Join One of the Fastest Growing Industries in the World With a Health Care Degree

The health care industry is one of the few sectors that survived the Great Recession relatively unscathed, and it continues to grow rapidly. There are many factors driving growth in this field, including an aging and growing population, advances in medical technology, and changing health care legislation. What’s more, the health sector is incredibly diverse, offering students the chance to pursue careers in numerous specialty areas as academics, professionals, or both.

Growth projections for careers in the medical field are staggering; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care occupations that require a master’s degree (such as nurse practitioners or orthotists and prosthetists) will increase by almost 30 percent between 2012 and 2022. For those with a relevant associate’s degree (i.e. radiation therapists and registered nurses), that growth is almost as high, at a little over 25 percent. Professionals who earn a postsecondary non-degree award (nursing assistants, EMTs, and paramedics, for example) will see a 22 percent increase in demand for their services during the same decade. 

The salary ranges are as varied as the career options and educational requirements; on average, a podiatrist earns about $120,000, while an athletic trainer can expect somewhere in the neighborhood of $45K. However, radiation therapists earn around $80,000 a year with only an associate’s degree, and hearing aid specialists can earn $43,000 with only a high school diploma and some on-the-job training. Find out more about the specifics of a career path and the salaries associated by reaching out to a DegreeNexus.com specialist today.

Along with the required degrees and licenses, many medical professionals choose to become certified. These certificates demonstrate their knowledge of a particular discipline, ability to perform certain tasks, or qualifications that allow them to hold a particular job. For example, certified medical assistants receive their certificates from the American Association of Medical Assistants, while pediatric nurses, cardio-vascular nurses, informatics nurses, and ambulatory care nurses pursue certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Despite the wide array of career opportunities available in the health care industry, there are some specific skill sets that all medical professionals should either possess or seek to develop. For instance, the ability to empathize with and support those in stressful situations is vital. Even if your goal is to work as an administrator or join an insurance company as an underwriter, you’ll make better decisions if you can relate to those who are sick and injured, and also with their caretakers. 

Organizational skills are important as well, especially for those who choose to work in hospitals or urgent care facilities, as they often find themselves in high-pressure situations where time is of the essence, and it’s imperative to act without hesitation. The ability to problem-solve is needed as well, since it would be impossible to anticipate every potential situation that might arise. First-aid and clinical training, along with strong communication skills, round out a solid foundation for someone looking to start a career in medicine.