: 1 point
Note that the affordability of a course is worth more points on its own than the other two measures combined. This is done to reflect just how important the cost of a course is to most students.
Type of Certificate
Online public health courses with certificates come in many shapes and sizes. It’s important to know the difference between the types of certificates you can get.
The most basic certificate is a completion certificate. As the name indicates, these certificates are granted simply for successfully completing the course.
There are educational certificates as well. Typically, these certificates are awarded by a college or university after a student has completed a set of classes. In many cases, this means taking 4-5 courses in a specific content area. So, for example, you might receive a Global Health Certificate after completing 15 credit hours of study from an accredited school.
The final primary type of certification is provided by professional organizations. Usually, these certifications require you to complete specific steps, which might include:
- Continuing education
- Successfully passing an exam
- Fieldwork
- Paying a fee
Unlike educational certificates, a professional certificate is not indicated on your transcript. Instead, a professional certificate allows you to call yourself a certain kind of public health worker. For example, a Certified Public Health Administrator (CPHA).
Of these three types of certificates, a completion certificate is the easiest to get. Educational and professional certificates require much more work. There is also more oversight by educational and professional organizations. This is especially true of the requirements to get the certificate. As such, we assign more points to these types of certificates, as shown below:
- Professional or educational certificate: 2 points
- Completion certificate: 1 point
Flexibility
The third factor we use in our methodology to determine the best online public health course with certification evaluates how flexible a course is. For many students, there is a fine balance between studying, work, home life, and life in general. With so many demands for time, it’s necessary for public health online courses to give you flexibility to complete the class.
Online courses offer a good deal of flexibility. But some courses do it better than others. For example, some courses give you an unlimited amount of time to finish the class. Others allow you to set and reset deadlines as needed. Yet other courses offer the flexibility of not having set meeting times. Naturally, the more flexible a course is, the more points it earns:
- High flexibility: 2 points
- Moderate flexibility: 1 point
Note that courses with low flexibility were not included in this ranking.
Now that you have a better understanding of our method, let’s get to the course rankings.
Ranking the Best Online Public Health Courses With Certificates
#12: MicroMasters Program Certificate in Healthcare Administration
This is an eight-course program. Each course is graduate level. It is offered by edX and Doane University.
The focus of this program is on healthcare administration. You will learn different management styles. You’ll also explore leadership in public health. Other courses include:
- Healthcare Finance
- Vulnerable Populations
- Strategic Leadership
- Health Law
Studying these topics prepares you to manage many different types of issues in a public health setting.
It takes most students about seven months to complete this program. To get the MicroMasters Certificate, you must complete each course and get the individual course certifications.
Once the program is completed, you can apply to Doane University’s MBA program. The courses in the certificate program will apply towards nine credits of the MBA’s 30 required credits.
Points: 4
Affordability: Approximately $1,253.70
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This program was designed specifically for online instruction. Each course is self-paced. You have the flexibility of studying according to your schedule.
#11: Training Certificate in Public Health
This course is a complete certificate program. It is offered by Johns Hopkins University. The program is 22 credit hours in length. As such, it is one of the most expensive options in our rankings.
To enroll, you must have a bachelor’s degree or higher. You must also have at least one college-level biology course and one college-level math or statistics course on your transcripts with a grade of B or higher.
Once admitted, you will study topics that include:
- Statistical Reasoning in Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Managing Health Services Organizations
You’ll also learn about epidemiology and public health practice.
This program is intended to be completed on a part-time basis. However, it is flexible so you can finish it in whatever time frame suits you, up to three years.
Points: 5
Affordability: Approximately $14,364
Type of Certificate: Educational
Flexibility: High flexibility. This program can be completed totally online. Students can study full-time, ¾ time, or part-time to suit their schedules. Many courses are offered in multiple semesters to assist in scheduling.
#10: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate – Public Health Generalist
This is a full certificate program. It is offered by Chamberlain University. The program includes five courses for a total of 15 credit hours. The program can be completed as little as one year or as much as three semesters.
