A Guide to Online Healthcare Degrees Accredited Online Degree Programs in Healthcare

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It’s safe to say that if we didn’t appreciate the value of a strong, functioning healthcare system before 2020, we are all acutely aware of it today. We have long understood healthcare to be one of the most reliable occupational fields according to labor statistics- a career where a professional can always feel certain there will be a job available. But it took the fallout from a global pandemic to make it clear to everyone that a career in healthcare is not just reliable, but essential.

Healthcare is such an enormous field that a thorough survey is impossible. Healthcare careers range from trades and paraprofessional jobs, to the most hardcore of STEM careers, to business and management, and in the 21st century, even computer science and analytics. We will consider online degree programs in healthcare as those dealing with actual patient care and management.

There are many online healthcare programs available. We’ll help you find the best fit.

Most Popular Schools with Online Healthcare Degree Programs

Most In-Demand Careers for Graduates of Accredited Online Healthcare Programs & Nursing Degree Programs:

OccupationsJob OpeningsAverage SalaryTypical Entry Level Education
Registered Nurses210,400$77,460Bachelor’s degree
Coaches and Scouts47,600$44,910Bachelor’s degree
Dental Hygienists17,900$77,230Associate’s degree
Physical Therapists16,900$90,170Doctoral or professional degree
Nurse Practitioners16,900$111,840Master’s degree
Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric16,500$203,450Doctoral or professional degree
Physical Therapist Assistants16,500$58,520Associate’s degree
Pharmacists14,100$125,510Doctoral or professional degree
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians14,000$63,120Associate’s degree
Speech-Language Pathologists13,500$82,000Master’s degree
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

Most Affordable Online Healthcare Degree Programs

Learn more about the best careers in healthcare. Career paths in healthcare (outside of nursing) encompass numerous roles.

Here is a sample list of healthcare jobs:

  • Anesthesiologist
  • Cardiovascular Technologist
  • Dental Assistant
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Dentist
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
  • Paramedic
  • Home Health Aide
  • Medical Assistant
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Health Information Technician
  • health Information Management
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Pharmacist
  • Phlebotomist
  • Physical Therapist
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Physician Assistant
  • Radiologic Technologist
  • Speech-language Pathologist
  • Surgical Technologist

This careers in healthcare list is far from complete. In demand healthcare careers include positions in medical clinics and private healthcare practices. The best careers in healthcare include ones that meet your interest and that are highly in demand. The great thing about healthcare careers in demand is that they pay more than many other positions.

It would be impossible to include a comprehensive list of careers in healthcare in the scope of this article — there are thousands. Hopefully, are sample of careers in healthcare list gives you a hint at the diversity in the field.

Career paths in healthcare expand as you complete different levels of education. For example, many in demand healthcare careers require a master’s or doctoral degree. However, there are healthcare careers in demand at every level. For instance, there’s always a great need for health care workers in long term care facilities and in-home health aides.

What Can You Do with a Healthcare Degree?

In this section, we will answer the following questions:

  • What can I do with a healthcare administration degree?
  • What can I do with a health information management degree?
  • What can I do with a health informatics degree?

With this degree students can manage and lead health care programs. Coursework under this degree covers organizational financial aspects within the healthcare industry. Students often learn how to use software specific to the industry and learn to motivate employees to perform optimally in a health care setting. The best health education schools will provide a path into a career.

What can I do with a degree in healthcare management?

With a degree in healthcare management you can pursue one of the following roles as healthcare professionals:

  • Healthcare consulting
  • Long-term care leader
  • Program director
  • Home health care
  • Medical or diagnostic lab manager
  • Medical information technology senior advisor
  • healthcare industry Insurance
  • Pharmaceutical sales or leadership
  • Health education

With an advanced degree in healthcare management you can quickly move up the ladder in a corporation or institution of your choice within the healthcare industry. You may also lead community health programs in a nonprofit setting.

What can I do with a health informatics degree?

Technology is important in every aspect of life including health care. With the degree in health informatics, you can pursue a job in one of the following specialties:

  • Health Informatics Consultant
  • Chief Medical Information Officer
  • Nursing Informatics Specialist
  • Healthcare IT Project Manager
  • Electronic Medical Record Keeper
  • Health Informatics Director

With a background in both healthcare and information technology, you can help organizations better utilize technology in patient care, record keeping and other applications.

Degree Types: Associates, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral

 There is a wide diversity of online healthcare programs and degrees and certifications in the healthcare field. In the sections below we will outline a few examples that you can pursue add the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s and doctoral levels. One of the great things about working in healthcare is the versatility and room for advancement associated with health care jobs. Also, with online programs you can continue working as you deep in your knowledge to advance your career with online classes.

Accredited Online Associate’s

There are dozens of jobs that are available with an associates degree online healthcare.

Online healthcare associate degrees jobs include:

  • Medical assistant
  • Occupational therapy assistant
  • Phlebotomist
  • Respiratory therapist
  • Surgical technologist
  • Radiology technician
  • Dental hygienist

 The online associates degrees in healthcare students choose should match their interests and personalities. For example, to become a phlebotomist with an associate degree in health sciences you need to be able to withstand the sight of blood and have a gentle touch to draw blood from patients.

Other healthcare associates degree online involve direct care for patients. If you want to work with patients hands on you may choose to become a dental hygienist or Radiology technician.

You can also choose associates degree online in healthcare the deal with back office functions such as medical assistant.  

