From design to health insurance specialist: transfer credit/ how to?

January 13, 2014 3:31 PM

Design degrees from Europe, 6 years experience as retail planner/analyst : want to move to health care specialist/analyst.

I studied Product Design at Central Saint Martins- London Institute (B.A) and prior to that did a 3 year degree (foundation course+BTS) in ceramic design in Paris at another major Art School.

I have 6 years in retail planning/analyst on my resume for a US home goods company as well as experience with e-commerce/ marketing.

I am looking to change path and would like to work for CMS as a health insurance specialist, specializing on analyzing data and policies.While I am mostly looking to do this change through jobs, I am also looking into whether a health care administration degree will be absolutely necessary.

If so, would any of my education transfer to the US system? The European system for arts school is so different I have no idea how a possible transfer of credit could work at all regardless of the fact it so probably not much relevant

Also looking into add-on training about health care specific policies.

If you have suggestion let me know.

posted by kirikara to Work & Money (3 answers total)

Definitely policy, and not, e.g., health informatics (which seems, from the outside, like a more seamless switch)?
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:46 PM on January 13, 2014

For what it's worth, "health insurance specialist" is a very common and very broadly applied job title in CMS, and it absolutely includes people without a health administration background.
posted by jameaterblues at 7:30 PM on January 13, 2014

well it sure is good to know that CMS could hire people without health administration background.. judging from requirements of postings and people path on linked that hold these jobs I was kind of gathering it would be required.
if anyone knows what the best "stepping stone" job could be for me, I would like to hear it.
So far most job that look interesting to me require solid stats experience/IT analyst experience to a level i am not at (including sql database and other softwares) and/or solid experience in health care which i don't have.
I am at a point where I could step up to a decent level of responsibility in retail/business (though it is not what I would prefer) so I don't want to downgrade too much but I am much more interested in working for CMS, so it might be worth it if I can find the right way.
posted by kirikara at 8:20 PM on January 13, 2014