Education Requirements For Healthcare Accounting
Most bookkeeping and auditing clerks need some postsecondary education but can also learn some of their skills on the job. When supervised by another experienced employee, new clerks could learn how to complete their tasks. Basic math and computer skills are important to this role, in addition to knowledge of spreadsheets and bookkeeping software.
Health Science Career Cluster And Pathways
Each of these pathways has careers in the same field of work that require varied skills. As you are thinking about your future career, you should look for a career that matches your skills as well as your interests and personality type. You should look for a career that you can see yourself performing day in and day out for many years. The Health Science Career Cluster has five Health Science pathways:
- Support Services
- Diagnostic Services
- Health Informatics
Support Services is a vital field in health care, and careers in this area help provide a welcoming and safe environment for patients and the public. The Support Services pathway encompasses both technical and professional careers. Examples of Support Services careers include:
- Pharmacy aides
Consider careers in the Support Services pathway if you would like to:
- Help guide patients and their families through their health care journey
- Prepare food for patients and families or monitor patient food intake
- Make sure microscopes and other testing instruments are properly calibrated
- Perform preventive maintenance on medical building systems
- Educate the community on important health topics
Careers in Therapeutic Services are focused on improving the health of patients over time through direct care, treatment, counseling or health education. Many of these careers require certification or additional education. Careers in Therapeutic Services include:
Consider careers in the Therapeutic Services pathway if you would like to:
Education Requirements For Patient Care Technicians And Home Health Aides
The BLS explains that home health aides dont always have particular educational requirements. However,patient care technicianswho are employed with certified agencies often require their employees to have training and take an exam.
If a home health agency gets reimbursed from Medicaid or Medicare, then their employees must get proper training and pass an exam to get certified, according to the BLS. Some states also require specific certification.
Community colleges and career training schools may offer training and certification for home health aides.
You May Like: Switch Career To Data Science
Career Outlook For Medical Secretaries
The continued growth of healthcare needs has made medical secretaries very in-demand. In fact, demand for this career path should increase by 11% from 2020 to 2030 according to the BLS.
As medical facilities receive an influx of aging patients, billing and processing insurance data will be increasingly important. This will assure that medical secretaries are needed for years to come.
Patient Care Technicians And Home Health Aides
Patient care technicians are the positions that work directly with patients, like home health aides. These positions are often full-time, according to the BLS. Home health aides may work directly in peoples homes, or in group settings like assisted living facilities or retirement communities.
Home health aides help people in need with their daily activities. They may work with people with chronic illnesses, disabilities or other forms of impairment. Elderly people may also require the assistance of a home health aide.
Home health aidesearned a median wageof $27,080 a year as of May 2020, according to the BLS. This means that about half of the workers in this occupation earned more, and half earned less.
Recommended Reading: Best Degree For Finance Career
Skills Needed For Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists should have skills like:
- Should enjoy helping people and working closely with them
- Ability to be compassionate and empathetic
- Stamina and physical strength, plus being comfortable using their hands
- Ability to be organized, keep accurate records, and follow written and verbal instructions carefully
Medical And Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Medical and clinical laboratory technicians work to collect various medical samples. Depending on their specific job title, medical laboratory technicians may analyze samples from different parts of the body, like tissue, bodily fluids and more.
This is typically a full-time job, according to the BLS. Medical and clinical laboratory technicians often work in hospitals, laboratories, and doctors offices.The median annual salaryfor this position was $54,180, or $26.05 per hour, as of May 2020. This means that about half of the workers in this occupation earned more, and half earned less.
Also Check: Career Path Of Business Analyst
What Is Healthcare Pathway
1. Although without a uniformly accepted definition, care pathways are typically characterized as a method for managing patient care based on clinical practice guidelines, with the main goals of improving quality of care, reducing variation in clinical practice, and increasing the efficient use of healthcare resources.
What are the different types of careers in Health Sciences?
Request more information. The list of occupations within the health sciences is also practically endless, including jobs in five major career paths: diagnostic services, therapeutic services, support services, health informatics, and biotechnology research and development.
How long does it take to get a job in health science?
You might be surprised to learn that many health science careers dont require a lengthy education at all. We used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to round up 16 health science careers that are growing at a rate faster than the national averageand that you can launch in two years or less. 1
What degree do you need to be a health scientist?
Like most majors, students can chose to earn their certificate in Health Science, an Associates, Bachelors or post-graduate degree in the field, depending on their overall goals. What is Health Science? Health science is the field of applied science that relates to human and animal health.
Education Requirements For Radiologic Technicians
Radiologic technicians often require an associate degree,according to the BLS. Some states may also require certification or licensure for radiologic technicians.
Students who are working to become radiologic technicians study subjects like pathology, anatomy, image evaluation, patient care, and radiation physics and protection. Their coursework takes place in the classroom and in clinical settings.
Also Check: Career Paths For Biology Majors
Career Outlook For Radiologic Technicians
Radiologic technicians are expectedto have a 9% growth in employment from 2020 to 2030, according to the BLS. Since diagnostic testing is such an important part of healthcare, these job are expected to have continual growth.
