Health Navigation Fundamentals Frequently Asked Questions

MSU Denver’s Career Launchpad provides affordable pathways to high-demand and multiple educational coursework. Someone can take a noncredit class in a high-demand field that can lead to a job or convert the course to credit and get an MSU Denver certificate or degree.

MSU Denver’s stackable credential allows for students to complete a noncredit class. The student can immediately enter the workforce, choose to the course into three credits, sit for a state exam, or earn an MSU Denver certificate or bachelor’s degree.

We currently offer a myriad of courses with more courses being added every semester. Go to the Career Launchpad website for complete information.

There are no prerequisites required. Students do not need to hold a college degree nor have work experience.

Since this is a noncredit class, you do not need to complete a formal admissions application. You can register using this link: Noncredit Course Registration

If you are a current MSU Denver student who is or has been enrolled in courses for the most recent spring, summer, or fall semester, do not submit any forms. Contact Brandy Schooler at [email protected] for instructions on how to register for these courses.

Many employers may pay for their employees to earn this certificate. Payment can be made by the student and reimbursed according to your employer’s rules, or the employer can pay directly for the certificate on your behalf.

Discounts for multiple students from the same organization may apply. Please contact us for more information before registering.

You will receive an automatic receipt via email once you complete the registration.

Noncredit courses are not eligible for financial aid at MSU Denver.

Unfortunately, we do not offer course waivers based on education nor experience.

Each course is eight weeks, entirely online, and delivered in a self-paced format. You will be allowed to work through the course material as quickly or as slowly as needed. The course material is asynchronous and does not require you to login at a certain time. You will access the course through Canvas Learning.

Students determine the amount of time needed to master the material provided in each module. The instructor assists students when needed.

After completing the Health Navigation Fundamentals noncredit class, you will receive a certification of completion and a digital badge that will be embedded with the competencies learned. You can include this badge on your resume, LinkedIn page, portfolio, or share it with an employer.

To convert the noncredit class to three credits, you will need to complete a Credit-By-Exam (CBE) successfully. The CBE can be done the same semester you take the course. You will receive more information about the required steps once you are registered for the noncredit course.

Refund Policy: Students can receive a 100 percent refund minus a $35 registration fee if the course is dropped before the course start date. There will be no refunds after the course begins, but students can request a deferment (postponement) to the next semester.

To request a refund, email Andrea Pazos [email protected]. If students request a refund within the policy timeframe, documentation does not need to be provided.

Deferment (postponement) Information: If a student is unable to complete a course due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances (see below), the student will be offered a deferment of registration to the immediately following semester before a refund is issued. If the registration deferment is not a feasible option for the student, a refund will be given if the below documentation can be provided.

To request a deferment after a class begins, email Andrea Pazos [email protected] with an explanation and the official documentation – see the list below (copies will be accepted).

Documentation examples

A refund will be automatically denied for the following reasons:

• Student stopped attending before the extenuating circumstance timeline and or never engaged with the course content.
• Disputing course material, grade, or instructor.

The Health Navigation Fundamentals class allows you to test the waters in one of Colorado’s fastest growing health care fields. This course provides an entry point for you when you have no prior health care experience and/or want to change careers within health care. Demand is high; you can take this course and find work as a health navigator or similar position. Or you can continue on with just two additional courses and sit for an exam to become certified as a health navigator across Colorado. From there, you can stay in the workforce and/or continue on to get a Bachelor’s degree in public health.

Health Navigator is one of the fastest-growing positions in healthcare.

The skills learned in this class transfer across many jobs such as Health Educator, Community Health Worker, Medicaid Service Coordinator, Access Representative, Patient Access Manager, Patient Advocate, Admissions Coordinator, and more.

Students in this course will learn the basic concepts of patient navigation and the patient-centric concept of assisting patients along the health care continuum. Students will develop skills necessary to effectively communicate and build relationships with patients within the complex system. Students will also learn how to evaluate and locate health care resources and support systems concerning individual’s health. Consideration of varying stages of care, social determinants that impact physical health, and reducing disparities in access and treatment will be reviewed. Barriers to care, problem-solving, and managing information and resources will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

• Demonstrate professionalism through adherence to organizational rules, regulations, ethical principles, and boundaries of the navigator’s scope of work
• Analyze the impact of individual health beliefs and behavior on health care decisions
• Integrate knowledge of the social and emotional aspects of health inpatient/client, caregiver and family interactions and support
• Generalize basic knowledge of health promotion, disease prevention, and common disease care continuum

Competencies to be gained:

• Identify barriers that patients face to receiving quality healthcare services
• Explain strategies for promoting health equity
• Describe strategies for successfully assessing patient needs and background
• Demonstrate how to utilize a patient needs assessment
• Demonstrate quality documentation that includes comprehensive patient information

Pathway 1: Enter the workforce quickly. Complete Health Navigation Fundamentals and immediately enter the workforce with the following competencies

• The median salary estimate is $14.07 an hour, and $29,257 a year
• Position examples are Patient/Health Navigator, Community Health Worker, and Promotores de Salud

Pathway 2: Go deeper and convert your noncredit course to credit and take and pass two additional courses, which makes you eligible to sit for Colorado’s Health Navigation Assessment.

• The median salary estimate is $23.00, and $46,630 a year
• Position examples are Access Representative, Admissions Coordinator, Care Manager, Case Manager, Medicaid Service Coordinator, Patient Access Coordinator, Patient Access Specialist, Patient Advocate, Patient Navigator, Patient Resource Worker, and Patient Service Representative
• You will convert the noncredit course to credit through a Credit-By-Exam

Pathway 3: Continue your academic journey to get a certificate or degree which will allow you to increase your earning potential.

• Position examples are Public Health educator,
  healthcare practitioner, health science technician, health and environment scientist, epidemiologist, health educator, infectious disease specialist, health service administrator, healthcare consultant, and health coach
• The median salary estimate is $32.15 an hour,
  and $66,854 a year

Allison Draayer, LCSW, is an MSU Denver faculty member with over ten years of healthcare experience. She is originally from the Chicago area, and moved to Denver in 2008. She has a degree in Communications from Calvin College in Michigan and earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver in 2014. Allison currently works as the Director of Community Care at a health center in Colorado. She is passionate about serving others and
improving healthcare for the underserved.

The CBE is how you can convert the noncredit Health Navigation Fundamentals course into three credits.

You must successfully complete the Health Navigation Fundamentals Course. After completing the course and before taking the CBE you must complete a MSU Denver Application for Admission. After completing the course, you will be sent a promo code to waive the application fee (International Students must pay a $50 application fee).

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To qualify to register you must be close to completing the noncredit class. Then, follow these steps:
1. Email the CBE request to your instructor and Camden Farmer. Notifying requests must be made by November 16, 2023 or with the permission of the instructor.
2. The University’s Prior Learning Assessment Office will send you the CBE form. Please complete, sign, and email to Camden Farmer.
3. You will be emailed with a link to register and instructions on how to pay for the CBE.
4. You will be emailed the link to the CBE module and provided instructions on accessing the module.
5. You will have until December 16, 2023 to complete the CBE. When you have finished, email your instructor. Please send this email as soon as you have completed the CBE. If you cannot complete the exam before this deadline, you must email the instructor to request approval to complete it within a different timeframe.