What Are the Requirements for Certification and Externships?

Requirements for Preppy programs vary by certification body and career path. While enrollment is broadly accessible, certification and externship eligibility may include education, experience, or age-related criteria.

This article outlines how these requirements typically work, with examples from common Preppy pathways.

Key Principle

There are three distinct layers of requirements:

Enrollment → Open and beginner-friendly
Certification → Set by third-party organizations
Externship / Job Readiness → Set by employers and industry standards

Each layer operates independently, which is why requirements can differ.

Certification Requirements (Examples)

Certification eligibility depends on the organization issuing the credential. Common patterns include:

Education requirements
Many certifications require a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
Some allow you to qualify by completing a training program (like Preppy)
No-experience entry options
Some certifications allow you to sit for the exam with no prior work experience
In certain cases, you may earn a provisional or apprentice certification until you gain experience
Example: Medical billing and coding certifications may grant an “apprentice” designation that converts to full certification after work experience is completed
Experience-based pathways
Some certifications require:
Prior work experience, or
Completion of a training program within a specific timeframe
Post-exam experience requirements
In some fields, you can pass the exam first and complete required hours afterward
Example: Sterile processing certifications may require hundreds of hands-on hours to convert a provisional certification into a full credential
Program or pathway restrictions
Certain “gold standard” certifications require:
In-person training
Accredited programs
These may not be included in fully online pathways

Externship and Hands-On Requirements (Examples)

Externships are not always required to enroll or begin studying, but they are often tied to certification or employment.

Common requirements include:

Hands-on experience hours
Some certifications require a set number of hours (e.g., clinical hours, case logs, or workplace experience)
These may be completed before or after passing the exam
Workplace or site eligibility
Many externships require:
Being 18 years or older
Passing background checks or drug screenings
Meeting health or immunization requirements (common in healthcare settings)
Employer-driven requirements
Externship eligibility is often determined by the employer or partner site, not just the program

How These Requirements Work Together

It’s common for learners to follow a path like this:

Enroll and complete training (no experience required)
Sit for a certification exam (sometimes with minimal requirements)
Complete hands-on experience or an externship
Earn full certification or become job-ready

The exact order can vary depending on the certification.

Important Notes

Requirements are set by third-party certification bodies and employers, not just Preppy
Not all programs follow the same path
Some certifications allow immediate testing, while others require additional steps
Certification exams may come at an additional cost

You should always review the details for your specific program and certification.

Key Takeaway

You can usually start a Preppy program without experience, but certification and externship requirements vary. These may include education, hands-on hours, or workplace eligibility depending on the certification and career path.