The BLS explains that radiologic technicians who have certifications in different areas and have graduated from accredited programs could have the most positive career prospects.
Career Outlook For Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
There is a projected 14% increase in employment for diagnostic medical sonographers from 2020 to 2030,according to the BLS. Since medical imaging is such an important diagnostic tool, the employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to continue to grow in the years to come.
Diagnostic medical sonographers with certification may have the best job prospects, according to the BLS. This is especially true for those who get certified in multiple specialties.
You May Like: Career Center Grand Junction Co
Choosing Biotechnology Research And Development
Consider careers in the Biotechnology Research and Development pathway if you would like to:
- Investigate relationships between humans and disease
- Work to improve the testing of disease, including genetic testing
- Evaluate medication strength and purity
- Build and maintain databases of clinical results
- Analyze and report on health data
- Invent medical devices that help patients live longer, safer and higher-quality lives.
Health Science Career Cluster Overview
The health science field has become one of the largest of the career clusters. Approximately 14 million people were employed in some aspect of the U.S. health care system in 2006, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Health care workers are employed as physicians, nurses, nursing aides, technicians, technologists, therapists, and in a host of other occupations.
The health care industry continues to develop at a rapid rate with the discoveries of new drugs, treatments, and cures. Modern technologies such as computers and digital imaging are being used by the medical community to perform tests, compile data, diagnose illnesses, and train professionals. Many surgeries are no longer performed with a scalpel, but with lasers. Disease, illness, and injury are now being treated and cured so successfully that the general population is living much longer and the number of elderly is increasing.
Health Science Career Cluster
During the past two decades, there has been an increasing interest in alternative medicine, which refers to such practices as massage therapy, herbal remedies, homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology, and meditation. Although once frowned upon by the traditional medical community, more and more physicians and hospitals are embracing alternative medicine and finding new ways to combine old and new approaches to healing.
Don’t Miss: Ohio Means Jobs Career Test
Flexibility And Return On Investment
Flexibility and return on investment also influenced the selection of careers, although to a lesser degree than projected career growth or salary. Physical therapy, for instance, affords practitioners the flexibility to determine and adjust their schedules.
Unless otherwise specified, all BLS career growth figures are projected increases in jobs in the US between 2020 and 2030, and all salary figures are from May 2021the most recent data available as of May 2022.
Health Careers 5 Health Care Pathways All Health
Health Careers
5 Health Care Pathways All Health Care occupations are organized into 5 pathways. n n n THERAPEUTIC SERVICES DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES HEALTH INFORMATICS SUPPORT SERVICES BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES Maintain or change the health status of the patient over time. SAMPLE CAREERS: n EMT/Paramedic n Nursing u Certified Nursing Assisting u Licensed Practical Nurse u Registered Nurse n Medical Assistant n Optometrist n Physician or Doctor n Cardiovascular Technologist n Surgical Technician
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES Create a picture of patient health at a single point of time. SAMPLE CAREERS: n Clinical Laboratory Technician n Exercise Physiologist n Orthotist/Prosthetist n Pathologist n Phlebotomist n Radiologic Technicians
HEALTH INFORMATICS Provide functions that support and document patient care SAMPLE CAREERS: n Admitting Clerk n Coder n Epidemiologist n Community Health Specialist n Ethicist n Health Care Administrator n Health Educator n Transcriptionist
SUPPORT SERVICES Provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care. SAMPLE CAREERS: n Biomedical Engineer n Central Services Technician n Dietician n Facilities Manager n Food Services n Purchasing Agent n Transport Technician
Health Care Exploration n Business u Health Informatics Family and Consumer Sciences u Therapeutic Services u Support Services Technology Education u Diagnostic Services u Biotechnology Research and Development
You May Like: Career Options In Cyber Security
Career Outlook For Medical Billers And Coders
While overall employment of secretaries and administrative assistants is expected to decline 11% from 2020 to 2030, the BLS projects employment of medical secretaries willincrease 22%over the same period. This faster-than-average growth is linked to the rising demand for healthcare services among an aging population.
Career Outlook For Social And Human Service Assistants
The increased need for healthcare in the aging population is one of the reasons whythe BLS projectsthat social and human service assistants will see a 17% increase in employment from 2020 to 2030.
Job prospects are expected to be especially strong for social and human service assistants who have a healthcare degree from an accredited institution, according to the BLS.
Recommended Reading: Need Help With Career Path
Education Requirements For Medical Billers And Coders
According to the BLS, medical secretaries typically learn industry-specific terminology and practices by attending classes at community colleges or technical schools. Online programs are also available. While formal education is generally required to obtain the relevant skills and knowledge,medical billing and coding trainingcan be completed in a matter of months, depending on the individual student. Some employers prefer candidates with relevant certification, such as the Certified Professional Coder credential.
Education Requirements For Social And Human Service Assistants
Social and human service assistants have varying educational requirements for employment.The BLS explains thateven when a degree isnt a requirement, a certificate or an associate degree in the subject of human services is common for this position.
