5 Healthcare Pathways that are Faster than Nursing.
Now more than ever we see how crucial healthcare jobs are in our society. There are few other jobs as rewarding as those in the healthcare sector. You may be imagining doctors and the grueling and expensive years of education that leads to becoming one. You may be thinking of nursing, which requires nursing school. Here I’m going to introduce you to some OTHER pathways in healthcare that require only two years at your local community college, saving you time and money while still giving you one of the most indispensable jobs there are.
WhereWeGo has healthcare pathways at multiple institutions. For this post, I’m going to just break down FIVE I like at ONE place you can go, so you can get a feel of how many options are out there!
At Delgado Community College there are 19 different programs of study in the Allied Health division. What does allied health mean? Let’s look at the Association of Schools Advancing Healthcare Professionals (ASAHP for short--or what I like to call, “As Soon As Humanly Possible.”) for their definition:
“Allied health encompasses a broad group of health professionals who use scientific principles and evidence-based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases; promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health, and apply administration and management skills to support health care systems in a variety of settings.”
Big words alert. Maybe you’re familiar with healthcare jobs, practices, terminology, or maybe you’re like me and have interest but aren’t really sure where to go from here. The amount of programs can be overwhelming, especially when we’re unfamiliar with them. I’m going to share with you the Top 5 programs that interest me most at DCC, facts and figures about them and the careers/salaries they lead to. Use this as a guide to see what’s important to look at when deciding a program of study.
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
Pull over! Life saver coming through!
WHAT: EMTs and paramedics are responsible for being the first responders in a prehospital setting (think: ambulance). This study trains you to administer advanced emergency medical care in a job that is both exciting and diverse. The skills learned range from defibrillation to endotracheal intubations (big words = big brains).
HOW LONG: The EMTE program at DCC takes 12 months and begins every January and August. That’s 32 credit hours = 4 semesters = 2 years.
STATS: 67% of students in the EMT program at DCC pass the final exam within 3 attempts. That means, the program will be tough. But, when finished, students are able to apply for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Examination (NREMT) process, which leads to a career as a Paramedic.
RESULT: According to Indeed.com, paramedics in Louisiana have an average salary of $61,146--that’s 65% higher than the national average. A job as a paramedic is a well-respected one.
2. Veterinary Technician
WHAT: More than just a love of animals, veterinary technicians learn the technical skills of all the latest technology, the techniques of modern practices, the communication skills needed to work with pet owners, and the attitudes of “professionalism”, “excellence”, “teamwork.” The DCC veterinary program is no joke, it’s not just cuddling kittens.
Someone, please pay me to hold puppies.
HOW LONG: The program requires 50 hours of observation at a veterinary hospital. It is a full-time 5 semester Associate of Applied Sciences degree. The admission process is very selective, so be sure to check out the website for the criteria.
FUN FACT: One cool part about this program in particular, is the opportunity to learn from Northwestern State University online, remotely. You can continue your education and receive a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Veterinary Technology.
RESULT: In New Orleans, Indeed.com reports $12.64 per hour for a veterinary technician and with a Veterinary Medicine Degree the salary bumps up about 22%. Meanwhile, U.S. News & World Report ranks Veterinary Technician as #8 in their Best Healthcare Support Jobs ranking with a median salary of $34,420. But, even in that article we hear from a veterinary technician who herself says, “You’re not going to make a lot of money, you have to pick up poo, and you get peed on.” Okay, so it’s not all holding puppies.
I include this example to show how some pathways, thought to be simple or fun, can be more difficult and take longer than expected. Let’s flip our research and look at a few more jobs on that list that are more worth the bang in the buck...
Are you pulling my leg?
3. Physical Therapist Assistant
WHAT: A physical therapist assistant (PTA) plays a crucial role in a physical therapist’s practice, responsible for assisting in treatment, training patients, using specialty equipment, administering procedures, taking reports and documentation...the list goes on. PTAs work in a wide variety of environments and rank #3 in Best Healthcare Support Jobs on the U.S. News & World Report’s list.
HOW LONG: At DCC the PTA program begins every August and takes 3 full-time study semesters and a fourth semester working in a clinical affiliation. 4 semesters = 2 years.
STATS: from the 2018-2019 class, 91% of graduates passed the licensure exam on the first attempt and 100% of those who passed were employed as of November 30, 2019.
RESULT: Licensed PTAs have a median income of $48,000 depending on experience, degree and location, according to DCC. Although, U.S. News and World Report says $58,040...
More than just money, the great thing about being a PTA is the wide range of places you can work! Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, public schools, private clinics...and on and on and on...
Not all healthcare professionals wear scrubs.
4. Medical Registration Specialist
WHAT: This career requires academic and clinical education in inpatient and outpatient registration as well as customer service skills specialized for healthcare services. You may have already experienced yourself that healthcare systems can be hard to understand. For patients in need of services and help, they need competent specialists to guide them and that’s where a medical registration specialist comes in.
HOW LONG: The Medical Registration Specialist program at DCC awards a certification of Technical studies in 9 months. 9 months! That’s 25 credit hours across two semesters. Short and sweet.
RESULT: The beauty of administrative jobs like this one is that the salary depends very much on experience. Bestmedicaldegrees.com estimates a salary range from $28,490 to $41,460.
5. Medical Laboratory Technician
The detectives of healthcare.
WHAT: This is cool. This is like being a detective. A Medical Laboratory Technician hunts down clues in the chemical content of body fluids to detect possible diseases. Working with microscopes, computers, and other cool instruments, medical technology is what tells doctors what needs to be treated.
HOW LONG: The MLT Program at DCC is 24 months of daytime class work and labs = 2 years. Courses include general education as well as the professional MLT courses, graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree.
STATS: 93% of students who continue onto the 2nd year graduate, and those that graduate the program, 100% find job placement, according to DDC’s figures of the last three years.
RESULT: What does job placement look like? MLTs work in hospital laboratories, clinics, doctor’s offices, blood banks, research labs, etc. The starting salary ranges from $13.00 to $18.00 an hour.
Overwhelmed, excited, intrigued--just a few words to describe my experience. There are sooooo many pathways in allied health, and all absolutely vital to our society. These are careers with big brains that we depend on. Job placement stats are HIGH, which leads to a job security in an area of expertise that is always essential. You could become one of the heroes of our healthcare system.
Don’t be afraid to have fun doing your own investigating to find what paths are most interesting for YOU. WhereWeGo is here not just to open your eyes to the abundance of opportunities, but also to assist you in finding one that works best for you!