Military Careers, Second Careers - Army Times

Health career fast track

A career in the military is all about service. That’s one of the chief reasons service members choose second careers in the health care industry — they still want to work, and they still want to serve.

Health care is also one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. and offers opportunities for professional success and personal reward.

“I knew health care was booming,” said Lisa O’Connell, a student in the physical therapy assistant program at Pensacola Junior College. “After 20 years behind a desk leading sailors, I knew I wanted something different. I saw it as a good career move, and I also wanted to help people.”

O’Connell spent 20 years in cryptological technician administration in the Navy and separated in July 2005 as a chief petty officer. She’s been working on her associate degree since August 2006 in a two-year program that will allow her to work as a physical therapy assistant anywhere in the country.

There’s no bad news when it comes to job prospects in health care.

The Department of Labor predicts more than 3 million new health care jobs by 2014, a boom driven by medical technological advances, an aging population and retiring health care workers.

The following are five of the department’s top-rated health care careers you can break into with an associate degree or less.

Physical therapy assistant

The Physical Therapy Association expects the need for physical therapy assistants to rise as baby boomers age and improving medical technologies raise survival rates of trauma victims who will later need physical therapy.

Becoming a physical therapy assistant usually requires a two-year associate degree. Physical therapy assistants work under the supervision of a physical therapist, helping patients in pain relief, mobility and procedures aimed at eliminating further physical damage or disability.

Requirements: Bending, kneeling, walking and standing for long periods of time. Along with an associate degree, most physical therapy assistants must earn certification in CPR. Licensing requirements vary by state, so students are encouraged to check with their state’s licensing board for more information.

Pay: $40,000 to $45,000 annually. Nursing homes generally pay the most.

To learn more: Visit www.apta.org.

Home-health aide/home-care aide

The need for home-care services is exploding as families and individuals turn to in-home care rather than nursing homes, according to the National Association for Home Care.

Because the field does not require a college degree, states are beginning to set their own standards.

With no universal licensing requirements, home-health aides are often hired on the basis of intangible skills, such as reliability, honesty and compassion.

They work irregular schedules with multiple clients. They may help with mobility and exercises, bathing and daily routines, and may also be responsible for dispensing medicine and meals and for transportation to and from medical appointments.

Requirements: Some states may ask only for completion of a physical exam, a tuberculosis test and a criminal background check. States with stricter standards may also require nurse’s aide training and competency tests. Check with your state to find out about specific requirements.

Pay: Between $8 and $12 an hour. Many aides are striking out on their own, charging higher hourly rates and establishing businesses.

To learn more: Visit www.nahc.org.

Medical assistant

The demand for medical assistants is rising in part because doctors are reducing their nursing staffs to cut costs. They’re turning over to medical assistants some duties traditionally designated for nurses, according to the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Most medical assistants work in doctor’s offices, scheduling appointments; recording vital information such as blood pressure, height and weight; and maintaining patient charts and medical histories.

Medical assistants are not licensed. They may acquire their skills on the job, take a one-year certification program through a vocational school or earn two-year associate degrees.

Requirements: Because state laws are constantly changing, doctors tend to prefer those who have earned associate degrees through schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Upon graduation, students are qualified to take the medical assistant certification exam.

Pay: $25,000 to $35,000 annually.

To learn more: Visit www.aama-ntl.org.

Dental hygienist

The rising demand for hygienists is directly proportional to the increase in preventive dental care, and dentists are delegating more work to dental hygienists in order to take on more patients, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.

Hygienists clean teeth, provide instruction in oral hygiene, work alongside dentists during procedures, take X-rays, make molds for crowns or prosthetics, and record dental histories. Hygienists often work for several dental practices.

Requirements: In most states, dental hygienists must become licensed by earning an associate degree and passing the American Dental Association’s Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.

Pay: About $28 to $40 an hour.

To learn more: Visit www.adha.org.

Pharmacy technician

The National Pharmacy Technician Association attributes the rise in demand for pharmacy techs to more people using prescription drugs.

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, and most jobs are in retail pharmacies, according to the National Pharmacy Technician Association.

Technicians assist in counting and labeling medications, intake and verification of prescriptions, and measuring, weighing, mixing and packaging medications.

Requirements: Pharmacists tend to hire pharmacy technicians who have earned associate degrees and the National Pharmacy Technician Certification.

Pay: Retail pharmacy technicians earn $10 to $12 an hour. Hospitals tend to pay higher wages of $13 to $17.

To learn more: Visit www.pharmacytechnician.org.