Advance Your Current Career
If you already work in healthcare, but want to advance to a new position or strengthen skills to help you excel in your current job, there are a number of certificate and degree programs you can leverage.
For example, many registered nurses (RNs) are going back to school to earn their BSN, as holding a bachelor’s degree is becoming more common for nurses, and it can open new opportunities to those who have experience in the field. RN to BSN bridge programs allow nurses to build upon their existing experience and education to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Other healthcare careers, such as healthcare administration, provide a path to higher positions through earning additional degrees. An individual with an associate degree in healthcare administration can gradually climb the career ladder by earning a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management, followed by either an MBA in healthcare management or a master’s of science in healthcare administration.
Jump-Start a New Career
If you’re looking for a fresh start in a new career, the healthcare industry is a great place to look. There are plenty of in-demand jobs that pay better than an entry-level position and require less training time than a traditional degree.
Pharmacy technicians, for example, can be trained and certified through an online program in as little as four months. In this role, individuals assist pharmacists, helping to fill prescriptions, provide customer service, and other administrative tasks. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that an additional 34,700 jobs will be added between 2014 and 2024.
Other in-demand jobs that can be attained through a certification program include:
If you’re interested in pursuing a healthcare career that allows you to get started quickly, but allows for you to build upon your existing credentials to gradually advance your skills, you might also consider pursuing a degree certificate. For example, you can earn a healthcare management certificate to get the skills you need to start at an entry-level job while also earning credits that can apply toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the same field.
The demand for trained healthcare professionals is growing, with no signs of slowing down soon—employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the BLS. This means there are countless opportunities to start a career in healthcare, advance your existing career or pivot into a related field of interest. Ultimately, your career path is yours to choose.
Want to learn more about career opportunities in healthcare? Learn more here.
