10 Best Online Medical Terminology Courses (2024 Reviews)

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Carlos Eduardo

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Last Updated on December, 2024

If you’re a student looking to expand your healthcare vocabulary or a professional aiming to enhance your communication skills, any of the 10 Medical Terminology we’ve discussed below will help. 

Yes, after hours of thorough research and going through the contents, we’ve curated a list of 10 Online Medical Terminology Courses, each offering unique features and catering to various learning preferences.

From video-based instruction to written materials, these courses cover essential aspects of Medical Terminology.

So, no matter which one you pick, you will get the info you need. 

What are you waiting for? 

Read on…

Best Online Medical Terminology Courses 

The following is the collection of 10 Online Medical Terminology Courses. 

1. Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students

a screenshot of the Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students course from Coursera

Offered by: University of Pittsburgh 

Instructor: Valeria Swigart & Michael Gold

Course content: Consists of video lessons and 44 quizzes

Estimated completion time: Approximately 34 hours 

Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students is offered on the Coursera platform. There are over 100,000+ students enrolled in this course at the moment.

Even though it is a beginner-level course, it is still great with a 4.8-star rating to polish up the skills related to Medical technology. 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Clinical terms and abbreviations related to vital signs.
  • Learn to decode Complex medical terms.
  • Advanced decoding strategies used in emergencies, the timing and route of medications, and the administration of intravenous infusions.
  • Understanding the diseases of the bodily systems.
  • Learn the essential aspects of laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures.
  • Understanding clinical conversations based on accurate video simulations.

Pros

The practices are based on real-life medical scenarios.
Available in other languages such as Arabic, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Vietnamese, English, Russian, and Spanish.
Lesson content and quizzes are available for free.
You get a shareable certificate after completion (based on financial aid).

Cons

It is a beginner-level course and not suitable for individuals who have sufficient knowledge.
Some content doesn’t have translations.
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2. Medical Terminology I

a screenshot of the Medical Terminology I course from Coursera

Offered by: Rice University

Instructor: Laura S.Kabiri

Course content: Video lessons, readings, and 5 quizzes

Estimated completion time: Approximately 14 hours 

Medical Terminology I is a beginner-level course offered by Rice University. Rice University ranks as one of the top 20 universities in the U.S. (United States).

This course is part of Coursera’s Medical Terminology Specialization course; however, over 19,800+ students enrolled in this course with 4.9 ratings. 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Teaches Medical Terminology Specialization, integument, movement, and micturition.
  • Foundation towards Medical Language and Records.
  • Learn about Integumentary Systems, including terms related to the skin.
  • Includes the musculoskeletal system associated with muscles and bones.
  • Consists of the urinary system terms related to kidneys and bladders. 
  • Targets job-relevant skills and consists of hands-on projects.

Pros

Has a final assessment to obtain the certification and faces a quick recap.
Obtain a shareable certificate of completion.
Course contents are available for free.
Included assessments and five quizzes.
Good instructor.

Cons

This course is a part of another course, namely Medical Terminology Specialization.
You need to pay to obtain a certificate.
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3. Medical Terminology 101

a screenshot of the Medical Terminology 101 course from Udemy

Offered by: Udemy

Instructor: Emma Hitt Nichols

Course content: 20 video lessons, including 2.5 hours of on-demand video and 14 downloadable resources

Estimated completion time: 2 hours and 18 minutes  

Medical Terminology 101 is offered through Udemy, with a record of 2733 students enrolled. The course focuses on “speak medicine” to increase students’ earning and marketing skills. It is one of the “Best Seller” courses with 4.3 ratings. 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • In-depth view of Medical Terminology and pronunciations.
  • Learn the suffixes and prefixes related to Medical Terminology, cellular biology, tools and procedures, and adjectives.
  • Learn about the body systems, including bones, muscles, skin, digestive system, gut, urinary system, reproductive system, heart and circulatory system, lungs, brain, eye, and ears.
  • Learn to spell and pronounce the related words correctly.
  • Learn medical billing and coding, medical transcription, medical secretary or receptionist, and clinical research.

Pros

Has 140+ quizzes.
Suitable for individuals who want to learn to use the language of medicine appropriately.
Helpful for various career pathways, such as doctors, dentists, medical writers, medical editors, medical coding, medical secretaries, medical directors, and more!
Include effective learning materials and cheat sheets.
Provides lifetime access with certification.

