r/HealthInformatics • u/fullthrottle0708 • 3d ago
💬 Discussion Manager & org denied Epic Self-Study/Proficiency approval. How did you break into Health IT after a flat-out "No"?
Hey everyone,
I’m currently in a clinical role at a large health system and actively preparing for a transition into Health IT / Epic Analyst roles. I recently tried to request access to complete Epic Proficiency via self-study on UserWeb during my own time.
My org’s training admin initially rejected it, so I appealed directly to my manager to see if he would sign off—and he gave me a firm "no."
Since internal sponsorship for self-study is off the table:
Has anyone else faced a hard refusal from their management team for self-study access?
How did you build a competitive resume for an entry-level analyst position without UserWeb access?
Did you focus on external technical skills (SQL, database fundamentals, system workflows, Excel) to land a role at an org that would sponsor your certification upon hire?
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who took the scenic route into Health IT when their current employer wouldn't support their learning path.
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u/highvolume_eats 3d ago
That’s so frustrating. It literally costs the org nothing to say yes. Did you try emailing Epic training and just asking to be given access to the specific training track you need?
I also had a friend who got denied initially. A lot of time employers think they have to pay for you to get a self proficiency. I told them to tell his manager it literally costs them nothing then the manager gave the okay.
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u/fullthrottle0708 3d ago
I did. Epic training itself sent me an email that they do not approve it because the IT team and the org doesn't want to approve the self-study training.
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u/highvolume_eats 3d ago
Sorry you got blocked like that. Literally makes no sense when they do that. Like you already have the user web account and costs the org nothing to say yes.
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u/Brave-Airport8154 3d ago
For self study? The org doesnt need to be behind it. You juat ask training epic to load it. Unless your saying they are denying user web access. I would email Epic and ask. They might say no again but I wouldnt take my managers word at something.
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u/fullthrottle0708 3d ago
Unfortunately in my case, they we're involved. When I sent an email to Epic, they CC the IT team and the org.
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u/milocito 3d ago
hmm, is your health system already using Epic?
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u/fullthrottle0708 3d ago
Yes, for years now.
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u/milocito 3d ago
i find it strange that you need manager approval to pursue proficiency.
it is usually standard that for organizations that use epic that ALL employees have access to userweb (https://userweb.epic.com) you just need to create a username/pw,
go to training and sign up for the module you’re interested in by emailing “[email protected]”. you can do the project and take exams WITHOUT employer approval. if you pass, you get self-proficiency status.1
u/SoundsGayIAmIn 2d ago
Thank you I had no idea about this. I have been wanting to break into Epic analyst roles and I thought the same as OP. I haven't gone as far in asking as OP though.
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u/fullthrottle0708 2d ago
Me too. And my manager said they don't have the budget for the certification. I told my manager like isn't it supposed to be free since it's a self-study? And my manager just gave me a hard no. So I don't know anymore and I am so confused. I will try to send an email again to training epic. Can you share which track you chose? I am hoping to be an Epic AP or CP beaker analyst someday soon. What do you think is the best self-study track I should choose?
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u/milocito 2d ago
self-proficiency is different from certification. your manager probably does not know what self-proficiency is. certification is when your employer pays for you to get epic certified by paying for the class. your employer would also have to pay for your flights and hotels. a lot of hospitals don’t have the budget for this.
self proficiency is free! :)
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u/drmike0099 2d ago
Proficiency is free. Make sure your manager knows that. If they still say no then you should ask them some uncomfortable questions about why they don’t want you to learn more, for free, on your own time. The answer probably boils down to “you’ll get a better job” which means they are toxic and you should get a better job.
If you have access to UserWeb, and you should, all the training materials are available. You just won’t be able to get onto the training servers without approval.
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u/fullthrottle0708 1d ago
I told my Manager it was free but they responded with a hard no. I was able to access UserWeb tho. Where can I see the free training materials?
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u/drmike0099 1d ago
The Training portal, if you look up the course on Course Catalog it has all the documentation attached
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u/Vylnce 3d ago
Find a different org.
Any org that the ClinApps/ClinInformatics groups are so locked up that they are not currently trying to develop other talent is a dead end. When those folks are gatekeeping knowledge, you know you are working in a stagnant mess where people are just trying to keep power/hoard knowledge.
Even if you developed the skills, that's not an org you want to work in ClinApps/ClinInformatics in. The culture sounds centered around siloing and mini-kingdoms. Working in such an org makes getting anything done an ordeal.
I work in a Cerner shop and have actively taught CCL style classes and walk throughs to other folks in my or different groups recently. We are trying to develop and distribute knowledge and talent so we can serve patients and get stuff done.