Updated: December 28, 2022
Our team has reviewed the best medical terminology online courses for you. Find the best fit below- some are even free.
These online medical terminology courses are designed to help you master the terminology that will be used in the medical field. Becoming familiar with various terms will help you succeed in your chosen career and various exams you may need to take.
Find the best course for you based on your needs.
Summary: Review free and low cost medical terminology courses below.
Best Medical Terminology Online Course Reviews (2023)
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| Best Medical Terminology Courses | Coursera | edX | Udemy | Study.com |
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| Rating | 94 |
94 |
87 |
81 |
| Best For | Best for General Learning | Best for College Credit | - | - |
| One of Our Picks | T-G Recommended | T-G Recommended | - | - |
| Pricing | Free | Free | $49.99 | Free 30-Day Trial |
| Certificate | Yes - $49 | Yes - $79 | Yes | No |
| Length | 6 Weeks | 8 Weeks | As Long As Needed | As Long As Needed |
| Delivery Method | 100% Online | 100% Online | 100% Online | 100% Online |
| Provider | Univ. of Pitt | Doane Univ. | Udemy | Study.com |
| Eligible for College Credit | ||||
| Summary | Review | Review | Review | Review |
| Learn More | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! |
Our Picks for Best Medical Terminology Online Course
Coursera: Best for General Learning
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Best For
- Someone looking for general learning/information
- Someone looking for a free option
- Someone looking to learn from establish experts
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Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting to receive college credit
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- The course can be completed free of charge. If you want the certificate, you can pay $49.
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Provider
- The course is through the University of Pittsburgh. The course is taught by 2 expert instructors from the University of Pittsburgh.
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Content
- The course includes 35+ hours of content and learning. Includes videos, quizzes, and readings.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- Free
- Engaging videos
- Credible professors
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Cons
- No opportunity for college credit
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
Coursera is one of the nations leaders when it comes to online courses. The online e-Learning platform has 3000+ courses on many different subjects. Their clinical terminology course is available free of charge to students who wish to read and view all of the content in the course – if students want to receive the certificate of completion they will have to pay a fee of $49.
The course is provided through Coursera by the University of Pittsburgh. There are two professors who teach the course – both professors have their Ph.D.’s. This course is 100% online and students will have the ability to start as soon as they sign up.
Our team likes this course because students can learn at their own pace. If deadlines are an issue for you, no worries – students can change deadlines around based on their schedule.
This course is estimated to take 6 weeks to complete and around 34 hours total. The course is taught in English with the option for subtitles in numerous different languages. It is recommended that students pay $49 to receive the certificate of completion.
Students will progress through the course by reviewing readings, watching lecture videos, and completing quizzes. The course allows you to set goals which will help keep you on track. Our team really liked how the course kept track of your progress as you went through the course.
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Key Features
- 35+ hours of content
- Includes videos, readings, and quizzes
- 100% online
- Can earn a certificate
Key Differences From Other Medical Terminology Courses
- Expertise of university professors
- Free to learn content
Differences From Previous Versions
- Removal of college credit option
Score: 94
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Why Choose Coursera Medical Terminology Course
- Free to learn
- Taught through University of Pittsburgh
- Can purchase a certificate after
edX: Best for College Credit
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Best For
- Students looking for college credit
- Students looking for a free option
- Students looking for an expert instructor
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Not Recommended For
- Students looking for a set schedule (this is self-paced)
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- The course is free. You can pay $99 for unlimited access and ability to receive college credit.
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Provider
- Course is taught through Doane University. Instructor is Amanda McKinney, MD.
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Content
- The course will take about 8 weeks to complete if you spend 5-10 hours per week.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- Free
- Potential for college credit
- Credible professors
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Cons
- Need to purchase verified track for college credit
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
edX is another leader in the online e-Learning space. edX was founded by MIT and Harvard and is home to more than 20 million learners. edX’s medical terminology online course is offered via Doane University.
The course is available free of charge, but if students want the certificate of completion, they will have to pay a fee of $99. We recommend that students pay the fee of $99 so they can use the certificate to try to transfer credits to their college or university or put the certificate on their resume.
The course is taught by a Doane University faculty member – Amanda McKinney, MD. The course is estimated to take 8 weeks with students spending between 5-10 hours per week on the course. The course is self-paced, so students can learn at whatever pace works best for them.
Students will learn how to develop fluency with medical terms and will be taught specific root words, prefixes, suffixes, and abbreviations. When students complete this course, they should have developed a basic knowledge of medical terms and be able to communicate with their peers in the field.
The course is made up of various lecture videos, readings, and quizzes. If you decide to use the free version, you will not have access to the quizzes - you will only have access to the learning materials. Another downfall of the free course is that there is a timeline on how long you can use the course.
This course is perfect for individuals who are interested in earning college credit for their work.
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Key Features
- 40+ hours of content
- Includes videos, readings, and quizzes
- 100% online
- Can earn a certificate and college credit
Key Differences From Other Medical Terminology Courses
- Ability to earn college credit
Differences From Previous Versions
- Added a expiration date on the free version
Score: 94
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Why Choose edX Medical Terminology Course
- Ability to receive college credit
- Expertise of Dr. McKinney
- Graded assignments and exams
Udemy Review
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Best For
- Someone looking for lifetime access
- Someone looking for a value option
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Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting a lot of video hours
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- Course is available for $49. Includes lifetime access which is nice.
