The Georgia Department of Labor estimates that more than 30 percent of the new jobs created in the state by 2016 will be in health care.
According to the GDOL, health care has 17 of the fastest-growing occupations in Georgia, including personal care aids (53 percent growth), home health aids (46 percent), medical assistants (36 percent), dental hygienists (30 percent), registered nurses (25 percent), social workers (23 percent) and EMTs/paramedics (22 percent).
One of the best places to learn about jobs is the 2010-2012 edition of “Health Careers in Georgia,” published by the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center. The manual can be found in middle school and high school counseling offices, college career centers, hospitals, public libraries and at www.sowega-ahec.org.
“We are committed to helping young people and adults become aware of career opportunities in the health care sector,” said Pam Reynolds, co-editor of the latest edition and center director of the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center in Albany.
There are 79 careers listed in “Health Careers in Georgia.” For some, like emergency medical technician, you can start with as little as three to six months of training. Others might require a two-year, four-year or advanced college degree.
“Among the new careers listed this year are biostatistician, nurse educator, environmental health specialist, polysomnographic technologist and home health aide/personal home care aide,” said Nealy Stapleton, co-editor and operating officer of the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center.
Not all health care careers involve direct patient care. Some focus on information technology or records administration, and other workers perform their duties outside typical medical settings.
For instance, a medical coder might work from home, a massage therapist at a spa, a dietetic technician with a school system and an athletic trainer for a sports team. Nurses work for hospitals, doctors’ offices and clinics, as well as for schools, insurance companies, legal firms, medical manufacturers and the government.
For every occupation listed, there’s a job description to help readers decide if that career fits with their personality, aptitude and interests. There’s also information about educational requirements and a list of public and private educational institutions that offer training in Georgia and in nearby states.
The guide gives the average starting salary in Georgia, typical employment sites, specialties, and licenses, certification or registrations that are required to practice.
At the back of the guide is a list of Georgia educational institutions that offer health care programs; the names and addresses of Georgia hospitals; and information on financial aid, including common grants, scholarships and loans.
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