Research programs that offer graduate programs in health care compliance to determine which programs will best meet your career goals. Some health care compliance programs are offered as part of an MBA program, while others may be offered in conjunction with the Juris Doctor (J.D.). Things to consider while choosing a program include cost, length of the program, prerequisite courses and course delivery. Schools like George Washington University offer courses delivered in an online format, while others offer the more traditional on-campus courses.
Apply for admission to the school of your choice. Admission requirements may vary by school, but most likely you will have to submit an application, an application fee, a personal statement or resume, personal or academic references and possibly standardized test scores from the Graduate Record Exam or an equivalent exam. If you already have a graduate degree in business or law, you may only need to submit some of these materials.
Complete your coursework for your graduate business degree or law degree. If you are pursuing the MBA degree, it will typically take you two years of study to complete your degree plus the additional time required to complete your certificate program. Law degrees take three years to complete. Some schools offer joint law and business degrees that can usually be completed in about four years. Regardless of which path you choose to go, you can expect to spend at least one extra semester studying for the requirements for your health care compliance program.
Complete your health care compliance coursework. Most programs typically require 12 to 15 credit hours of specialized study. For instance, the Quinnipiac University requires three hours in Corporate Compliance in the Health Care Industry, six hours in general management coursework, six hours of law coursework and an additional three hours in financial management. The program at George Washington University can be completed online in six months followed by a short five-day residency at the school's main campus.