This certificate program is ideal for public health professionals that want to pursue new public health careers. It focuses on core public health issues, such as:
- Public Health Systems
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Health
You will also explore topics related to environmental health and public health communication.
This program is 100 percent online. Flexible scheduling allows you to complete the program as you have time.
To be admitted, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree. The degree must be from an accredited school. You must also have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Points: 5
Affordability: Approximately $8,250
Type of Certificate: Educational
Flexibility: High flexibility. You can complete this course as a part-time student or a full-time student. Each course is offered online for ease of access and greater flexibility.
#9: Certified Public Health Study Resources
Though this is not a formal course, it does offer many assets to help you study for the Certified Public Health (CPH) exam. The materials are provided by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE).
These resources include a wide range of study aids. This includes:
- Self-Assessments
- CPH Review Webinars
- Study Guides
- Exam Review Guides
Since NBPHE oversees the CPH certification, these study materials are directly related to the content on the CPH certification exam. Note that simply using these materials to study does not guarantee you’ll pass the CPH exam. It also does not guarantee you will be certified.
However, this is one of the best ways to study for the CPH exam. It will make it much more likely that you pass and become certified.
These study materials are free. However, the regular fee for the CPH exam is $385.
Points: 5
Affordability: Free. There is a $385 fee to take the CPH exam. As such, this is scored as a paid course.
Type of Certificate: Professional
Flexibility: High flexibility. These study materials are all completely online. You can access them any time of day or night. Studying is self-paced to give you more flexibility.
#8: The Health Effects of Climate Change
This introductory course was developed by Harvard. It is available on edX.
In this public health course, you will study how the state of the climate influences public health. Specifically, you’ll study the consequences of rising planet temperatures. This includes:
- Air Quality
- Nutrition
- Infectious Diseases
This free online public health course also examines how climate change is impacting human migration. These new migratory patterns can drastically affect the three factors listed above.
Over the course of seven weeks, you’ll learn about research methods used in this field. You’ll also examine strategies that might mitigate the climate-induced public health concerns the world now faces.
Points: 6
Affordability: Free. A $149 fee is required to get a verified certificate. As such, this is scored as a paid course.
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This course is self-paced. English transcripts are provided to accompany course lectures. The course is available 24/7 and is easily accessed online.
#7: Global Public Health
This global public health course is offered by edX. The course focuses on the factors that influence health on a local and global scale.
Specifically, you’ll explore how a healthy individual affects the world around them. You’ll also study the three pillars of sustainable development:
- Economic development
- Social development
- Environmental well-being
Likewise, you’ll look at connections between good health and improvements in poverty reduction, gender empowerment, and universal education.
This is an intermediate course, but there are no prerequisites. However, it is advised that you be an advanced undergraduate student or a graduate student to take this free online public health course.
Points: 8
Affordability: Free. A $49 fee is required to get a verified certificate. As such, this is scored as a paid course.
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. Learning is self-paced. Online and offline resources are available. There are no prerequisites, which makes this course more flexible for learners new to public health.
#6: Foundations of Public Health Practice
This is a specialization course by Imperial College London. It is offered online by Coursera.
This course is actually four separate classes on public health. Each course is beginner level, so you can take it even if you have no public health experience. Likewise, each course is structured for self-paced learning. There is also a hands-on project with each course.
Throughout your studies in this course, you will examine public health topics, like:
- The Public Health Approach
- The Public Health Toolkit
- Behavior and Behavior Change
- Health Protection
The goal of this course is to prepare you for developing sound public health policies. This includes understanding appropriate prevention interventions to use to improve public health programs.
All told, this online public health course should take around four months to complete.
Points: 8
Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. Each class in this course is 100 percent online. Studying is self-paced. You can access the course 24/7. You also get immediate access upon enrollment.
#5: Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health
This course was developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is offered online by Coursera.
Epidemiology is the study of disease distribution in the population. It is also the study of health events and specific health conditions among populations around the world. The ultimate goal of this field of public health is to control health problems.
Topics you will explore in this class include:
- History of the field
- Disease frequency
- Experimental design
- Measures of association
There are five primary units in this course. None take more than an hour to complete. This means you can finish this class in one day if you wish.
