How Can an Allied Health AAS Degree Benefit Your Healthcare Career Journey?
An associate degree in allied health can open the door for you to a wide range of healthcare career opportunities. Allied health professionals are the people who support doctors and nurses by implementing treatment plans, conducting diagnostic tests, and providing rehabilitation and support services. If you’re a Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, or other healthcare service professional, you might benefit from an Allied Health AAS degree. With an associate degree, you improve your credentials, become more competitive in the workforce, and build credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
Prepare for a Variety of Careers with an AAS in Allied Health Degree
Allied professionals make up to 60 percent of healthcare workers, supporting the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of healthcare problems. With an associate degree in the field, you can prepare for a number of careers—it all depends on what you want to do and where you’d like to work. For example, if you have an interest in dentistry, you could become a Dental Assistant and then earn a degree to augment your knowledge and pursue management roles in a dental office. Or you could acquire the degree after you have worked as a Medical Office Administrative Assistant or Health Unit Coordinator. An allied health degree gives you options.
Gain Important Healthcare Skills and Knowledge
Your AAS degree program will provide you with a base of knowledge about the US healthcare delivery system. You learn the roles of healthcare providers and the government and how they intersect. You’re also introduced to healthcare administration and management practices. And you learn about the legal and ethical issues that arise in healthcare settings. Among the topics covered will be American Medical Associate ethical principles, patients’ rights, managed healthcare plans, medical record-keeping, and the rules and regulations that govern the modern healthcare workplace.
Pursue In-Demand Careers with an Allied Health AAS
An associate degree in allied health could provide you skills for in-demand jobs like Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Veterinary Assistant, and Pharmacy Technician. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these allied health professions are projected to grow faster than average through the decade.
Enter the Healthcare Industry Sooner with an AAS Degree
Unlike four-year programs, associate degree programs take less time. If you’ve already completed some courses in an allied health-related program or have a certificate, you can enter a degree-completion program and earn your degree in less than six months. The accelerated path means you can also enter a new career sooner or seek a promotion from your current employer.
Continue Your Education
An associate degree also provides a great foundation for a bachelor’s degree. Whether you want to continue your education right away, or wait until you’ve gained some experience in the industry, you can enroll in a bachelor’s degree program and gain more advanced knowledge of the healthcare profession. The coursework will teach you about the healthcare policy process, the legal and ethical principles that govern the healthcare industry, and how to apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills in the workplace.
A bachelor’s degree can prepare you for jobs in healthcare administration or healthcare technology that you might not qualify for with an associate degree alone. It could also position you for a promotion or a raise in your current healthcare job. And data consistently show that people with bachelor’s degrees earn more over their lifetimes than non-degree holders.
Are you ready to explore your career options in allied health? Charter College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health that can prepare you for entry-level work in a healthcare field. The program is specifically designed for those who have already completed a certificate or significant coursework in those areas, and the courses can be taken online for your convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.