Yes. As it turns out, a lot. More than 250 different careers exist in the healthcare industry, such as:
- Athletic trainers
- EMTs and paramedics
- Administrators
- Medical assistants
- Occupational therapists
- Radiologic technologists
Each option offers not only an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives but to also choose what best fits your interests – and future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates rapid growth for the industry, with approximately 1.9 million new job openings per year through 2034.
And while some may wince at the thought of spending more than a decade to become a doctor, most of these careers require far less schooling. In fact, some training programs can be completed in less than 12 months. Many prerequisites can also be taken online, making it more flexible – and easier – than ever to begin your career in healthcare.
Clinical Careers
To truly grasp what careers are in the medical field, it’s important to understand the difference between clinical and non-clinical jobs.
Professionals in clinical roles provide direct care to patients. These careers include:
- Doctors: Doctors diagnose, treat, and help prevent illness, injuries, and other health conditions. They work in diverse specialties from family medicine to cardiology and neurosurgery. To become a doctor, you need an undergraduate degree and must complete medical school, followed by a residency program in your selected specialty. It takes at least 11 years, sometimes longer. Portage Learning’s online college courses can fulfill your medical school prerequisites and credits transfer to more than 2,500 institutions.
- Registered Nurses: RNs manage care, administer treatments, and act as a voice for their patients’ well-being and needs. RNs commonly work at a hospital. Other workplace environments include physician offices, nursing care facilities, and cancer centers.
- Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners: PAs and NPs are advanced healthcare providers who perform a broad range of services traditionally handled by a doctor. Their training differs. PAs learn how to test, diagnose, and treat a disease while an NP’s education focuses on ways to help the patient. NPs must specialize in an area of expertise too, such as oncology or pediatrics. PAs train as generalists, allowing them to practice in any field within medicine.
- Allied Health Roles: Allied Health Roles include a diverse group of healthcare workers who carry out needed diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, and support services. These jobs include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and more.
Non-Clinical Careers
Non-clinical roles support the healthcare industry from behind the front lines, ensuring places like hospitals and clinics run smoothly. These professionals may interact with patients but do not give medical care.
- Medical Laboratory Technicians: MLTs collect samples and conduct tests to help detect and diagnose diseases and treat patients.
- Radiologic Technologists: Radiologic technologists generate images of the body using advanced equipment like X-ray, CT, and MRI machines.
- Healthcare Administrators: Healthcare administrators oversee operations, financial management, policy development, strategic planning, and more.
- Medical Coders & Billers: Medical coders and billers manage insurance claims, invoices, and payments for a healthcare facility.
Entry-Level Healthcare Jobs
Entry-level healthcare jobs provide excellent starting points for students and for individuals considering a career change.
- Certified Nursing Assistants: CNAs help patients with everyday needs and support other healthcare professionals, under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
- Medical Assistants: Medical assistants conduct administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs.
- Phlebotomists: Phlebotomists draw blood from patients and prepare it to be analyzed in a laboratory.
- EMTs & Paramedics: EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency situations. They assess injuries and illnesses, administer care as needed, and transport patients to medical facilities. Paramedics undergo further education, allowing them to perform more complex tasks and procedures in the field.
Education & Training Pathways
How long it takes to begin your career in the medical field varies, from a few months for medical assistants to more than a decade for aspiring doctors.
- Certificates & Diplomas: Can usually be acquired in less than a year.
- Associate’s Degrees: Typically takes two years to complete.
- Bachelor’s Degrees: Earned in four years.
- Master’s Degrees: A post-graduate degree typically finished in one to two years.
- Doctoral Degrees: Highest academic degree, usually involving four to eight years of additional studies after a bachelor’s degree.
These degrees can be earned through community colleges and universities, but for career changers interested in saving money or taking a class on their own schedule, online courses present an affordable and flexible learning option.
At Portage Learning, real professors teach nursing and other medical prerequisites, including lab credits. Some of the online, asynchronous courses offered include:
- Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology courses give a working knowledge of the body's structure and function while emphasizing pathologies. These courses serve as introductions to lab assignments and basic terminology students entering the medical field will need down the road. - Biology
General Biology or similar courses develop an understanding of the organization of life, taxonomy, cell structure, and other biological concepts. Many of these courses also introduce laboratories. - Chemistry
Chemistry lays the foundation for basic principles like the scientific method and cellular processes. Courses also equip students by exposing them to chemical equations and analysis in laboratory settings. - English Composition
The ability to communicate clearly, think critically, and write logically are vital in the healthcare field. Most associate’s and bachelor's degree programs require an English composition course to help students deepen those skills. - Introduction to Statistics
This statistics course fits practically into a healthcare skill set when it comes to making decisions, understanding data, sampling, and probability. An introduction to statistics course will give you the tools to apply evidence and data when administering clinical care.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Healthcare Career
With healthcare rapidly growing, it’s a smart decision to embark on a career in the medical field. Consider the following when deciding which option to pursue:
- Your interests and strengths: Do you like people and want to help them? Or does the sight of blood make you squeamish?
- Time commitment for training: Online courses can reduce the time spent commuting, fitting better around your busy schedule.
- Work environment: Do you prefer to be in a fast-paced setting like a hospital? Or do you crave the routine found in an office?
The healthcare industry offers roles for every personality, skill set, and lifestyle, all while providing an even greater opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives with high-quality, compassionate care.
Start your journey to becoming that difference maker by enrolling in a course. Flexible, online learning options can make your future in healthcare more accessible than you think.
(Whether you’re starting fresh or making a career change, there’s a healthcare role that fits your goals. Explore how online courses can help you take that first step toward your dream career. Portage Learning's online courses are affordable, flexible, and asynchronous — perfect for any lifestyle.)
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