Accredited Online Bachelor’s Degree

Online healthcare degrees allow you to advance your career without quitting your current job. There are many good programs available online. If you’re looking for inspiration on bachelor’s degrees that you can get online and earn a good living, then the examples below should help.

You can work as a biomedical chemist or biomedical engineer conducting research and development without a certification. You will need a bachelor’s degree to get this job. Athletic trainers in most states require a license but you can apply for the license with a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Other Top online healthcare degrees include the following:

  • Bioinformatics Specialist
  • Biostatician
  • Blood Bank Technology Specialist
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologist
  • Cytotechnologist
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
  • Diagnostic Molecular Scientist
  • Forensic Science Technician
  • Geneticist
  • Geriatric Care
  • Health Care Administrator
  • Health Educator
  • Industrial Hygienist
  • Medical Librarian
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist  
  • Psychiatric Technician    
  • Radiation Therapist
  • Recreational Therapist

It’s important to look for a program with the proper credentials from regional and national accrediting boards. Also, look for a program geared toward your long-term career goals. Since you may wish to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree later, choose a program with accreditation and a good reputation so that you can get into a good school for advanced degrees.

Accredited Online Master’s

Many medical and health care jobs require a master’s degree. Fortunately, students can get online healthcare masters degrees to further their career without quitting their current job.

There is a great diversity of programs available online at the master’s level. Here is a list of high paying jobs available with a master’s in health care according to labor statistics. Of course, these are just a few of the jobs available with an advanced degree in health care.

Physician assistant

As a physician’s assistant, graduates of this program work with surgeons, physicians and health care professionals. They often provide direct care such as diagnosing, examining and treating patients under the supervision of a doctor.

Salary: nearly $105,000 per year.

Occupational therapist

As an occupational therapist, students can look forward to treating sick and injured patients. Occupational therapists help patience with dressing and walking, as well as other everyday activities. Some professionals in this role visit workplaces or patient homes to create a functional environment during recovery.

Salary: $83,200

Genetic counselor

Those who graduated with a masters in genetic counseling help people assess whether their offspring would inherit certain birth defects or genetic disorders. Genetic counselor sometimes work with transgender patients considering reassignment surgery.

Salary: $77,480

Speech-language pathologist

You also need a master’s degree to become a speech and language pathologist. These professionals are also called speech therapists and their job duties include diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders in both children and adults. To become a speech and language pathologist, students should be good listeners and patient teachers. This role involves helping patients improve their vocabulary and strengthening their vocal chords.

Salary: $76,610

Orthotist and prosthetist

In this role, graduates design and make medical support devices. Examples include artificial limbs and braces. Orthotists work directly with medical supportive devices, which include knee and spine braces. Prosthetists deal with the manufacturing of artificial limbs.

Salary: $66,000

Accredited Online Doctoral Programs

With an online doctorate in healthcare administration, graduates can look for jobs of increasing responsibility with better pay. There are many doctorate of healthcare administration online, and student should choose one that best meets their career and learning goals.

Accreditation

Is accreditation important? Certainly – accreditation serves as a benchmark for both employers and students. it marks the highest level of integrity for healthcare management education.

CAHME accreditation requirements are demanding but many colleges and universities strive to earn them to attract high-quality students. Earning accreditation from CAHME involves a long and rigorous review. Some of the the requirements are listed below.

  • University’s seeking this credential must have at least one program in healthcare management at the master’s level
  • The university must have regional accreditation with the appropriate agency.
  • For schools offering graduate degrees, the programs must be recognized by the appropriate accrediting bodies.
  • At least one class must have successfully graduated before CAHME accreditation can be obtained.

CAHME accreditation is critical to review recognition by employer’s and to attract students to online programs.

Certifications/Licensure

With the right certification, students can advance their healthcare career. There are many healthcare certification programs online.

Examples of healthcare certification programs online include:

  • CCS-P Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based
  • CHUC Certified Health Unit Coordinator
  • CET Certified EKG Technician
  • CPhT Certified Pharmacy Technician
  • CRCST Registered Central Service Technician (Certified)
  • CEHRS Electronic Health Records Specialist (Certifed)
  • CPT Certified Phlebotomy Technician
  • RBT Registered Behavioral Technician
  • CPCT Certified Patient Care Technician
  • CBCS Billing and Coding Specialist (Certified)
  • CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
  • CPC Certified Professional Coder
  • CCMA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
  • AVA Approved Veterinary Assistant

Scholarships for Healthcare Students

 Scholarships for healthcare workers can ease the burden of attending school while meeting other financial obligations. This is particularly important for students who have families or whose families cannot contribute to their education.

It’s easy to find scholarships for healthcare students available online. However, for the best results, students should choose scholarships for which they are uniquely qualified. For example, there are many women in healthcare scholarship programs only open to women. There are also regional and local scholarships that students can seek out.

For example, you can find public health scholarships here.

There are a multitude of healthcare careers that you can pursue through online degrees. However, it’s important to choose an accredited university with a good reputation. This is particularly true in the highly regulated medical and health fields. 

With a little research and a lot of hard work, you can find the program that best fits your career goals and complete it successfully. Use these tips and examples to guide your decision and be sure to apply to several programs. This gives you a better chance of getting accepted by at least one university in your field. Online learning gives you more flexibility and access to schools across the country. So, take your time and make the right decision. 

Related Rankings:

10 Highest Paying Jobs in Healthcare

Best Degrees to Become a Healthcare Manager

Best Online MBA Programs for Healthcare Managers

Best Online Master’s in Healthcare Management

Best Online Healthcare MBA

25 Highest Paying Online Degrees in Healthcare

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?