Using what you learn in this class, you will have a better understanding of health issues. You will also understand what epidemiology is and how it can be used to improve people’s lives.
Points: 8
Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This course is self-paced. You can set and reset deadlines as needed. You can start the course immediately upon enrollment. The course is offered in multiple languages for greater flexibility.
#4: Epidemics – the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
This introductory course was developed by Penn State University. It is offered by Coursera.
The course revolves around diseases and how they spread. Additionally, you’ll learn how diseases might be prevented.
Other topics of study include:
- Emerging novel diseases
- Flu pandemics
- Childhood diseases
- Malaria and its drug resistance
A large part of this course involves looking at social networks. Specifically, how human interaction allows for the spread of diseases from one group to another.
This course will also examine vaccinations and disease surveillance.
Most students complete this course in about 17 hours. It is self-paced, so you can take as much or as little time as you need to finish it.
Points: 8
Affordability: Free to enroll. A fee (usually around $50) might be required. Other costs are involved for specializations (usually $39-$79 per month). Learn more about Coursera pricing. This is scored as a paid course.
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This course is 100 percent online. You can set and reset due dates as needed. The course is offered in multiple languages as well.
#3: Health Data 101
This beginner course from Udemy is ideal for health data analysts. It focuses on patient records. You’ll also learn how to conduct better analyses of health data.
Using health analytics is becoming more and more common. Learning skills related to this field can help you improve your job performance. Specifically, you will explore how to:
- Communicate about health data more effectively
- Improve health care processes
- How to deal with gaps and errors in health data
This course offers a mix of on-demand video and downloadable resources. You get full lifetime access to the course. This enables you to take as long as you need to finish it. You can also come back to the course over and over again to refresh your memory. However, most students can complete this class in about one hour.
Points: 8
Affordability: Approximately $34.99
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This is a very short course, which improves the flexibility you have to complete it. Learning is self-paced. There are offline resources to accompany online learning.
#2: Introduction to Public Health
This is a very short, yet information-packed course from Udemy. It is a beginner course. It provides an introduction to the history of public health.
You will explore eight essential topics in public health in this class. This includes:
- History of Public Health
- Determinants of Health
- Disease Prevention
This course also covers health promotion. More specifically, you’ll learn about strategies that can be used to help the public improve their health.
Each lesson in this course is short and to the point. With video lectures, you can easily go back and review material. There are review sessions built into the course, though.
Points: 8
Affordability: Approximately $19.99
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This course was designed for self-paced learning. You can easily access the course online 24/7. You get full lifetime access on mobile and TV. Learning resources include on-demand video for a more flexible learning experience.
#1: Mental Health Studies – Suicide, Violent Behavior and Substance Abuse – Revised
This free course from Alison focuses on major mental health issues. Specifically, you will learn about mental health-related behaviors that endanger people’s health.
There is one unit of study on each of the following topics:
- Suicide
- Violent Behavior
- Substance Abuse
In each module, you will examine mental health studies. Doing so enables you to develop a better understanding of each mental health issue. Additionally, you will explore guided learning activities that give you a solid knowledge base of critical mental health issues.
This free online public health course finishes with an assessment. In order to get the certificate of completion, you must earn at least an 80% on the assessment.
Points: 9
Affordability: Free
Type of Certificate: Completion
Flexibility: High flexibility. This is a short course with three modules and an assessment. The short length gives you greater flexibility for finishing the class. It is also self-paced to add to its flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there free online public health courses with certificates?
Yes, there are free online public health courses with certificates. These free courses usually have what are called “completion certificates.”
These certificates are exactly what they sound like – you get a certificate for completing a course. A good example of this is the Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health course in our rankings. This is a free course. It also offers a completion certificate.
These certificates don’t hold any value in terms of professional certification. They are also not an educational certificate. Professional and educational certificates are much more prestigious.
For example, a professional certification requires you to complete a strict set of tasks. Often, there is a fee that must be paid to the organization that provides the certificate. To remain certified, you usually have to complete continuing education courses.
