If you’re looking for a meaningful career field with lots of opportunity, health care could be the perfect fit. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment of health care occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 1.8 million openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations.
Not only is the work fulfilling and the job prospects good, but several health care careers don’t require a 4-year (or longer) degree to achieve. Here are three medical field jobs you can launch with 2 years of schooling or less:
1. Medical Records Specialist
Medical records specialists organize and manage health information data. Job duties for this role typically include:
- Reviewing patients’ records for timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness
- Maintaining and retrieving records for insurance reimbursement and data analysis
- Using classification systems to assign clinical codes for patients’ diagnoses, procedures, medical services, and related information
- Recording data electronically for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and reporting
Typical Entry-Level Education to Become a Medical Records Specialist
Most people train for this role by completing a medical billing and coding certificate program, which takes about a year to complete.
>> Learn More: Is a Career as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Right for Me?
Employment Projections
The BLS projects that employment of medical records specialists will grow 8% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
What’s Driving the Demand for Medical Records Specialists?
The BLS projects that about 15,000 openings for medical records specialists will become available each year, on average, over the decade from 2022 to 2032. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who leave the field or retire.
The move to digital has also influenced the high demand for these roles.
“The ongoing change to electronic health records has increased the need for individuals trained in a multitude of health information areas, and the need to have accurate medical coding affects provider and institutional reimbursement,” says Szwydek.
Who Is a Good Fit for This Career?
“Someone who is detail-oriented and likes to solve puzzles is a great match for [this] career since the professional will have to extract data from the medical record to appropriately code the records for billing and reimbursement,” says Szwydek.
“Someone who likes to work with finances and accounting would be a good fit for the billing aspect of this career,” she adds.
Individuals also need to have a knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
2. Medical Secretary
Medical secretaries, also known as medical office specialists or medical receptionists, are responsible for day-to-day operations in a medical office or other health care facility using specific knowledge of medical terminology and laboratory procedures. A medical secretary’s job duties typically include:
- Answering telephones and directing calls to appropriate staff
- Scheduling and confirming patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations
- Completing insurance or other claim forms
- Greeting visitors, ascertaining the purpose of the visit, and directing them to appropriate staff
- Maintaining medical records, a technical library, or correspondence files
“Medical secretaries are the first point of contact in a medical office, and they set the tone of an entire medical practice,” says Jennifer Claire, faculty member of School of Health Sciences at Purdue Global. “This role provides excellent customer service and follows regulatory compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, labor laws, and other federal, state, and local regulations. It’s an excellent career that affords stability, and, usually, family-oriented work schedules.”
Typical Entry-Level Education to Become a Medical Secretary
Most people train for this role by completing a medical billing and coding certificate program, which takes about a year to complete.
Employment Projections
O*NET projects that employment of medical secretaries will grow 5% to 8% in the decade 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
What’s Driving the Demand for Medical Secretaries?
“The field of health care grows as the population grows, and there will always be a need for health care,” Claire says.
Who Is a Good Fit for This Career?
“Individuals who feel they are leaders and want to serve, help, and encourage others are a good fit for this line of work,” Claire says. “Those who like to organize, pay attention to details, and those who have the basic computer skills needed to complete electronic functions with medical records and basic medical accounting would also be a good fit. Individuals in this role are those who can solve problems, multitask, and work and communicate with different types of people, from children to doctors to business associates.”
3. Registered Nurse
A registered nurse is one who has graduated from an approved nursing program and passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®). An RN’s job duties typically include:
- Assessing patients’ conditions
- Recording medical histories and symptoms
- Administering medicine and treatments
- Setting up care plans
- Collaborating with doctors and other health care professionals
- Teaching patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
- Explaining what to do at home after treatment
“Nursing repeatedly tops Gallup polls as one of the most trusted and ethical professions in America,” says Tiffany Everson, assistant department chair of nursing at Purdue Global. “Although bedside nursing is a large need, there are tremendous additional opportunities for nurses within the profession, including education, forensics, research, and executive leadership.
“It is an exciting time to embark on this career path as opportunities continue to grow in health care.”
Typical Entry-Level Education to Become a Registered Nurse
At a minimum, registered nurses must earn an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). After earning an ASN, you may sit for the NCLEX-RN® exam, and once you pass, you become a licensed RN.
Many nurses opt to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and then sit for the NCLEX-RN® exam. A third option is to earn an ASN, become a registered nurse, and then earn an online RN-to-BSN degree while you work.
Employment Projections
The BLS projects employment of RNs will grow 6% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than average.
What’s Driving the Demand for RNs?
“As in other health care roles, the field of nursing is in great need of licensed professionals as the baby boomer population ages,” says Everson.
Nurses are also aging out of the workforce. According to the 2022 Nursing Workforce Study, 800,000 RNs have indicated they are likely to leave nursing by 2027. That’s equivalent to about 20% of the total licensed RN workforce. According to the report, 200,000 RNs left the workforce from 2020 to 2022.
“In addition, because of the great strides in treating illness, nurses are now dealing with more complex, chronic health needs of individuals across all ages and in more community-based settings outside the hospital,” says Everson.
Who Is a Good Fit for This Career?
“Nursing is unique in that it is both an art and a science,” says Everson. “Because of this, there are many qualities a registered nurse should possess, including a high standard for professionalism, clear communication skills, being detail-oriented, the ability to collaborate with others, quick problem-solving abilities, and flexibility.
“A person who can do these things while having empathy, compassion, and a motivation to help others is equally important.”
Begin a Health Care Career in 2 Years or Less With Purdue Global
Enroll in a Purdue Global degree or certificate program to gain real-world knowledge and practical career skills. Part of the respected Purdue University system, we offer:
- An online certificate in medical billing and coding
- The Associate of Science in Nursing for students who live in Iowa and Maine
- And for working RNs who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, we offer an online RN-to-BSN degree
Take the first step toward a rewarding health care career and request more information today.
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