Healthcare is a dynamic field. From nursing to pharmacology, healthcare encompasses numerous career options that focus on caring for others. This underlying purpose of caring for the public demands a variety of jobs and related skill sets. Nurses, EMTs, and emergency room attendants are the first line against emergencies and other healthcare problems. Doctors and family practitioners provide routine check-ups. Pharmacologists ensure that the medication prescribed is correct and does not conflict with other medications. Healthcare managers direct staff, study finances, and provide the public the healthcare they need. Psychiatrists tend to the mental aspect of people's health.

A misconception of healthcare careers is that all require a lengthy study of higher education curriculum. While occupations like doctors, dentists, and psychiatrists do require a longer stint of college courses, healthcare careers are available for many different educational backgrounds and all fill important roles for the healthcare system. Some do not even require a higher education but only specific training in that healthcare profession, such as nursing aides and home care assistants. As competition for all careers intensifies, however, college degrees and professional certifications are often the best (if not only) way to make a resume stand out over the competition.

Healthcare careers are located at private practices, hospitals, government agencies, and colleges and universities. The need to fill healthcare positions has made a career in healthcare extremely promising. Of the 20 fastest-growing careers, healthcare occupations make up half of that list. Much of this has to do with a staffing shortage stemming from the large number of Baby Boomers leaving the workforce and simultaneously requiring more health services.

Career Specializations

• Ambulatory Services: Ambulatory services workers assist in many areas like clinical tests, blood and organ banks, medical labs, diagnostic imaging, and outpatient care.  
• Dentistry: Dentists provide cosmetic, emergency, and routine care. Some dentists specialize in fields like periodontics or orthodontics.
• Healthcare Management: The overall operation of a healthcare facility falls under the supervision of healthcare administrators. Along with scrutinizing financial statements and managing staff, healthcare managers are responsible for providing a safe and effective healthcare facility for the public.
• Nursing: Nurses provide assistance in inpatient and outpatient care. They also assist in rehabilitation and personal care for those requiring continuous nursing care.
• Physicians and Surgeons: Whether in private practices or at healthcare centers, physicians and surgeons usually specialize in specific areas of healthcare and group with others to reduce costs while providing more services for patients.

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Degree Levels Available for Healthcare

• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree: 1.5-2 years to complete
• Doctorate Degree: 3-5 years to complete

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Education and Certification Requirements

Like all industries, there are certain educational and certification requirements for the various positions within healthcare. Many workers in this environment have a great deal of responsibility, and the qualification of their skills is important so that healthcare facilities are protected with highly-qualified staff and the public can be confident when seeking treatment. Because the healthcare industry is so varied from one occupation to another, there are relevant qualifications and certifications for each job.

An associate degree is a minimum requirement for nurses and technicians. Some healthcare careers only require a certification to be employed in these fields. Certain healthcare facilities pay for the necessary associate degree and certification in exchange for employment for a certain period of time. Nursing aides that become federally certified are known as certified nursing assistants (CNA). (BLS) 

Many healthcare careers have a prerequisite of a bachelor's degree. Physician assistants (PA), registered nurses (RN), and health service managers are healthcare occupations that should obtain a bachelor's degree. RNs are licensed by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Each state also has additional requirements and should be checked to ensure all are being met. Physician assistants must pass an accredited PA program through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. (BLS)

Physicians, healthcare managers, optometrists, audiologists, and physical therapists must earn master's degrees, and some even mandate a doctorate degree for employment. The national accrediting entity for medical schools is the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Schools that are accredited with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) receive this distinction from the American Osteopathic Association. (BLS)

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Salary Information

Along with the abundance of occupations in healthcare, the salaries are just as diverse. Many of the careers are related to the level of education acquired.

Individuals with an associate degree can earn between $16,012.80 and $30,662.40 in the healthcare industry. Many of these professionals are paid hourly, working either for private practices or health care centers.

A bachelor's degree receives an annual mean salary ranging from $68,210 to $97,070. In addition to a degree, the location of the job and experience of the individual contribute to the salary amount. The lowest 10 percent of salaries earn $51,360. The highest paid bachelor degree healthcare careers receive $110,240.

Those with a master's or doctoral degree can receive an annual mean salary of $186,044. The average salary for physicians with specializations was $339,738 in 2008. (BLS), (BLS), (BLS)  

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Job Outlook

Most careers in healthcare are anticipated to be in demand for the next 10 years. In fact, the growth expected, along with some pretty lucrative salaries, has placed two healthcare careers in the top five of CNNMoney.com's Best Jobs in America Top 100. Healthcare careers are anticipated to rise by an average of 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. This much faster than average growth is due to the elderly population increasing and the need to replace those retiring or vacating their position for other unspecified reasons.

Physician assistants are anticipated to see the greatest growth in jobs, increasing 39 percent. This is one reason why this profession is ranked number two on CNNMoney.com's Best Jobs in America Top 100 list. (BLS)

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Related Careers    

With healthcare careers centering on the welfare of others, there are many related occupations. Careers that are related to healthcare jobs include social work, veterinary technician, and fitness medicine.

Social work jobs are similar to healthcare careers because individuals in both careers want to help others. A career in social work improves the lives of those experiencing difficulties of various types. When people are having personal problems, social workers can assist in issues concerning domestic violence, foster care, unemployment, or life-threatening disease.  

While healthcare careers focus on humans, veterinary technicians tend to animals. A range of species are under a veterinary technician's repertoire. Along with monitoring the health in animals, veterinary technicians also may train and board animals for clients.

Holistic medicine is a branch of healthcare that uses natural treatments to help people with illnesses. As the appeal of natural remedies increases, holistic medicine will be a career that will likely follow suit. Holistic medicine includes massage therapy, Asian medicine, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, and energy healing.   

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