Careers in the Healthcare Sector

The US healthcare sector employs more people than just about any other. The sheer variety of possible career paths in healthcare is bewildering. Furthermore, there are jobs available for all levels of education – from a high school diploma right through to a Doctorate – and even from an entry-level position the possibility of climbing the career ladder is always there.

Are you interested in a career in healthcare? If so, you are choosing an important and rewarding role. We want to talk about the career options in healthcare, starting with those entry level opportunities.

What Careers Can I Follow in Healthcare?

Students who graduate with a high school diploma have various options should they wish to pursue a career in healthcare. Our recommendation is to consider studying in the first instance for an associate's degree. This is a two-year study program that can be followed at the junior college level. These degrees can also be taken online, a convenient path should you already be employed.

An associate's degree opens the door to positions such as Registered Nurse, which also requires a state license, and radiation therapists. The dental hygienist and medical assistant are other roles requiring an associate's degree.

However, a bachelor’s degree – a four year study program that can be followed on campus or online – will always give you an advantage over those applying with an associate’s. This is because the bachelor’s degree is designed to not only give the knowledge and skills in your chosen major but also in a broader general education.

Bear in mind that a high school diploma is sufficient should you wish, for example, to follow a career as a paramedic. You will need to undergo full hands-on training, and yet it can be a satisfying and rewarding job.

A master’s degree will advance your chances of landing a high-paying job by a great degree. This is a study path open to those who have a bachelor's degree – and in some cases can also be accessed by associate degree holders – and is a sensible path to take should you wish to work in the upper levels of, for example, hospital administration and organization.

The final step on the education ladder is the Doctorate, which is a requirement for upper-level medical professionals. They will also need certification from a recognized medical body, a requirement that also applies to jobs such as a registered nurse. The Doctorate opens to the door to research positions, which may rank among the highest-paid of all jobs in the healthcare sector.

The above are not the only jobs in healthcare. There is a great need for receptionists in clinics and hospitals, for example, and for other office staff who are essential to keep the system operating smoothly. The peripheral staff, who are too many to name here, are as vital to the system as those at the very top.

Have a closer look at the many healthcare roles we have mentioned and more, and you may find that this is the career path for you.