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Provider
- Course was created by Paul Stewart. Not backed by a traditional university or college.
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Content
- Includes downloadable resources, on-demand video, and access on mobile. 3000+ students have taken the course.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- No additional charge for certificate
- 3000+ students have taken the course
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Cons
- No option for college credit
- Not backed by specific college or university
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
Udemy is an online course provider with over 5000 courses to choose from. Udemy offers a very solid option for students looking for an online medical terminology course. Udemy’s course is available to students for $49.99 which provides lifetime access to the course. The course does include a 30-day money back guarantee as well.
Udemy’s online course includes 26 downloadable resources, 12.5 hours of on-demand learning videos, and a certificate of completion that is included in the price. The course is also mobile friendly so students can access the course anywhere they choose.
The course is not taught by a specific college or university but was created by Paul Stewart. Paul has graduate degrees in education, psychology, nursing, and public health and has been in higher education for 15+ years. More than 3000 students have taken the course already.
Some topics included in this course include:
- Medical prefixes, suffixes, and abbreviations
- Anatomy and physiology basics
- Pathologies and associated signs and symptoms
- Procedures, therapeutics, and healthcare specialities
- Associated pharmacology
Key Features
- 12.5 hours of on-demand videos
- 26 downloadable resources
- 100% online
- Certificate of completion
Key Differences From Other Medical Terminology Courses
- Created by an individual with expertise instead of a college or university
Differences From Previous Versions
- Change in price
Score: 87
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Why Choose Udemy Medical Terminology Course
- Lifetime access
- Good value option which includes certificate of completion
Study.com Review
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Best For
- Someone looking to use Study.com for other learning purposes (bundled together)
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Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting to just focus on medical terminology
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- $59.99/month. You do get access to everything on Study.com though with this membership.
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Provider
- Course was created by Study.com but it is eligible for college credit.
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Content
- The course includes 22 chapters which consist of videos, readings, and quizzes with video answer explanations.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- College credit option
- Access to other learning material on site
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Cons
- Expensive
- Not backed by specific college or university
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
Study.com is another provider that offers a free medical terminology online course. However, there is a catch – students can try it risk free for 30 days but will have to pay after their offer expires. Once the offer expires, students will have to pay $59.99/month to continue the course.
The course includes 22 chapters that include detailed video explanations and practice tests to gauge how a student is learning the material. There are 197 lessons available in the course, with each lesson averaging 8 minutes in length.
The course is eligible for transferable college credit after a student completes the course. Overall, the course is well put together and easy to navigate. It is definitely on the more expensive side of courses that we reviewed.
Key Features
- 22 chapters of content
- Videos, readings, and quizzes
- 100% online
- Eligible for college credit
Key Differences From Other Medical Terminology Courses
- Students will get access to other learning material and courses for other subject with their monthly membership
Differences From Previous Versions
- Switch to monthly membership of $59.99
Score: 81
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Why Choose Study.com Medical Terminology Course
- Eligible for college credit
- Includes access to learning resources for other tests and subjects
How to Choose a Medical Terminology Course
Selecting a medical terminology course is not easy. There are many different factors to consider including price, features, content, availability to get college credit, and more. Our team's goal is to help you make an informed decision based on the different options available to you.
What to Consider When Purchasing A Medical Terminology Course
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a best medical terminology course is your specific needs. Not everyone will need the same things. Some students may be seeking a course in which they can receive college credit while other students may just want something to help prepare them for their undergraduate courses.
It is very important to consider what you specifically need. You can review some important things to consider below.
College Credit
The option to receive college credit is something that some students may not consider before purchasing a medical terminology course. If you are going to be putting in the time and energy for a certification or degree, it may benefit you to get some college credit out of it.
Price
If you are strictly concerned with price, you are in luck. Some of the medical terminology courses listed above are 100% free. You can learn everything you need from some courses for free. However, if you want college credit or a certificate, you may need to pay an extra fee.
Other Factors to Consider
Some other factors to consider include:
- Study discipline - if you have troubling sitting down and reading a book, these courses could be a good alternative.
- Wanting to get ahead - if you want to get ahead of your undergraduate studies, these medical terminology courses can help you do so.
- Expert teachers - some of the courses listed above are taught by expert instructors from great universities.
Alternatives: Do I Need a Medical Terminology Course?
Not everyone needs a medical terminology course. Some students choose to complete a medical terminology course to help make their undergraduate studies a little easier. By completing a course, you will have developed a base knowledge of terms and topics that can help you during your undergraduate studies.
Some students choose a medical terminology course because it will knock out some college credit hours and may give them an easier course load while in college.
Methodology: How We Tested Medical Terminology Courses
We looked at 8 different medical terminology courses before narrowing down our list to 4. Our team decided on 4 final choices as we felt these choices represented a good diversity of options, features, and pricing. Our team went into these courses and worked our way through them as if we were actual students.
After spending time in these courses, we gave the courses different ratings for 5 different criteria. Each of those criteria are assigned a weight which helps us arrive at a final weighted score.
For more details, read about our independent review process.
FAQs About Medical Terminology Courses
