Certificate Program: Online HealthCare Degrees & Courses

A college degree in health care is the start of a rewarding career in an industry that is expected to generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 21.7 percent increase in employment in health occupations between 2006 and 20016. This is excellent news for you if you obtain one of the many college degrees available in health care, either through online education or on campus.

There is a huge range of occupations in the health care industry. Your career training could equip you to work in either direct patient care or in a support service such as health care administration. Many of the health care occupations for which the highest employment growth is forecast are those for which an associate degree in health care may prepare you for entry-level positions, such as medical and health service managers, dental hygienists, and home health aides.

Quick Facts: HealthCare

8 out of the 20 occupations projected to grow fastest in the U.S. are in health care.
Average Length of Training Program: 2 to 6 years online
Top Health Care Career Paths: Nurse, dental hygienist, therapist, medial record technician, home health aide
Typical Courses You Will Take: Biology, Anatomy, Physiology
Average Income of Private Industry Health Services Employees: $27,485.12

Health Care Boom

According to the BLS, the health care industry will employ more workers than any other industry between 2004 and 2014. The aging of the baby boomers will spark an increase in health care establishments in the U.S., which will create a need for new workers. Specifically, by 2014, 3.6 million more health care jobs will be created.

Choosing Your Health Care Career Path

Do you enjoy interacting directly with customers or would you rather work behind the scenes? Do you prefer a holistic or traditional approach to health care? Would you like to work in a predictable or more fast-paced environment? There are careers in health care for just about any preference. These include social work, medical transcription, chiropractics, nursing, dental hygiene, emergency medical paramedics, and many others.

In addition, the degrees needed for any of these careers can be studied through online programs.

Earning Your Health Care Degree

Finding health care programs is easy, once you decide what you would like to study. Even if you already have a career and now want to move into the health care industry, earning your degree is possible through the many accredited online programs available. You can earn a certificate, Associate's, Bachelors, Master's, or even a Doctorate online.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Labor