The Fastest Growing Healthcare Careers

Do you have your eye on a fast growing healthcare career or are you chasing an opportunity of years gone by? Securing a stable job that offers good pay, benefits, and advancement opportunities isn't as easy as it used to be. Not long ago, the answer to putting yourself in position to have a successful career involved little more than getting good grades in high school and going on to complete a four year degree from a major state college or university. While this can still be a viable path for some, increasing tuition costs and the failure of some universities to keep up with rapidly evolving technology trends is forcing some students to look for other educational paths.

Today it is common for students graduating from a major college to emerge with tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt only to find that potential employers are passing over their resumes in favor of candidates with hands-on experience. The current job market relies heavily on hiring individuals with a fresh education and a demonstrated ability to perform. In fact, some of the fastest growing careers today require as little as 6 to 24 months worth of specialized training. Here are a few healthcare careers that are poised to see significant growth in demand and wages over the next several years.

Healthcare is a hot topic in the news right now and with insurance coverage soon to become available for a larger pool of people, high growth career opportunities abound. One area already experiencing growth is nursing. A nursing career can start with a one to 2 year training program where students complete LPN courses to prepare for a job as a licensed practical nurse. LPNs work in hospitals and clinics to provide direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensed practical nurses can earn between $36,000 and $56,000 per year after completing a training program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam. After a few years, many LPNs enroll in LPN to RN bridge programs to become registered nurses. This can push annual earnings to $70,000 and above for certain specialties.

Another profession in the healthcare field growing at a rapid clip is medical assistants. A CMA or certified medical assistant handles much of the day to day operations of an office or clinic including administrative tasks and assisting patients. Certified medical assistant training programs can usually be completed in one to two years. While this entry level job opportunity doesn't come with lucrative pay right away, it presents a unique opportunity for advancement on both the clinical and administrative sides of the health care business.

Other areas of expected job growth include opportunities for physician assistants, clinical laboratory technologists, respiratory therapists, and cardiovascular technicians. For information on programs available in your area, you should contact your local community college or vocational school.