The length of HIPAA training depends on the type of HIPAA training you are taking, but a typical HIPAA refresher course is around 90 minutes, with additional time for any specialist modules that apply to your role.
For most staff in a healthcare organization or HIPAA Business Associate, the core HIPAA refresher is designed to review the essentials: what counts as Protected Health Information, the Minimum Necessary Standard, permitted uses and disclosures, patient rights, and how to recognize and report potential privacy incidents. Ninety minutes is usually enough time to cover these topics in a focused way without overwhelming people or taking them away from their duties for an entire morning. Many organizations deliver this content once a year as part of their standard compliance calendar.
Some people need more than just the core refresher. Specialist HIPAA modules are often created for specific types of trainees, such as healthcare students, billing and revenue cycle staff, telehealth teams, or employees of HIPAA Business Associates. These modules usually state their length clearly, so a student or Business Associate employee can see exactly how much time to set aside. Because these roles often face extra risks related to remote access, cross-border services, or research and teaching environments, they need additional training that shows how HIPAA applies in their real world scenarios. In practice, a specialist module might add 30 to 60 minutes on top of the basic 90 minute refresher, depending on how complex the workflows are.
HIPAA training is not only about privacy. Staff also need cybersecurity training that supports compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule. This kind of training typically runs for about two hours and focuses on topics such as phishing, passwords and authentication, secure use of email and messaging, device and workstation security, safe remote access, and how to respond if something suspicious happens. While there is some overlap with privacy training, a dedicated cybersecurity session gives people the time to explore real attack examples and practice good security habits. When you add it all together, a realistic annual training plan often includes around 90 minutes for HIPAA privacy refresher content, 2 hours for security awareness, and extra time for any specialist modules that match each person’s responsibilities.