Moreover, education can help you get additional responsibilities and may increase your chances for advancement in the field.
You May Like: How To Start Computer Science Career
Skills Needed For Cardiovascular Technicians
Cardiovascular technicians should have skills like:
- Should enjoy helping people and working closely with them
- Ability to be compassionate and empathetic
- Stamina and physical strength, plus being comfortable using their hands
- Ability to be organized, keep accurate records, and follow written and verbal instructions carefully
Education Requirements For Pharmacy Technicians
Many states require pharmacy technicians to pass an exam or participate in formal education. Technical or careerschools can help students learn the skills they need tobecome a pharmacy technician.
These programs may be completed in one year, though students can go on to get an associate degree if they choose, which could make them more competitive candidates.
Also Check: How To Start An Actress Career
Diagnostic Services Career Path
Careers in diagnostic services deal with the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and other physical ailments. People who work in this pathway spend much of their time collecting samples from, performing tests on, and analyzing data about patients. They then either pass this information on to other health care professionals or speak with the patient about the results. Examples of careers in this pathway include cardiovascular technologists, cytotechnologists, and X-ray technologists.
Career Outlook For Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants are projected to see an 8% increase in available jobs from 2020 to 2030, according to the BLS. This increase is due in part to the rising number of baby boomers reaching an age that requires more medical attention.
As more people experience medical issues like dementia or chronic illnesses, they are more likely to need care. This increases the need for nursing assistants.
Also Check: Career In Nutrition And Dietetics
Skills Needed For Patient Care Technicians And Home Health Aides
Since home health aides work so closely with people, there are certain skills that are important to possess:
- Stamina to move patients when necessary and perform other physical tasks
- Ability to pay attention to details and follow specific patient care instructions
- Integrity and the ability to make patients feel comfortable
- Interpersonal skills that help you work with different personality types and various emotional states
Is Healthcare For You
Start your career path by asking yourself a few questions. Do you want a career that allows you to help others? Are you looking to work in a field with higher than average projected career growth in the coming years? Would you like to choose between a wide variety of career options?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, then healthcare could be a good career fit for you.
It can be difficult to know where to start since there are so many types of healthcare careers to choose from. A simple first step is to look at the broad career paths and see which ones fit best with your needs and goals.
Another option is take ahealthcare career quiz to help you explore healthcare positions based on your personality.
Here are a few overviews of the different fields in healthcare:
You May Like: Career Paths In The Military
Education Requirements For Medical Secretaries
According to the BLS, medical secretaries often need formal education to learn the medical terminology and specific skills needed to do their jobs.
Medical secretariescan attend vocational or career training schools or community colleges to get the education they need. Online programs are also available.
Imaging And Diagnostics Pathway
Imaging and diagnostics is the second of five health care pathways discussed here. This is a rapidly growing and extremely significant sector of the health care umbrella. Most careers that fall into this pathway do not involve day to day direct patient interaction. Instead, they involve the use of diagnostic imaging technology. With the evolution of technology, techniques in ultrasound, x-ray, and mri are being used more readily. Each play a significant role in determining patient diagnosis earlier than previously possible, thus making it much easier to determine what type of care a patient should receive far earlier than before.
to learn about and find an Imaging or Diagnostics program today.
Job possibilities in imaging and diagnostics are many with new opportunities cropping up all of the time. Many jobs within this sector require a specific education or training, Careers include those such as an ultrasound technicians, cardiovascular technologists, medical laboratory technologists, radiology technicians, and even radiologists.
If you think that you are the type of person that would like the daily responsibility of documenting a persons health at a specific point in time and be there to lend a helping hand in the initial diagnostic phase of the disease or injury process, this is the healthcare pathway for you.
To learn more about each of these diagnostic and imaging health care careers, click on the links below.
You May Like: Strange Career Of Jim Crow Sparknotes
Medical Biller And Coder
Medical billers and coders support healthcare providers, helping them collect payments for their services in a timely manner. Medical coders assign each diagnosis and procedure a universal identifier, using standard industry codes. Once patient records have been properly coded, medical billers send the invoice, or claim, to the insurance company or other payer for reimbursement.
Most medical billers and coders work full-time in an office setting at a healthcare practice, hospital, or clinic. As of May 2020, themedian salaryfor this professionwhich the BLS classifies as medical secretarieswas $37,350 per year, or $17.96 per hour. This means roughly half of the workers in this occupation earn less, and half earn more.
How Can I Prepare For A Career In Healthcare
The SWCAHEC Pre-Healthcare Career Portfolio
The SWCAHEC Pre-Healthcare Career Portfolio contains some of the skills that are essential to pursuing a career in healthcare. Participants will be responsible for tracking their progress toward these skills by recording events, coursework, and other learning experiences in this portfolio. SWCAHEC will have resources online including recorded workshops and links to related resources and content that will contribute to the completion of the portfolio. Participants are also welcome at all appropriate SWCAHEC trainings and workshops and staff will connect participants with resources in the community that would build their portfolios. Please contact Kate Hartzell at with questions.
Don’t Miss: Business Management & Administration Career Cluster
