Health Professions Education Teaching, Certificate

See Program Details, Dates & Deadlines

Prepare the Next Generation of Health Professions Educators.

In the Health Professions Education Teaching certificate program, you will explore the foundations of teaching and learning and develop practical skills to effectively teach, assess, and develop curricula within health professions education. Graduates will walk away with the skills to lead educational programs, institutions, agencies and organizations within health professions education. The 12 credits earned from this certificate can be applied toward the MS or PhD in Health Professions Education, giving you a head start on advanced study.

Details, Dates & Deadlines

Program Details

Class Format

Online

Program Length

16 months

Credits to Complete

12

Cost/Credit Hour

In State: $769
Out of State: $994

  • Online application
  • $75 application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • 300–500 word essay
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • CV or resume

Program Overview

The Health Professions Education (HPE) Teaching Certificate is designed for working professionals who want to strengthen their teaching expertise and enhance their academic credentials without putting their careers on hold. This 16-month program provides a structured, yet flexible learning experience focused on evidence-based instructional strategies, interprofessional collaboration, and innovative approaches to health professions education. 

Program Structure 

The post-baccalaureate certificate program in Health Professions Education Teaching is a 12-credit, four-course program offered 100% in an online environment. Each course is 8-weeks in length, asynchronous, with instructional methods including pre-recorded lectures, readings, and reflections, along with active learning elements including discussion boards and individual and group assignments. 

Intentionally designed for full-time working professionals, your classmates will have careers in healthcare, public health, and social work, as well as other fields integral to the health professions education mission. 

  • All four courses will be offered at least once each year to enable you to complete the program in 16 months.
  • Although most students complete the program in one year, you will be allowed up to 3 years to complete the program.

At the conclusion of their study, students in the PBC in HPE Teaching program will be able to:

  1. Articulate how people learn and the strategies that achieve effective learning processes and outcomes.
  2. Demonstrate evidence-based teaching and assessment methods at the course or program level.
  3. Work effectively in interprofessional teams.
  4. Apply a systematic and evidence-based approach to instructional development of online or hybrid learning environments.

As the demand for health professionals and educational programs continues to grow nationwide, so does the need for well-prepared health professions faculty educators who have advanced training in educational theory, instructional strategies in the health professions and related assessment methods. The Health Professions Education Teaching curriculum was intentionally designed to formally prepare healthcare professionals with the foundations needed to engage in educational scholarship, curricular design, assessment, program evaluation, and institutional leadership.  

Your classmates will consist of learners from the various health professions including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, and dentistry, among others who are interested in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. 

Required Courses

  • HPE 610: Theoretical Foundations of Teaching & Learning in the Health Professions (3 Credits)  
  • HPE 625: Instructional Strategies in the Health Professions (3 Credits) 
  • HPE 660: Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation (3 Credits) 
  • HPE 850: Advanced Teaching Seminar (3 Credits) 

See Course Descriptions

Admission Requirements

Upload your transcripts as a supplemental item to the online application. 

You must submit transcripts from each college/university attended, including coursework in progress at time of application.  Unofficial copies may be provided for the application review process.  
If you are offered admission, you must then provide official transcripts from each college/university from which a degree was earned.  The transcript must be provided to the Graduate School directly from the prior, degree-granting institution in a sealed envelope in order for that document to be considered official.  Alternatively, it may be provided to the Graduate School electronically by way of a secure, encrypted platform.  Each transcript should bear the signature of the registrar and the seal of the granting institution. 

Transcripts (US only) may be obtained from/provided by one of the following secure, encrypted transcript services:
https://www.parchment.com/ 
https://www.studentclearinghouse.org/solutions/ed-transcripts/
Send encrypted, electronic transcripts from your issuing institution to: gradapply@umaryland.edu 

If provided by mail, send official transcripts in sealed envelopes to:
ATTN: Admissions
University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies
620 West Lexington Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-1508

Essay
Your essay must be uploaded as a supplemental item to the online application.  The statement should be between 300- to 500-words and should address your academic and/or professional career goals and objectives in pursuing graduate study.   

CV or Resume
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume is required by most graduate programs.  Your CV or resume must be uploaded as part of the online application.

English Language Proficiency (International Applicants Only)
The Graduate School accepts the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the Duolingo English Test as a measure of English proficiency.  Minimum required scores are 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS, and 115 on the DET. Scores must be sent directly from ETS (for TOEFL, use institution code #5848), the IELTS agency, or Duolingo to the Graduate School.

Application for in-state status classification
Maryland residents only.  If you wish to be considered for in-state residency status for admission and tuition purposes, you must complete an Application for In-State Classification and submit it to the campus classification officer within the Office of the Registrar.

If you have problems with or questions about the application process, please contact us at 410.706.7131 or gradapply@umaryland.edu 

Contact Us

Admissions

Nina Jackson
Admissions Counselor 
nina.jackson@umaryland.edu
410-706-6489

Academics

Karen Gordes, PhD, PT, DScPT
MS, HPE Teaching Certificate Program Director
karen.gordes@umaryland.edu

Meet Your Faculty

Our distinguished faculty, composed of accomplished scholars and experienced health care professionals, will guide your educational journey. Drawing from their expertise, they'll steer you through our comprehensive programs, preparing you for success in educational research and leadership roles in health care and medical organizations.

View Faculty Bios

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