The healthcare industry is one of the largest and fastest growing employment sectors in the United States.
Over the years, demand for care has increased dramatically because of the growing population, the number of aging Baby Boomers, and the widespread adoption of poor dietary and exercise behaviors.
Although these trends are concerning from a public health perspective they have resulted in many new career advancement opportunities for individuals who do not want to invest years of their life in a college degree and advanced medical training.
While it is possible to enter a number of different unlicensed provider positions with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED, it is important to develop an appreciation for employer competency standards before seeking employment.
This approach ensures that time and effort is not wasted in the career advancement process.
Healthcare providers who work in an assistive capacity to nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals are often not required to obtain a license in order to accept responsibility for certain patient care activities.
Unlicensed personnel are a critical component of the healthcare system because they perform routine tasks that can be learned quickly and that do not require expert knowledge, judgment, or skill.
Similar to other industries, there are both entry-level and specialized options for the patient care technician.
Some of the most popular general areas of practice include that of the nursing assistant, medical assistant, dialysis technician, phlebotomy technician, and pharmaceutical assistant.
These opportunities are an excellent way to gain experience in the medical setting and master the basics of patient care before progressing to a specialized area of practice.
Individuals who have worked in an entry-level position for a few years may decide that they would like to take advantage of the benefits that come with working in a more challenging specialty.
Some of the most popular departments include cardiology, surgery, and radiology.
Because these branches manage high risk patients they commonly expect applicants to have prior patient care experience and some form of specialty certification.
While it is possible for some people to find employment without formal credentials, more stringent quality of care initiatives have made it more difficult to find a job that does not have training and certification requirements.
In addition, many industry experts believe that credentials are one of the only things that will protect unlicensed personnel from regulations that could hinder the professional progression of their individual specialties.
Those who plan to enter the medical field as a generalist are encouraged to consider seeking certification through either the American Association of Medical Assistants or the American Medical Technologists.
These well-respected organizations are generally considered to be the authority on technician competency assessment and they are used by employers to verify the competency of their staff and assure regulators that the highest level of care is being provided.
For those who have worked in healthcare for a few years or who plan to enter a specialty field, the National Healthcareer Association or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists may be a better career advancement option.
These organizations provide opportunities to become certified in many different specialty areas and are approved by employers across the country.
Other organizations may have been approved by certain facilities and it is important to check with an employer to find out which exam should be taken.
There are many reasons why unlicensed medical providers should embrace certification as an effective means for career advancement.
Not only do formal credentials demonstrate that an individual has met basic competency standards within the profession, but they have also been shown to increase the patient care technician salary, lead to more job opportunities, and result in better benefits.
Employers understand the value that comes from certification and often prefer to hire certified technicians who have a solid track record of providing high quality and comprehensive care.
Over the years, demand for care has increased dramatically because of the growing population, the number of aging Baby Boomers, and the widespread adoption of poor dietary and exercise behaviors.
Although these trends are concerning from a public health perspective they have resulted in many new career advancement opportunities for individuals who do not want to invest years of their life in a college degree and advanced medical training.
While it is possible to enter a number of different unlicensed provider positions with nothing more than a high school diploma or GED, it is important to develop an appreciation for employer competency standards before seeking employment.
This approach ensures that time and effort is not wasted in the career advancement process.
Healthcare providers who work in an assistive capacity to nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals are often not required to obtain a license in order to accept responsibility for certain patient care activities.
Unlicensed personnel are a critical component of the healthcare system because they perform routine tasks that can be learned quickly and that do not require expert knowledge, judgment, or skill.
Similar to other industries, there are both entry-level and specialized options for the patient care technician.
Some of the most popular general areas of practice include that of the nursing assistant, medical assistant, dialysis technician, phlebotomy technician, and pharmaceutical assistant.
These opportunities are an excellent way to gain experience in the medical setting and master the basics of patient care before progressing to a specialized area of practice.
Individuals who have worked in an entry-level position for a few years may decide that they would like to take advantage of the benefits that come with working in a more challenging specialty.
Some of the most popular departments include cardiology, surgery, and radiology.
Because these branches manage high risk patients they commonly expect applicants to have prior patient care experience and some form of specialty certification.
While it is possible for some people to find employment without formal credentials, more stringent quality of care initiatives have made it more difficult to find a job that does not have training and certification requirements.
In addition, many industry experts believe that credentials are one of the only things that will protect unlicensed personnel from regulations that could hinder the professional progression of their individual specialties.
Those who plan to enter the medical field as a generalist are encouraged to consider seeking certification through either the American Association of Medical Assistants or the American Medical Technologists.
These well-respected organizations are generally considered to be the authority on technician competency assessment and they are used by employers to verify the competency of their staff and assure regulators that the highest level of care is being provided.
For those who have worked in healthcare for a few years or who plan to enter a specialty field, the National Healthcareer Association or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists may be a better career advancement option.
These organizations provide opportunities to become certified in many different specialty areas and are approved by employers across the country.
Other organizations may have been approved by certain facilities and it is important to check with an employer to find out which exam should be taken.
There are many reasons why unlicensed medical providers should embrace certification as an effective means for career advancement.
Not only do formal credentials demonstrate that an individual has met basic competency standards within the profession, but they have also been shown to increase the patient care technician salary, lead to more job opportunities, and result in better benefits.
Employers understand the value that comes from certification and often prefer to hire certified technicians who have a solid track record of providing high quality and comprehensive care.