Do I need a high school diploma to work in healthcare?
Have you ever watched Grey’s Anatomy and wondered what it would be like to work in a hospital? Does a career in a healthcare environment interest you? There are many rewarding career options in healthcare. If that is something you aspire to, you will need a game plan to get there. In this article, we’ll look at the education requirements for various healthcare jobs at different levels.
A job in healthcare can be appealing for many reasons, including growth opportunities and pay. Many jobs in healthcare pay well but the pay corresponds to the amount of education that is attained. For example, specialists are among the highest paid practitioners in the medical field and they are also among the most educated.
Income Potential
Starting a career in healthcare can be a long process but the ability to help people and (let’s be real) the pay make it worth it. Entry-level roles like Certified Nursing Assistants make around $30,540 per year, while Office Coordinators and Medical Assistants (MAs) make around $37,000 per year.
A typical Registered Nurse makes around $70,000. It can be more if they specialize in a specific department like Emergency Room or Transplant. Nurse Practitioners and Physician’s Assistants are around the $100,000 mark. Medical doctors with a specialty earn around $269,000 per year.
How long it takes
The number of years in a vocational or trade school depends on what job you want, but all healthcare jobs require a high school diploma and some additional training after high school. There are some entry-level positions, like Certified Nursing Assistant (CNAs) and Medical Assistant (MA) that only require a year or less of education after high school.
Registered Nurses need two years of training in a vocational nursing program. Oftentimes, the nursing school will also have nurses complete months of clinical rotation time so they gain some hands-on experience in a real live setting. In the United States, all nurses are then required to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed. If you decide to become a Registered Nurse, there is an option to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. A Bachelor of Nursing degree will help you get a job in a hospital setting or in a specialty area.
For Physician’s Assistants, it often takes around six years of post-secondary education. A Nurse Practitioner usually has a Master’s Degree in Nursing, which takes six to eight years.
On the longer side, training for specialist doctors takes a total of fourteen additional years of postsecondary education. For General Practitioners, it takes eleven years. To become a specialist, a person must get a four-year bachelors' degree, a four-year medical degree, and then spend four years of residency in a hospital.
How to Get there
If you have decided that you want to get a job in healthcare, we suggest that you research your desired job in advance. Find out what programs are available in your area and be aware of differences in tuition and the time it takes to finish the program.
Consider that some schools may cost a little more, but sometimes they can get you into your desired career sooner, or the reverse. There are private or public schools to choose from. In the Phoenix area, the Maricopa Community Colleges offer training for jobs in the healthcare field. Whether you decide to get a certificate in Health Sciences, an Associate Degree, or transfer to a University for a Bachelor’s degree, they can help direct you to the right academic track.
Making a plan and keeping it at the top of mind will help you make it happen! Keep a visual of your desired job in a place you will see it regularly. For example, you could put a picture of a nurse on your refrigerator so you can visualize yourself as a nurse. Being able to see yourself in the desired career will give you the motivation to do what it takes to get there!
Grad Solutions would love to partner with you in your journey…
If you are a Grad Solutions student and have questions about career options, please reach out to
Angela Chicci, M.Ed., College & Career Readiness Advisor
Call (480) 689-5999 or Email angelac@iwantmydiploma.com