In this chapter, we have explored many different careers from administrative jobs and other executive options to those with direct patient-facing responsibilities. The education requirements for these careers will vary from a high school degree and no formal education to advanced degrees in healthcare administration, business or finance. Many certification programs abound for entry-level positions and graduate level advancement education.

In our introduction, we learned about Alma who was looking for a career change but was concerned about the commitment required while she was working a full-time job and raising a family. Many of these careers are open to individuals through night classes and online education, providing access to training programs that would have otherwise been difficult to schedule. In Alma’s meeting with the career counselor, she may have explored many of these options such as patient advocate, coding and billing specialist or patient services representative. If she chooses to find an entry-level position, she may find a job that provides tuition assistance for employees seeking to earn advanced degrees and rise in their organization.

Hopefully, the content of this chapter has exposed you to careers that you have not considered before and maybe piqued your interest in researching a career that suits you well. Many community colleges will have information about careers that students have entered upon completion of their certification or degree programs. researching the Community College Department website may help you to determine if the college offers an education in the career in which you are interested. Phone calls, emails or in-person appointments with career counseling departments within a community college are another way to find out more information about the types of jobs that graduates from the program have attained. Another great resource is the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks employment and salary averages in different careers.