Cons

The tutoring method is a lecture-style approach (maybe ineffective for some students).
It has a competitive cost.
Only available in English.
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4. Medical Terminology Foundations

a screenshot of the Medical Terminology Foundations course from Udemy

Offered by: Udemy

Instructor: Colin Tempelis

Course content: 16 video lessons, including 2 hours of on-demand video and 46 downloadable resources

Estimated completion time: 2 hours and 10 minutes 

Medical Terminology Foundations is a course offered by Udemy under the lecturer Colin Tempelis. Even though there are only 141 students enrolled so far, it has a 4.5 rating. It is an in-depth course covering many aspects of Medical Terminology. 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Helps to learn the Medical Terminology terms related to Respiratory System, Cardiovascular/circulatory System, Digestive System, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine System, Special Senses, Nervous System, Integumentary System, Reproductive System, and Urinary System Terms.
  • Improves the knowledge related to prefixes and suffixes in Medical Terminology terms. 

Pros

It has 46 downloadable resources.
Provides full lifetime access.
Has 4.5 Udemy ratings by students.
Obtain a certificate of completion.
Suitable for medical professionals, prospective medical students, and personal trainers requiring more skill enhancement.

Cons

Lack of diagrams.
The video content includes clips of just reading off the lessons (maybe less effective).
Monotone delivery.
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5. Medical Terminology and Medical Abbreviations 2021

a screenshot of the Medical Terminology and Medical Abbreviations 2021 course from Udemy

Offered by: Udemy

Instructor: Dr. Sumaiya Fatima

Course content: 16 video lessons, including 16 lectures

Estimated completion time: 1 hour and 45 minutes 

The Medical Terminology and Medical Abbreviations course is offered by the 8-year experienced professional Sumaiya Fatima. Even though there were only 461 students enrolled, the course earned a 4.6-star rating. 

However, it is one of the best courses to build an understanding of medical reports or prescriptions. 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Covers the basic and essential medical terms.
  • Includes the learnings on Medical Suffixes and Prefixes.
  • Learn the crucial medical abbreviations and compounded medical terminologies.
  • Covers the Medical Terminology for different body systems such as the cardiovascular system, endocrine system, digestive system, eye medical, nervous system, urinary system, and reproductive system. 

Pros

It covers the required basics of Medical Terminology, such as Suffixes and Prefixes.
Available in English.
It is helpful for students in various fields, such as medical students, dental students, healthcare students, premedical students, pharmacy students, and many more.
Flexible, online, and short course.
Have a quiz at the end of the course to test your knowledge.

Cons

It has background noise that disrupts the quality of the video. 
Lack of visual resources.
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6. Medical Terminology

a screenshot of the Medical Terminology course from Udemy

Offered by: Udemy

Instructor: Paul Stewart

Course content: 35 video lessons, including 12.5 hours of on-demand video and 26 downloadable resources

Estimated completion time: 12 hours and 14 minutes 

Medical Terminology is a course offered by Paul Stewart, with a 4.7 rating in Udemy. There are more than 13,000+ students enrolled in this course so far. Therefore, it is one of the best-selling courses specializing in Medical Terminology. 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Includes a brief introduction to Medical Terminology.
  • It covers the body’s organization, Integumentary system, Musculoskeletal system, Cardiovascular system, Blood, Lymphatic and Immune system, Digestive system, respiratory system, and Reproductive system. 
  • Includes the prefixes, suffixes, medical combining forms, and abbreviations related to the above sections.
  • It includes procedures, therapeutics, healthcare specialties, and pharmacology. 

Pros

Provides full lifetime access.
The course content and structure are simple and easy to understand for students.
Clearly explains all the essential concepts.
Obtain a certification after completing the course.
Includes comprehensive content.

Cons

Monotone speaker.
Lack of PDF handouts.
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7. Introduction to Medical Terminology

a screenshot of the Introduction to Medical Terminology course from Alison

Offered by: Alison

Instructor: Apex Learning

Course content: 1.5 – 3 hours

Estimated completion time: 2 days 

Introduction to Medical Terminology is a course offered by Apex Learning. Currently, there are more than 31,000 students enrolled. However, it is a CPC-accredited course that helps enhance the working medical vocabulary. 

This course would help you to brush up on the skills related to Medical Terminology, Healthcare, Medicine, and SDG 3 good health and well-being. 

