<Tr> <Th> Parent </Th> <Td> Ascend Learning </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> nhanow.com </Td> </Tr> <P> The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is a national professional certification agency for healthcare workers in the United States . Granting credentials in more than 8 allied health specialties, it is an organizational member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The National Healthcareer Association partners with educational institutions nationwide with over 350,000 certified individuals . It is one of the largest certification and continuing education providers . The National Healthcareer Association works with health training institutions, hospitals, unions, and the US Defense Department through DANTES; it has approved over 2400 training / testing locations throughout the US and in several countries . These institutions offer allied health programs and use the national certification as their "End Of Program Credential ." Healthcare professional certification is different from a license such as a Registered Nurse, or a licensed practical nurse . Although certification is not state mandated and / or regulated in all 50 states, most employers and industry organizations prefer their employees to be certified . </P> <P> Certified technicians work alongside licensed nurses and / or doctors . These positions would include individuals working as a phlebotomist, EKG technician, clinical medical assistant, patient care technicians, medical laboratory assistants, medical transcriptionists, medical administrative assistants, billing and coding specialists, mental health technicians, and surgical / operating room technicians . Many hospitals, private practices, and organizations throughout the country require national certification as a competence standard . The National Healthcareer Association is a part of the National Organization for Competency Assurance . The National Healthcareer Association helps set performance ethics standards among health care professionals, establish education requirements, and set guidelines for national certifications . </P>

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