Likewise, an educational certificate is granted only after you complete a course of study. The number of courses you must complete varies from one certification to the next. It is usually at least 12-15 credit hours. In some cases, that number is much higher. Once completed, an educational certification is added to your transcripts. From that point forward, you can identify yourself as having that educational certification without further studies.
While completion certificates are less prestigious, they can still hold value. For example, by completing public health online courses, you can show your employer that you are pursuing additional training. This could help you get a raise or a promotion.
Additionally, having completion certifications could help you get a job. Having completion certificates on your resume could help you stand out from other applicants.
Taking free online public health courses with certificates is also a good way to show potential employers that you are dedicated to learning. Employers want employees that are eager to learn and grow. These types of certificates can demonstrate that you are one such employee. This is especially true when the certificate is from a recognized school.
The Epidemiology course referenced earlier was developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even though it is a completion certificate, the fact that it is associated with a course from a well-respected university will give the certificate a little more weight.
What jobs can I get with a certificate in public health?
By taking public health online courses that offer a certificate, you might be qualified for any number of entry-level positions in public health.
It is important to note that in some cases, additional education might be required. This depends on a range of factors. This includes the place of employment. For example, you might be able to work as a healthcare social worker with a certificate and a bachelor’s degree in one location. However, you might be required to have a certificate and a master’s degree in another location.
Below is a list of some public health jobs that might be available with a certificate in public health:
Health educator – Usually, this job only requires a certificate in public health. It involves promoting healthy activities and wellness. Health educators conduct research. They also do community outreach. They even teach individuals about healthier living.
Healthcare social worker – Healthcare social workers provide counseling services to people with health issues. They counsel families of people with health issues as well. They also work with couples and small groups. They manage cases, implement interventions, and make home visits. These workers must have additional education beyond a certificate. In many cases, this means having a master’s degree in social work.
Medical and health services managers – These public health workers are in a management position in a medical setting. They often work in hospitals and clinics. Some also work for non-profits or government agencies. By and large, these workers have a master’s degree in public health. This is in addition to having a certificate.
Dietitians and nutritionists – This group of workers consults with clients about healthy lifestyle choices. For example, they might work with a client to help them develop better eating habits. In many cases, they work with individuals and groups. They often work with specific populations as well. For example, a dietitian or nutritionist might develop a meal plan for a client with diabetes. These jobs usually require a bachelor’s degree in addition to certification.
Epidemiologists – These public health workers look for patterns of disease in the population. The goal is to learn how diseases spread in order to reduce transmission from one person to the next. They often work in labs, but work in the field on occasion. In addition to having a public health certificate, epidemiologists often have a master’s degree or a doctorate.
What types of public health certifications are there?
There are many different types of public health certifications. Some of the most common certifications are listed below:
Certified in Public Health (CPH) – Many employers rank this as the most sought-after public health certification. It covers essential public health topics like health sciences, public health issues, and emerging needs in public health. To get this certification, you must:
- Be in a master’s of public health program or have already graduated from a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited school, or
- Have a bachelor’s degree and five years of work experience in public health, or
- Have a graduate degree and three years of work experience in public health, or
- Have a certificate from a CEPH-accredited program and three years of work experience in public health.
Certified Public Health Administrator (CPHA) – This certification is for public health workers that wish to move into administrative roles in public health. It is overseen by the Public Health Practitioner Certification Board. Once you earn the certificate, you can use the CPHA designation after your name to indicate your certified status. To get this certification, you must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
- Have three years of administrative experience in public or private health
- Have three years of supervisory experience in public or private health
- Provide evidence of competency in public health either through experiential or documented educational achievement, or a combination of both
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) – This certification is for people that want to enter the field of health education. It is offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. This is an academic-based certificate. This means you only need to provide evidence that you have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate from an accredited school. This evidence can either be:
- An official transcript that shows you majored in health education, or
- An official transcript that shows you took 25 semester hours or 37 quarter hours (or more) that directly address the Seven Areas of Responsibility and Competency for Health Education Specialists.
Once you prove that you are eligible for certification, you can then sit for the certification exam.