The following are the key learnings from this course:

  • Sets the foundation for the Basic Medical Terminology.
  • Learn the Organ System Specific Medical Terminology, including organ systems, diseases, disorders, and associated treatment procedures in depth.
  • Identify the names frequently used in laboratory tests. 
  • Learn the names and abbreviations used in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. 

Pros

CPC accredited course. 
The contents are available for free to learn.
Has course assessments to test the knowledge.
You can get a certificate of completion (under a cost).
Effective course structure, including visual graphics.

Cons

The Medical Terminology is explained by a regular layman.
Monotone speaker.
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8. Online Medical Terminology Course

a screenshot of the Online Medical Terminology course from Des Moines University

Offered by: Des Moines University

Instructor: Donald Marz and Willliam J. Dyche

Course content: 15 modules including 30 final quiz questions

Estimated completion time: N/A 

Online Medical Terminology Course is a popular course offered by Des Moines University. It was founded in 1898 in the medical school located in Iowa. 

It is one of the best courses to polish up the understanding of medical terms. Even though the university offers only written content, it is given in simple language and tabular formats (for better understanding). 

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Teach approximately 300 new human body-related terms such as Circulatory, Digestive, Nervous, Respiratory, Musculoskeletal, Cancer related terms, Urinary, Male Reproductive, Female Reproductive, 
  • It has a bonus module with medical terms related to medicine.
  • Has audio pronunciation of taught medical terms.
  • The modules simulate case-based scenarios.

Pros

Free access to the 15 modules.
It has 30 final quiz questions and post-module assessments to test the knowledge.
The best course to develop an understanding of standard medical terms.
Obtain a certificate of completion (by paying for the certification).
Available in Spanish language.

Cons

Has only written course content.
Lacks video content.
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9. Medical Terminology

a screenshot of the Medical Terminology course from edX

Offered by: Doane University 

Instructor: Amanda McKinney

Course content: 5 to 10 hours of study per week

Estimated completion time: 8-week course 

Medical Terminology is a course offered in edX by Doane University. Doane University is specialized in providing undergraduate programs for natural and applied sciences. However, this course has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. 

This course primarily covers the rules in medical word building. 

The following are the key learnings from this course:

  • The terms related to anatomy, physiology, pathology, and diagnostic tests are covered.
  • Understand the prefixes and suffixes used in medical terms.
  • Understand the complex words to figure out the stem words in medical terms.
  • Learn the medical abbreviations.

Pros

Flexible, self-paced, and short course.
Available for free, but you can upgrade it with a cost to obtain graded assignments.
Ideal for beginners to polish up their knowledge of Medical Terminology.
Provides effective video lessons.
Helpful for healthcare professionals and medical students.

Cons

Certificates should be earned at an additional cost.
Available only in English.
The course will be archived once the session ends. 
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10. Online Medical Terminology Course

a screenshot of the Online Medical Terminology course from PENN FOSTER

Offered by: Penn Foster

Instructor: N/A

Course content: Includes two courses, including ten exams and 16.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Estimated completion time: 2-3 months 

Online Medical Terminology Course is offered on the Penn Foster website by experienced individuals behind the screen. 

Penn Foster is an accredited college dedicated to providing healthcare training. Even though the program is costly, it is nationally accredited through the institution of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)

The following are the expected key learnings from this course:

  • Understand the word construction and fundamentals in the medical language.
  • Identify the Medical Terminology used in diagnostics, musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, body structures, digestive, nervous, and reproductive systems.
  • Identify the ways to distinguish identical medical terms effectively.

Pros

Nationally accredited through the Institute of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
The course certification would be an added advantage for resume and skill enhancement.
Provide digital study guides, self-check quizzes, and expert faculty.
Has customized pricing plans.
Flexible, Online, and self-paced course.

Cons

It may have less course coverage compared to other courses.
Higher course cost.
The certificate may not be recognized based on the student’s state. 
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How Do I Choose the Right Course?

medical terminology video course played on a laptop

Here are the factors to consider when choosing the right Medical Terminology course:

  • What does the course content cover? If you refer to the above list of courses, all the courses cover Medical Terminology-related subject areas. 

However, the specific areas or topics they cover may differ from one another. Therefore, find out if the focus area meets your requirements.

  • What is your preferred teaching style? Do you like written materials, visuals, or both? Specific courses are video-based or soft copy-based. Therefore, identify your comfortable teaching style to get the best outcome.
  • How much time can you spend on the course? Depending on your requirements, availability, and situation, you can choose between a short- or long-period system.

