3 Healthcare Career Safe Bets; 3 Great Reaches

Question:
You speak highly of healthcare as a career field. Why is that? What are the occupations that offer the most potential? How should I use my GI Bill benefits? I am entering the Navy after high school in May because college is unaffordable. Would healthcare be a good skill to gain in the Navy and to transition to after my discharge? Bryan

Answer:
Bryan, you are definitely thinking ahead and I hope planning on using your GI Bill benefits. Healthcare is a growing field especially as our population ages. The current population working in healthcare is aging and will be replaced over the next ten years. What are the fasting growing healthcare positions? The top three in order of fastest growth are:

1. Physician assistants 38.99%

Physician assistants continually show up on the high paying and fast growing careers lists. Military training in the medical field could position you nicely to use the training that you receive along with Navy tuition assistance and GI Bill benefits to earn a college degree while becoming familiar with healthcare in the military.

2. Athletic trainers 36.95%

Not just for sport injuries, these healthcare providers prevent and treat injuries for everyone from children to senior citizens. Good paying positions are located in almost every area of healthcare from senior rehabilitation to school and professional sports teams. At a minimum, a bachelor degree is required with master’s and doctoral degrees not uncommon. Military training in this type of area could well reward you with a fun and satisfying civilian career.

3. Dental hygienists 36.14%

This is another position continually identified as fast growing and well paying into the future. Military training in this, or another closely related area, could be used to obtain training and certification.

You are thinking ahead and I applaud you. Worst case your military experience will allow you to exit the military with a university degree and a good idea of how you want to proceed with your life.

Use GI BILL Benefits for Graduate Degree

By using Navy tuition assistance and receiving military training leading toward an undergraduate degree, you may be on track to a professional career. Occasionally, I encounter military veterans and their families who seem to think that some careers are beyond their reach. I know military veterans who are medical doctors, rocket scientists, and US Senators. I want to stress once again that military service equips men and women to perform exceptionally well in any field of endeavor. Educational opportunities available through military service and GI Bill benefits provide vehicles to transport you to unseen heights.

Don’t overlook the more difficult and higher paying careers in healthcare or any other field. In healthcare, consider:

1. Veterinarians 32.95%

Some of the happiest folks that I know are veterinarians. These doctors care for animals as well as protect our food chain and conduct research and development. If you are interested in animals and science, becoming a veterinarian could provide a well paying and satisfying career.

2. Optometrists 24.41%

The Bureau of Labor statistics projects that the need for optometrists should continue to grow at a rapid rate and projects excellent employment prospects. Caring for the eyes of a growing population with an increasingly large elderly component worldwide could provide another high paying and interesting profession in the healthcare field.

3. Physicians and surgeons 21.9%

The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes these professions as among the most demanding but also, most fiscally rewarding careers in the economy. Long years of education and training are required but if healthcare is your passion don’t be put off thinking that you cannot do it if you are capable of high levels of academic performance and the work appeals to you.

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Filled Under: G.I. - Hal Donahue @ September 21st, 2010 1 Comment

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