When the time comes to make a decision about your future, you have to consider options with your own best interests in mind. You don’t want to spend oodles of money on a higher education before finding out that you tried to go in the wrong direction, do you? If not, then it is important for you to read this quick article and make sure that any medical career with an associate’s degree is a direction you want to personally head in.
If you’re looking for a career in medicine, then an associate degree can help you get started.
A two-year degree will give you the opportunity to explore your options before committing to a longer program. You’ll have access to a wide range of programs and courses that will prepare you for a number of medical careers.
Here are some of the most popular associate degrees in medicine:
- Biomedical Technology – This program prepares students for work in the field of medicine by combining coursework with hands-on training. Students learn about human anatomy, physiology and biology. They also gain experience through laboratory research and clinical practice.
- Dental Hygiene – Dental hygiene is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a career in the health care industry but aren’t sure if it’s right for you yet. This program provides students with hands-on experience in both clinical settings and dental offices so they have an idea what it would be like on the job before they enter into more advanced studies like dental school or graduate school programs at other universities where they may need more time completing their degree requirements before they earn their bachelor’s degree or master’s degree (or even PhD).
Medical careers with associate’s degree
Introduction
There are many associate’s degree programs you can complete to begin a career in health care. While you will not qualify for medical school (and thus cannot become a doctor or dentist), there are many other options available to you. Here are five of the best careers to pursue.
Medical records technician
Medical records technicians are responsible for recording and filing patient information, including test results, medication information and billing. They also work with patients to ensure their medical history is available to medical professionals at all times.
- What they do:
- Record and file patient information as well as perform data entry using various computer applications; maintain confidentiality of patient records during data entry process
- Work with patients and clinical staff on issues related to access to clinical information or other problems in the use of electronic systems
- Assist in testing programs for new software upgrades or hardware changes
- Education requirements: Medical records technicians typically have an associate’s degree from an accredited medical program. To work in hospitals or clinics that require licensure in your state, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Registered nurse
Registered nurses (RNs) are in high demand and earn a median annual salary of $66,000. They are required to have at least an associate’s degree to enter the field, which can help you land a job quickly. RNs work in hospitals and other healthcare settings, but they can also pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree to expand their job opportunities.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs for “nurses” will increase by 19% between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than average growth for all occupations during this period (7%). There are many different types of nursing careers that require an associate’s degree:
- Licensed practical nurse (LPN)
- Licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
- Registered nurse
Veterinary technician
A veterinary technician works under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, who is responsible for the overall care of animals. Veterinary technicians are responsible for performing routine tasks related to animal health care that help veterinarians diagnose and treat pet illnesses. Typical job duties include:
- Administering medications and treatments prescribed by vets
- Monitoring patient vitals and physical attributes such as temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and weight
- Collecting samples from animals’ blood or urine to test them in a laboratory setting
Pharmacy technician
Pharmacy technicians are health care workers who prepare prescriptions and medical supplies, such as bandages and syringes. Under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, they sort and count medications, organize medication orders and maintain medical records. Pharmacy technicians must have at least an associate’s degree in pharmacy technology or a related field.
Nowadays, more pharmacy techs work in hospitals than in retail pharmacies because of the heavy workload associated with processing insurance claims from patients who pay out-of-pocket for their medicine on discharge from the hospital. Many hospital pharmacies also require licensure for their technicians because of the frequent handling of expensive drugs used by patients after surgery or chemotherapy treatments that typically require special refrigeration units to maintain efficacy over time.
Radiology tech
As a radiologic technologist, you would work at hospitals, clinics, or private practices performing imaging procedures on patients. Examples of these procedures include X-rays, CT scans, mammograms and other types of radiological studies.
Your duties could include taking images of patients’ internal structures as well as directing them to or moving them around during the procedure. You might also be responsible for recording information about each patient’s condition and treatment plan in their medical record before sending them back to their doctor or nurse practitioner for follow-up care after leaving the facility. The bulk of your time at this job will be spent performing diagnostic tests that involve radiation exposure; however some employers require employees to wear protective clothing during certain procedures such as administering anesthesia in order to minimize any risks associated with radiation exposure from repeated doses over time (such as cancer).
The radiology technician field is expected to grow faster than average employment opportunities between 2020 and 2024 due largely because more healthcare providers are using new technologies such as virtual reality apps which makes it easier for patients without transportation issues access care without leaving home–a trend which means there will need more staff members who can perform these services remotely via telemedicine technology platforms like Skype® video calls where doctors can talk directly wth patients through online video chat sessions via cell phones/tablets etcetera while still getting vital signs data automatically entered into electronic health records by software programs designed specifically for this purpose (which eliminates manual entry errors).
Surgical technologist
Surgical technologists are the assistants to surgeons and other healthcare professionals who perform surgeries. They prepare the operating room for surgery, assist with surgery, and help with patient recovery.
The duties of a surgical technologist include:
- Sterilize equipment and supplies
- Prepare operating rooms for surgery by arranging equipment and sterilizing surfaces
- Assist surgeons during operations by passing instruments or materials as required
- Clean up after surgeries when necessary
There are many career options that you can pursue with a 2-year degree.
If you’re looking for a career where your job security is more likely to be better than that of someone with just a high school diploma, an associate’s degree may be right for you. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there are more than 1 million jobs in the United States that require an associate’s degree or higher. Some of these careers are in demand across industries and offer great pay.
For example, healthcare occupations were among the fastest-growing in the country from 2014 to 2024 according to BLS data; registered nurses held about 2 million jobs with median annual wages near $66,000 as of May 2015. This industry also offers room for growth; by 2022 it is expected by BLS research analysts to add 700,000 new positions over previous years’ figures. This can lead us into another fact about healthcare careers: some require further training after obtaining your two-year degree! For example, if someone wants to become a nurse practitioner (NP), then they will have earned their bachelor’s degree before going on for postgraduate studies focused on becoming an NP themselves.”
Conclusion
The job market for medical careers with an associate’s degree continues to grow as employers look for employees who have specific skills in addition to their education. These jobs pay well and typically require less than four years of college as well. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in this field, make sure you know what to expect before committing yourself too deeply into something that might not be right for you! Remember: there are many different types of medical careers available if this isn’t the best option.