Since the period of every course varies, identify the time you can allocate based on your current needs.

  • What type of certificate do you get? Specific courses provide certifications from authorized institutes like Udemy and Coursera.

However, particular courses provide accredited certificates or free certificates. Therefore, figure out which type of certificate course you require.

  • What is your budget? Even though the above courses are free, if you need a certification, you need to pay for it. Therefore, identify the budget you plan to invest in your Medical Terminology course.

What Does the Medical Terminology Course Module Consist of?

The following are the standard modules included in the Medical Terminology course (may vary depending on the course and expected outcomes):

  • Overview of Medical Terminology 
  • Cardiovascular System
  • Diagnostic Procedures and Pharmacology
  • Digestive System
  • Endocrine System
  • Human Body In Health and Disease
  • Lymphatic and Immune System
  • Muscular System
  • Nervous System
  • Reproductive System
  • Respiratory System
  • Skeletal System
  • Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
  • The Integumentary System
  • Urinary System

What is the Cost of a Medical Terminology Course?

The cost of the Medical Terminology course depends on your requirements. Generally, the above Medical Terminology courses may cost between $25 and $324. 

However, the cost of Medical Terminology courses may vary depending on the following factors:

  • The Platform
  • Course offering institute
  • Course content
  • Inclusion of certificates, quizzes, or graded assessments
  • Inclusion of hands-on projects

For example, the course content on Coursera, edX, and Alison can be accessed freely. But if you need a certificate of completion, quizzes, or graded assessments, you may need to pay a fee. 

Thus, the price depends on the platform and the course you pick. 

Therefore, the exact cost of Medical Terminology courses cannot be determined and may vary depending on your requirements. 

Advantages of Doing a Medical Terminology Course

Here are the advantages of doing a Medical Terminology course:

  • Understand the medical literature: Whether you are working or studying, having a thorough knowledge of Medical Terminology helps you to understand the medical literature clearly. 
  • Better communication: If there’s proper and in-depth knowledge of Medical Terminology, it helps to communicate effectively. Also, communication with healthcare professionals would be much more effective.
  • Easy to get hired: If you do the Medical Terminology course as a student or as a skill development, you are more likely to get hired or get a salary hike. Therefore, onboarding and salary hikes would be an easy process.
  • Increase confidence: Learning Medical Terminology helps increase confidence if you enter healthcare. Thus, you will have a proper knowledge of the medical context and be able to express it effectively. 
  • Prepare for license exams: Before attending a Medical Terminology exam, you need to go through with Medical Terminology terms. Therefore, a Medical Terminology course would help you to prepare for your exams and increase your success rate. 

What is the Duration to Complete a Medical Terminology Course?

The duration taken to complete a Medical Terminology course may depend on the type of course you pick.

Generally, the time may vary between 1.5 hours to 3 months. 

However, the duration to complete a Medical Terminology course depends on the depth of the course, the course content, whether you pick a short or long-term course, the teaching method, the time you can allocate to learn, and your study speed. 

Other course categories you might like:

Final Thoughts

Finding the best Online Medical Terminology Course is challenging! However, I believe this comprehensive guide has narrowed down your decision-making process. 

Therefore, consider the above factors when selecting the best online medical terminology course that fits your requirements. 

We hope this guide helps you pick the BEST Medical Terminology course! 

FAQs

Yes, you can learn medical terminology online through various courses, apps, and websites.

A medical terminology certificate can be worth it for enhancing your understanding of medical language, improving job prospects in healthcare-related fields, and providing a foundation for further medical education.

Enrolling in an online course is the fastest way to learn Medical Terminology. 

The Medical Terminology course is for anyone who wants to combine medical language with other fields, including students who want to learn about the medical language and the primary function structure of the body to get into the field of marketing, information technology, medical scheduling, administrative staff, or billing. 

Medical Terminology is not complex, but you must incorporate the proper learning techniques, study methods, and strategies to ace it easily. 

The best Medical Terminology courses are Introduction to Medical Terminology (by Alison), Medical Terminology (by Udemy), Online Medical Terminology Course (by Penn Foster), and Online Medical Terminology Course (by Des Moines University).

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Carlos Eduardo
Hey there, I’m Carlos Eduardo, the Founder and Author of Scorebeyond. Delving deep into 20+ years of education transformation through innovative e-learning, I’ve poured my expertise into this platform. My enduring legacy continues to drive the path towards a future empowered by knowledge!
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