Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses work to provide direct care to patients of all ages in a variety of healthcare settings. RNs can also choose a specialty in nursing at the graduate level, should they wish to specialize in a particular field in nursing.
Educational requirements: Students have two educational routes to becoming a registered nurse. You can either opt for a two-year associate’s degree program or a four-year bachelor’s degree program, after which you are required to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX RN) in order to become a registered nurse.
Expected salary: Median annual salary: $64,690, depending on position, location, education, and experience.1
Physician’s Assistants
Physician’s assistants (PAs) work under the supervision of physicians to examine, diagnose, and provide treatment to those with injuries and illnesses.
Education requirements: To become a physician’s assistant, a student must hold a bachelor’s degree in the healthcare field with some work experience. They can then enter a two-year physician’s assistant education program, after which they must take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) in order to become a certified physician’s assistant.
Expected salary: Median annual salary: $86,410, depending on position, location, education, and experience.2
Pharmacist
Pharmacists hand out prescription medication to patients and educate them about the safe use of these medicines. They can work in hospitals, pharmacies, and drug stores.
Educational requirements: In order to become a pharmacist, a student must have a bachelor’s degree in science or pharmacology, followed by a master’s degree. You must then complete a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited school. Students must pass two exams to get a pharmacy license.
Expected salary: Median annual salary: $117,570, depending on position, location, education, and experience.3
Medical and Health Services Managers:
Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and supervise the delivery of healthcare in healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. Depending on their educational qualifications, they could either manage a division within a healthcare facility or even an entire facility in itself.
Educational requirements: Students can enter the workforce with a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a similar management fields such health services, health sciences, long-term care, public health, etc. They then have the option of pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
Expected salary: Median annual salary: $84,270, depending on position, location, education, and experience.4
Physical therapists:
Physical therapists help people with injuries and illnesses with their movements, and pain management. They could work in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.
Educational requirements: Students must first have a master’s degree of physical therapy, followed by a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). They are then required to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination or a similar state-administered exam to be licensed.
Expected salary: Median annual salary: $76,310, depending on position, location, education, and experience.5
Where should you study?
The above-mentioned professions are just a few of the healthcare occupations you can consider among others such as: respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, occupational therapists, registered nurses, radiologic therapists, and more. Luckily, most of these healthcare occupations are offered by both standard brick and mortar colleges as well as online schools. An example of one such college is Stevens-Henager College. The college offers a variety of healthcare programs (among others, business, information technology, and graphic design programs) both online and on-ground. College reviews, complaints about Stevens Henager College, and testimonials can be found online if you wish to find out more about the college.
If you’re interested in healthcare but don’t want to go to medical school, you might want to consider some of the above-mentioned occupations.
Resources:
1) http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Registered-nurses.htm#tab-5
2) http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Physician-assistants.htm#tab-5
3) http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Pharmacists.htm#tab-5
4) http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Management/Medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-5
5) http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Physical-therapists.htm#tab-5