Certified Emergency Response Coordinator (CERC) – Some public health workers choose to work in the emergency response field. This certification prepares you to do just that. To be certified, you have to prove your understanding of emergency preparedness and public health practice. You must also have knowledge of environmental health, diseases, and epidemiology. This certification is overseen by the Public Health Practitioner Certification Board (PHPCB). To be certified, you must:
- Provide evidence that you fulfill certain emergency response competencies. This can be done through documentation of taking courses or through experience.
Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) – If working with people in a correctional setting is your goal, the CCHP certification is right for you. This is offered by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). To be certified, you must master the national standards set forth by the NCCHC. Anyone working in a correctional health setting can be eligible for this certification. To be certified, you must:
- Provide your educational and career credentials
- Be of good character and fitness
There are many variations of this certification as well. This includes options to specialize as a:
- Certified Correctional Health Professional – Physician (CCHP-P)
- Certified Correctional Health Professional – Registered Nurse (CCHP-RN)
- Certified Correctional Health Professional – Mental Health Professional (CCHP-MH)
- Certified Correctional Health Professional – Advanced (CCHP-A)
What are some common public health jobs?
There are many kinds of public health jobs. Not all of these jobs are in high demand right now. However, some are becoming more popular. In fact, there are quite a few careers that have excellent growth potential over the next few years.
Below is a list of a few common public health jobs.
Healthcare Consultant – A healthcare consultant usually works for private healthcare organizations. They work with clients to identify problems or issues with a company’s healthcare programs. This job requires a lot of research and analysis. Healthcare consultants often work on their own. However, they commonly present their findings and opinions to clients.
Biostatistician – These workers analyze data. They also explore ways to use that data to track health trends and the health of a given population. Sometimes, they work in labs and collect data. Other times they work with volunteer patients in clinical trials. No matter what their task, these workers explore information about health and try to determine how to use that information to improve health and reduce risk factors for disease.
Public Health Nurse – Public health nursing is not your typical nursing job. They are usually not involved in direct patient care. Instead, their focus is on educating people about health issues. Typically, public health nurses work for government agencies. They might also work for large healthcare providers. In either case, they strive to educate the public about things like mental health issues and risk factors for disease.
Public Health Advisor – A public health advisor’s job is to manage health programs. Specifically, they oversee educational programs that provide information to communities about healthy living. There is some data collection and analysis work to be done. Mostly, these public health workers evaluate programs in terms of their success in promoting healthy lifestyles.
Non-Profit Coordinator – There are many public health workers in the non-profit sector. These workers might be employed in human services, political groups, or academic organizations, to name a few. Their primary job is to oversee the mission of the non-profit. They ensure funding is secured and used for the appropriate purposes. They also manage the day-to-day operations of the non-profit.
How much money can you make working in public health?
The salary you earn in a public health job depends on a lot of factors. One of the most important factors is education. The more education you have, the more money you can make.
So, for example, a public health worker with a doctorate will make more money than one with a bachelor’s degree. Having an advanced degree means having more knowledge and skills. This, in turn, makes you more qualified for more jobs. Those jobs tend to be higher-paying as well.
Additionally, whether you’re certified or not can impact your income. According to PayScale, the average annual wages for a Certified Public Health (CPH) worker is $61,742. Compare that with a median annual salary of $40,360 for Community Health Workers. These workers do not have to be certified, depending on the state in which they work.
A third factor that affects salary is level of experience. Obviously, a public health worker that’s been on the job for six months won’t make as much as one that’s been in the field for 20 years.
There are other factors that impact the salary you might earn. For example, the type of public health job greatly influences income. A public health analyst might make around $71,000. However, an infection control director might make around $110,000. Both of these careers are in public health. But the duties and responsibilities of these careers means one pays much better than the other.
The setting in which you work can affect your income as well. For example, working in a state department of health, you might expect to earn around $44,000. But working for a national agency like the Centers for Disease Control might get you a salary closer to $63,000. These are just two of many examples of how income can be much different depending on the place of employment.
OCR Staff
January 2021
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