The healthcare field is growing rapidly – more rapidly, in fact, than any other field. If you’re looking for job security in a field that offers plenty of opportunities for growth and the chance to be of service to others, healthcare could be the field for you.
But what if you don’t have the time to take college classes in person to earn a healthcare degree? There are plenty of healthcare degrees and diplomas you can earn online that will leave you well-qualified to work in a number of healthcare and healthcare-adjacent fields.
Somebody has to take care of medical billing, making appointments, creating and monitoring electronic patient health records, and so on.
8 Best Healthcare Degrees You Can Earn Online
Here are some of the best healthcare degrees you can earn online.
#1. Registered Nurse
Can you really become a registered nurse by taking online classes? Sure, there are lots of bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) programs that let you complete all of your nursing coursework online.
Of course, you can’t do nursing clinicals online, so you’ll have to be prepared to report to a facility to log your clinical hours. You might also need to attend other in-person courses and labs from time to time. However, it’s worth it to get your BSN. A BSN opens up doors to a wider range of higher-paying, more prestigious nursing jobs, including jobs in nursing administration and management.
#2. Healthcare Administration
An online healthcare administration degree can prepare you for a role in the everyday operations of a hospital, clinic, or private practice. As a healthcare administrator, you’ll work with medical staff to handle administrative facets of running a healthcare facility, such as patient relations, staffing, budgeting, and scheduling. You’ll need at least an associate’s degree, but you can earn a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree to qualify for more opportunities in the field.
#3. Medical Coding
Medical coders code and digitize patients’ medical records. As a medical coder, you might work in an assisted living facility, a hospital, or an outpatient clinic or private practice. You’ll need at least an associate’s degree or a medical coding diploma to get started in this line of work.
#4. Medical Billing
Medical billing is a little different from medical coding. Medical billers process insurance claims and payments. They might follow up on bills and insurance claims as needed. You’ll need a diploma in insurance billing, or an associate’s degree in the field. It takes about a year to earn a diploma in medical billing and about 20 months to earn an associate’s degree in the field.
#5. Public Health Professional
If you’re looking for a good healthcare job with a degree that doesn’t require any in-person classes, labs, or clinicals, you should consider a career in public health. While some online public health degrees have in-person class and lab requirements, many do not. You can get an entry-level job in the field with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, but many higher-paying jobs in this field require a master’s, online MHL degree, doctoral degree, or other relevant courses.
#6. Medical Assistant
Medical assistants prepare exam rooms, schedule appointments, gather information from patients, take vital signs, and even bring patient concerns up to the doctor or nurse practitioner. You can earn an associate’s degree in medical assisting in about 16 to 20 months, or you can opt to earn a diploma, which takes about a year. To qualify for even more opportunities, you could become a certified Registered Medical Assistant or Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.
#7. Physician Assistant
A physician assistant is different from a medical assistant. Physician assistants work under the supervision of a physician to diagnose and treat illnesses, whereas medical assistants perform tasks that keep the facility running but don’t involve direct patient care. Physician assistants work in hospitals and clinics or they teach in healthcare programs. You’ll need at least a master of science degree in physician assistant studies to qualify for most entry-level jobs in this field. While degrees may be mostly online, you’ll still have to meet in person for clinicals and labs.
#8. Health Information Management
Professionals in health information management are helping hospitals, clinics, and private practices digitize patient records and maintain those electronic records. You can do this job with an associate’s degree in applied science or a bachelor of science. You’ll need 20 to 36 months in school, depending on what degree you choose, but you can earn the degree entirely online.
A career in healthcare can help you fulfill your personal and professional dreams. Don’t let a lack of education hold you back. Enroll in an online healthcare degree and start working towards your goals.
About the Author
M. Shakeel is a Freelance writer and full-time blogger!
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