Health care college p1 - Military - Career Choices - Military Times EDGE

In uncertain economic times, it can pay to pick a post-military profession that’s in demand. And nothing says job security these days like a career in health care.

The health care industry is expected to generate more than 3 million new jobs by 2016 — more than any other industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s occupational growth of more than 21 percent in the next 10 years.

What’s more, seven of the 20 fastest-growing occupations are health care-related.

Education requirements in health care run the gamut, from short-term, on-the-job training to advanced academic degrees, so it’s easy to get a foot in the door and then work your way up.

In an attempt to meet demand, many schools are offering accelerated programs to speed your path to certification or a degree. The following are just a few options for getting a health care degree quickly — and getting to work.

16 months: registered nurse

Registered nurses alone will account for 587,000 new jobs through 2016 — more numeric growth than any other occupation, the Labor Department predicts. So schools such as the 10 that make up the Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona do what they can to streamline the process.

Navy Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Bain worked as a medical assistant in a doctor’s office after leaving active service in 2000. But he ended up wanting more from his job.

Now, Bain attends the associate degree in nursing program at Mesa Community College in the Maricopa County district.

Mesa’s ADN program is campus-based and takes the usual two years to complete. Bain chose the traditional program because of his reserve commitment, but students can earn the RN associate degree in as few as four continuous semesters — or 16 months — from some of the district’s other colleges. The degree qualifies students to take the national exam for registered nurses.

In addition to going to school, Bain works 16 hours a week as a nursing “extern” for Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital in Sun City West, Ariz., where, under the supervision of a professional nurse, he is responsible for patient care.

Bain said he loves all aspects of nursing, particularly the patient interaction involved in hospital work. He plans to work as an RN at his current hospital but also welcomes the variety and job security that come with being able to work anywhere as a nurse.

2 years: associate in chemical dependency

Rio Salado College in Tempe, Ariz. — also in the Maricopa County district — trains students to enter another fast-growing health care specialty.

“I get calls every week, looking for graduates,” said Kirk Bowden, faculty chair of Rio Salado’s chemical dependency counseling program. “We can’t even find enough graduates to take the jobs — or students to do the internships.”

Rio Salado’s online certificate and degree programs in chemical dependency target students interested in social work, counseling, mental health, psychology and rehabilitation.

The associate degree in chemical dependency at Rio Salado requires 39 degree-specific credit hours and 25 general education credits. It takes about two years to complete if you’ve never taken a college course, Bowden said.

And although individuals can enjoy successful careers at the associate-degree level, Bowden said, additional education brings more opportunities and responsibilities.

3 years: bachelor’s in addiction counseling

To encourage graduates to keep studying, Rio Salado has a partnership with Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, which allows students to apply a maximum of 84 Rio Salado credits — earned at the cheaper, $65-per-credit-hour community college rate — to Grand Canyon’s bachelor’s program in addiction counseling.

Students who transfer the entire 84 community college credits can complete their bachelor’s in 36 more credits — roughly two semesters, or one academic year. Both Rio Salado’s associate degree and Grand Canyon’s bachelor’s are offered only online.

WHAT IT TAKES

Here’s how long you can expect to study for additional in-demand health care jobs:

Short- or moderate-term on-the-job training

Personal and home care aides

Home health aides

Medical assistants

Associate degree or post-secondary vocational award

Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Physical therapist assistants

Dental hygienists

Emergency medical technicians and paramedics

Medical records and health information technicians

Radiologic technologists and technicians

Respiratory therapists

Medical and clinical laboratory technicians

Graduate degree

Physicians and surgeons

Pharmacists

Physical therapists

Occupational therapists

Physician assistants

Dentists

(Originally published March 3, 2008)