The healthcare industry is constantly growing, evolving, and adding new jobs and opportunities for personal growth. Luckily, not every one of those jobs requires a master’s degree or doctorate, and many don’t even require a four-year degree! That’s good news for people who don’t enjoy schooling, don’t have the money for extended training, or simply don’t want to dedicate years of their life.
These high-demand healthcare careers are easily obtainable online with the right training programs. In most cases, you’ll need some in-person training, like in the case of pharmacy technicians, but a lot of online health degrees don’t require it. Let’s take a look at a few potential careers that you can pursue (mostly) online.
Medical Billing And Coding
Medical billing and coding training online can set you up for an important position in the medical field. Medical billers and coders are often grouped together, but the two are sometimes separate jobs. The coder is the person who translates medical documents into standardized codes, so that an invoice can be created for insurance companies. This ensures accuracy and consistency across the industry, and that bills are paid on time.
Since most patients can’t outright afford their care, it’s crucial that things are coded and billed properly, so that insurance payments are made quickly and accurately. A medical billing and coding certification can be obtained in under a year in most cases, but you can also opt for an associate’s degree, which takes between about 18 and 24 months, depending on the program and your pace.
Medical Administrative Assistant
In high demand and important to the daily operations of physician’s offices, hospitals, and more, medical administrative assistance could be the right career path for you. It’s a job that requires attention to detail, dedication to accuracy and professionalism, and, most importantly, a thorough understanding of medical privacy and security. You’ll be responsible for handling medical records, and, in some cases, even taking down information or putting it into the system.
Administrative assisting training can take around eleven months, but in some cases, up to 18 months. Medical administrative assistants are in demand, however, and the job outlook is about 19% growth through 2029, which is much faster than other jobs.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians are also entry-level medical professionals, but are nonetheless essential to the daily operations of the pharmacy. As a pharmacy technician, you’ll be responsible for filing paperwork, interacting with customers or patients, packaging and labeling medication, keeping things organized, and adhering to all state and federal medical ethics and guidelines.
Pharmacy technician training can take as little as 10 months to complete, but in most cases, you’ll seek out an associate’s degree. The job outlook is about 4% through 2029, so while it’s about average, there are still around 422,000 jobs available today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CNA or LPN/LVN
Certified nursing assistants and licensed practical/vocational nurses are in high demand, and you can become one in just two years. The CNA path is considered a stepping-stone into the nursing field, but both operate under the registered nurse in patient care. This is direct patient care, meaning you’ll be on the frontlines of healthcare.
Becoming a CNA or LPN is an excellent entry-level choice, and can give you a taste of what working as a nurse might be like. These online degrees usually take about two years to complete, but you can find fast-track programs that can get you in quicker.
Home Health Aide
Home health aides also participate in direct patient care, entering the homes of patients to help with daily tasks that are made impossible due to disability or other medical reasons. Becoming a home health aide will put you into a position of high demand, as the job outlook is about 34% through 2029. Last year (2019), there were about 1.3 million jobs in the US, and there are expected to be about 1.1 million added in the next decade.
Electronic Medical Records Management
Electronic records are important and require special care, which is where an electronic medical records management specialist comes in. You’ll be responsible for the proper management, storage, and security of medical records, which is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You’ll find many online programs available that only take a few months to complete, and the job outlook is good throughout the coming decade.
Conclusion
The medical field is always growing, and many jobs will be added in the coming decades. These jobs only require a few years of schooling, and can be completed almost entirely online. Start your new career today with these fast-track entry-level programs, without having to spend thousands of dollars or hours on training.