Best institutions to study Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of nurses or ward supervisors, to perform routine administrative and reception duties in a patient care unit within a hospital or other health care facility.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 109 Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.0703, a specialization of Health and Medical Administrative Services (CIP 51.07), and leads most directly to the Healthcare Support Workers, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 31-9099).
About Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk programs
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of nurses or ward supervisors, to perform routine administrative and reception duties in a patient care unit within a hospital or other health care facility. Includes instruction in receiving and directing visitors, transcribing medical and nursing orders, preparing requisition forms, scheduling patient appointments and procedures, monitoring patients and personnel, and interpersonal skills.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk program prepares individuals to perform essential administrative and reception duties in patient care units within hospitals and healthcare facilities. Under the supervision of nurses or ward supervisors, students learn to manage tasks that support patient care and ensure smooth operations in medical settings. This program is ideal for those looking to enter the healthcare field with a focus on administrative roles.
Students in this program will gain skills in receiving and directing visitors, transcribing medical and nursing orders, preparing requisition forms, and scheduling patient appointments. Coursework also emphasizes interpersonal skills necessary for effective communication in a healthcare environment.
Credentials awarded
What Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year86 graduates / yr · 8 institutions79%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years19 graduates / yr · 2 institutions17%
- Associate's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.7%
Graduates over time
Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 720 |
| 2013 | 610 |
| 2014 | 551 |
| 2015 | 412 |
| 2016 | 348 |
| 2017 | 260 |
| 2018 | 198 |
| 2019 | 182 |
| 2020 | 114 |
| 2021 | 94 |
| 2022 | 109 |
| 2023 | 140 |
| 2024 | 166 |
| 2025 | 109 |
Top 11 institutions for Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gordon Cooper Technology Center Shawnee, OKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 90% | — | — |
| 2 | Charter College Anchorage, AKPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 17 | 56% | $26,789 | $30,194 |
| 3 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 25% | — | — |
| 4 | Anoka Technical College Anoka, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 66% | — | $29,147 |
| 5 | Suffolk County Community College Selden, NYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 29% | — | — |
| 6 | Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 43% | — | $27,062 |
| 7 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 40% | — | — |
| 8 | South Central College North Mankato, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 39% | — | — |
| 9 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAssociate's | 4 | 35% | — | — |
| 10 | Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 48% | — | — |
| 11 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 31% | — | $41,914 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health and Medical Administrative Services field (CIP 51.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk graduates come from. Each state links to all Health and Medical Administrative Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 2 | 21 | Gordon Cooper Technology Center19 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 21 | Anoka Technical College14 / yr |
| Alaska | 1 | 17 | Charter College17 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 17 | Milwaukee Area Technical College17 / yr |
| California | 2 | 12 | City College of San Francisco8 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 11 | Suffolk County Community College11 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 9 | Clover Park Technical College9 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Cuyahoga Community College District1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-9099, Healthcare Support Workers, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk program can pursue careers as Healthcare Support Workers, among other roles. With an annual growth rate of 3.5% and approximately 14,400 job openings each year, this field offers a stable career path. The median wage for these positions is around $46,050, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.0703
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthcare Support Workers, All Otherprimary SOC 31-9099 | $48,430 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~14,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Related careers
Other Health and Medical Administrative Services specializations
The 23 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health and Medical Administrative Services (CIP 51.07).
- Health/CIP 51.0701
Health Care Administration/ Management 28,580 graduates / yr704 institutions - Health Information/CIP 51.0707
Medical Records Technology/ Technician 12,261 graduates / yr314 institutions - Medical Insurance Specialist/CIP 51.0714
Medical Biller 11,432 graduates / yr160 institutions - Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/CIP 51.0713
Coder 10,263 graduates / yr355 institutions - Medical Administrative/CIP 51.0716
Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary 6,024 graduates / yr223 institutions - Medical Office Assistant/CIP 51.0710
Specialist 4,612 graduates / yr186 institutions - Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/CIP 51.0702
Management 3,432 graduates / yr63 institutions - Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCIP 51.07993,295 graduates / yr91 institutions
- Health Information/CIP 51.0706
Medical Records Administration/ Administrator 2,865 graduates / yr126 institutions - Medical Office Management/CIP 51.0705
Administration 2,627 graduates / yr115 institutions - Medical/CIP 51.0711
Health Management and Clinical Assistant/ Specialist 1,344 graduates / yr20 institutions - Medical Reception/CIP 51.0712
Receptionist 962 graduates / yr37 institutions - Clinical Research CoordinatorCIP 51.0719342 graduates / yr25 institutions
- Healthcare InnovationCIP 51.0722284 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Long Term Care Administration/CIP 51.0718
Management 148 graduates / yr23 institutions - Regulatory Science/CIP 51.0720
Affairs partial data95 graduates / yr7 institutions - Medical Office Computer Specialist/CIP 51.0709
Assistant partial data75 graduates / yr7 institutions - Health Unit Manager/CIP 51.0704
Ward Supervisor partial data38 graduates / yr5 institutions - Medical Transcription/CIP 51.0708
Transcriptionist partial data30 graduates / yr9 institutions - Medical Staff Services Technology/CIP 51.0717
Technician partial data29 graduates / yr5 institutions - Disease Registry Data ManagementCIP 51.0721partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Health/CIP 51.0715
Medical Claims Examiner limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions - Healthcare Information Privacy Assurance and SecurityCIP 51.0723limited data7 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Health and Medical Administrative Services programs →
Common questions
What is a Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk?+
A Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk performs administrative and reception duties in patient care units under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
How long does the program take?+
The program typically awards credentials in at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What kind of jobs can I get after completing this program?+
Graduates can work as Healthcare Support Workers and other related roles in healthcare settings.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.5% and 14,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk?+
Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk is CIP 51.0703 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health and Medical Administrative Services (CIP 51.07). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of nurses or ward supervisors, to perform routine administrative and reception duties in a patient care unit within a hospital or other health care facility. Includes instruction in receiving and directing visitors, transcribing medical and nursing orders, preparing requisition forms, scheduling patient appointments and procedures, monitoring patients and personnel, and interpersonal skills.
How many institutions offer Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 109 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Health and Medical Administrative Services graduates.
How much do Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Healthcare Support Workers, All Other occupation, which Health Unit Coordinator/Ward Clerk most directly leads to, pays a median of $48,430 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Health and Medical Administrative Services field report median earnings of $30,194 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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