If you work in the healthcare industry and are looking to expand your legal knowledge, but are not quite ready to pursue a master’s degree, we offer a 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Health Law. This certificate arises directly from the need for more professionals with legal expertise in the highly regulated field of healthcare. The certificate is designed specifically to provide professionals with the skills necessary to understand, navigate and leverage the legal issues that arise within the healthcare field and to work effectively with counsel when a lawyer’s involvement is necessary. Students can apply their credits from this program to the Master of Legal Studies later on if desired.
Changing regulations in the healthcare industry have sparked demand for professionals who can understand and interpret today’s complex legal issues. With a certificate in health law from Northeastern University, you can gain those skills and learn how to effectively work with counsel when a lawyer’s involvement is necessary.
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Unique Features
- Tailor your education to your schedule. This certificate is offered in a 100-percent-online, asynchronous, flexible format, allowing you to take advantage of the program’s rigorous coursework and experienced faculty regardless of your location.
- Stack your certificate into a master’s degree. The 12 credits from this program can be applied toward a Master of Legal Studies.
- Learn directly from the experts, such as Wendy Parmet, director of Northeastern’s Center on Health Law and Policy, and Patricia Davidson, a former senior staff attorney for the Public Health Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit affiliated with Northeastern’s School of Law.
- Earn a top-ranked education. The School of Law is ranked 15th in healthcare law by U.S. News and World Report.
Program Objectives
Healthcare is a complex legal arena, as it encompasses several key stakeholders from providers, to patients, to insurers. The Graduate Certificate in Health Law can help individuals juggle the varying legal needs in this space. It provides students with an introductory course paired with three electives tailored to the health industry.
The program helps to prepare graduates with the skills and experience to:
- Summarize and apply the appropriate statutes and regulations to concrete situations
- Examine legal regulations governing the provision and financing of healthcare services
- Gain an in-depth overview of health and compliance programs and the code of conduct for particular fields

