Individuals with entry-level healthcare jobs can further their career options by pursing a shift to Healthcare Management. As the population in the United State ages and people are living longer and longer paired with the new mandates for providing healthcare, the Healthcare job market is expanding at an incredible rate. The increase is faster than any other area of employment in the country. Even in a slow economy, the healthcare industry has continued to grow providing a multitude of job opportunities for those with the education and skills to fill these positions. For individuals with careers within the healthcare system, advancement can be achieved through further levels of educations. They include: Certificate Programs, Bachelors and Graduate degrees in Healthcare Managements and Administration.
Certificate Programs in Healthcare Management
Healthcare management certificate programs offer those already pursuing careers in the Healthcare industry increases in salary as well as positions with higher level of responsibility. Many available certificate programs are designed for healthcare professionals who are currently employed in entry-level management roles and wish take on greater responsibilities and challenges. Employers in many sectors of the Healthcare market are looking for candidates with certifications to assess the level of competency and training of the potential employee. Another advantage to certification as pathway to higher level healthcare management positions is that although a certificate alone is definitely considered a marked accomplishment, the courses taken as part of a certificate program can often be credited toward future degrees in allowing students to earn an MBA or Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management.
Bachelors Degrees in Healthcare Management
A program leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management typically take four years to complete on a full time basis and generally includes 130 to 180 credit hours of study. A Bachelors Degree is considered the minimum requirement for entry levels jobs in the healthcare industry. There are approximately seventy-one Bachelor’s degree programs accredited by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). Students pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management have a interdisciplinary study route including coursework in the skills of leadership, Healthcare policy, Healthcare law, ethics, Healthcare finance, Healthcare information systems, medical terminology, operations management, human resources, patient care skills and statistics in Healthcare. Many programs require completion of an internship at an approved health care facility. Often times, Bachelor’s programs are available entirely online or as a hybrid option. Some online programs are degree-completion programs and you must have completed all lower-level requirements or hold an associate’s degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment of health care managers will increase sixteen percent from 2008-2018 and the median annual wage for medical and health services managers with a Bachelors’ Degree in Healthcare was $84,270 as of May 2010.
Master’s Degrees in healthcare Management
A Master’s Degree in Healthcare management allows those business-oriented professionals to enter top-level jobs of the growing healthcare marketplace. With a variety of areas to choose from in earning a Master’s Degree, those earning a Master’s Degree will help to shape the future of Healthcare policies with careers in state, local and federal agencies. Degrees can be obtained through local universities and colleges or through an online collegiate program. Choosing from a wide variety of available online programs, those already pursuing entry-level positions in healthcare will have the flexibility to earn an advanced degree while working full time. Healthcare facilities recognize the need for trained professionals to fill management positions, and these businesses are willing to pay for skilled employees. Individuals wanting to advance their professional careers, but who have other obligations, such as work schedules or childcare, can obtain the training needed to pursue a career in healthcare management for financial stability in a booming Healthcare industry.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that sixteen percent of new jobs created over the next six years will be in the healthcare field. With this expansive growth in healthcare careers, individuals in entry-level healthcare positions who pursue a career as a healthcare Manager will see significant career growth.