Healthcare occupations comprise one of the largest segments of the American workforce, and they continue to grow. Nearly half of all healthcare providers – roughly 3.8 million workers – have less than a bachelor’s degree. They include medical assistants, billers and coders, dental assistants…even nurses such as RNs and LPNs.
As you can see, they fill many critical roles in the overall healthcare system.
Education thresholds (i.e., the level of education achieved) for pursuing careers in healthcare will vary – both just to qualify as a student candidate and for what a program graduate is expected to know in order to qualify to work in a selected field.
It’s safe to assume that seeking a higher education in any healthcare field will require a high school diploma, or equivalent, to start. Some, such as a BSN, require an RN (Associate Degree in Nursing) before you can move into the new career path. Today, there’s also a strong argument for “caring” to be included as a threshold qualifier for healthcare workers. Since “caring” typically is innate and can’t be taught, many education providers may gauge candidates’ level of caring prior to enrolling them in healthcare programs.
Healthcare Industry Education Expectations
Upon completing their program, all healthcare students are expected to be intimately familiar with certain key skills – critical thinking, teamwork, medical terminology, communication and patient/healthcare worker safety among them. Those who have received on-the-job training, such as during an externship, generally have a leg up over candidates who haven’t undergone such training, and some healthcare careers – nursing among them – will require passing a separate certification exam.
As you might expect, a new nursing graduate must demonstrate far more patient care techniques than a medical biller and coder, for example. But those entering each career must meet educational thresholds specific to that career. For those seeking a career in the medical sector, Fortis can help prepare them for most careers they may choose to pursue.
Choosing a Healthcare Education Program
Fortis College and Institute campuses offer a wide variety of healthcare and allied health career programs – many of them that don’t include direct patient contact during traumatic circumstances. Visit our site for more information about the various career choices, and the campuses offering programs geared to your optimum career path.
