Healthcare workers have never been more important, and respected! Firefighters, office workers, patients–and just about everyone—are applauding our healthcare workers combatting the coronavirus. These selfless workers deserve our collective thanks for stepping up to save lives.

Do you have what it takes? Do you have a big heart and want to serve your community? Are you looking for stable employment and the deep joy associated with a helping profession? If so, you, too, can join the ranks of the heroes of our time!

Technical colleges are specialists in health fields!

Technical colleges have long specialized in training for numerous healthcare careers. Many of those who achieve a bachelor’s degree in nursing or pharmacy began at a technical college. The fact is that graduates with a two-year certification and/or associate degree can make excellent wages in the allied healthcare industry. There are five million allied health care providers in the U.S. who work in than 80 different professions.

Pathways available at your technical college can get you started in: radiology, nursing, dental technology, nutrition, cardiology, medical assisting, healthcare administration, and more.

Jobs are waiting for qualified applicants!

Allied health workers are the vital link which make our healthcare system work. Moreover, the demand from hospitals, doctor’s offices, and labs for qualified professionals far outstrips the number of applicants in many of these fields. This is a career direction that boasts nearly full employment.

Experts say this trend will continue into the foreseeable future, long past COVID-19, because of the aging U.S. population and the resulting need for skilled and/or licensed workers. By 2050, the world’s population aged 60 years and older is expected to total 2 billion, up from 900 million in 2015. Already, more Americans are over the age of 65 than at any other time in history. Moreover, a huge number of healthcare professionals are also at retirement age themselves, creating an enormous need for entry-level workers.

Career options through technical college

Technical colleges are highly attuned to the needs of the job market. Our counselors will help you consider your interests, academic strengths, and choose the right program. We have drawn much of our information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [https://www.bls.gov/bls/employment.htm] and recommend that site for exploring career paths. Another helpful reference is the American Institute of Medical Sciences and Education.

Here are some of the hottest allied healthcare jobs now:

Dental Hygienist

Oral health is more important than most people realize. The condition of your mouth, teeth, and gums is a window to your overall health. Dental hygienists educate patients on oral hygiene, provide teeth cleaning, and fluoride treatments, as well as examine x-rays. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), hygienists’ average salary was $77,230 as of 2019, making this vital profession among the highest paid within allied health.

Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary issues. Working with a physician, they treat patients with many different lung diseases, including asthma. This is another advantageous career choice requiring an associate’s degree. Average yearly wages are $63,950. Under the impact of coronavirus, respiratory therapists are playing an invaluable role in saving thousands of lives. But while this skill is especially sought-after now, it is projected to grow even more. The aging of the population is expected to drive up the employment of respiratory therapists by over 20 percent during the next decade.

Physical Therapy (PT) Assistant

Physical therapist assistants entering the occupation typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program and a license or certification. It is one of the most in-demand, but relatively unknown, career aspirations. Similar to occupational therapy, PTs improve patients’ physical limitations after injury or illness. Working under supervision, PT assistants provide direct care to patients using massage, exercises, and specialized activities such as gait and balance training. Especially with an aging population, PT assistants are needed to keep an aging generation moving. The median PT assistant job is nearly $50,000 a year.

Radiological Technician

Technicians are responsible for providing x-rays for diagnosis. They also maintain equipment and records, using machines like a magnetic resonance imager (MRI). Technical colleges offer the necessary training and preparation for state examinations. MRI Technologists earn a median salary of $70,490.

A final option … Licensed Practical (LPN)

While licensed practical nursing (LPN) and an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) are not technically part of the allied health fields, nursing at all levels of certification is in high demand. Working in a variety of environments, whether hospital, hospice, nursing home, or schools, nurses are critical in a wide variety of capacities. The duties of LPNs can vary depending on work setting and state. For example, they may reinforce teaching done by registered nurses regarding how family members should care for a relative; help to deliver, care for, and feed infants; collect samples for testing and do routine laboratory tests; or feed patients who need help eating. Similarly, ADNs test and analyze patient samples, administer medications and teach patients how to manage their injuries or illnesses when discharged. Average LPNs are making $48,500 a year while ADNs make $70,820 a year. Your technical college will help you gain the skills to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN).

Resources
https://www.communitycollegereview.com/blog/whats-hot-in-health-care-at-community-colleges-today
https://www.communitycollegereview.com/blog/look-to-your-community-college-for-3-recession-proof-healthcare-careers
https://www.communitycollegereview.com/blog/recession-proof-careers-for-community-college-students
https://evolllution.com/programming/credentials/surviving-the-shortage-how-institutions-can-best-serve-healthcare-workers/?utm_campaign=EvoLLLution%20Newsletter%202019&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=85885768&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-94Ik1lyoXHpLEbZ6SnYjnceTBlCTiHqHkJwcIo-xslUhRO8-C72scblLCAbVTXpjHbU5wr-DZj-gpNuG9WlXJCs2xcWiBwopuD4EfBESj2UgWc44c&_hsmi=85885768
https://mphdegree.usc.edu/blog/a-closer-look-at-the-public-health-workforce-crisis/
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/taking-it-to-the-cleaners-coronavirus-spurs-spike-in-demand-for-jobs-to-sanitize-america-2020-03-12