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When folks think of education, a lot of times they envision campus walks through colorful fall foliage, winter silently nipping at their heels.  These days, any time of year is a good time to start your education for a new career.  With all the signs of spring in the air, maybe you should sow the seeds in the virtual campus of online training.

Some of the things you need to be doing in your quest for quality training are time based.  Take for example the filing of your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  If you are going to use student loans, wisdom dictates that the sooner you get on this, the better off you will be.  Otherwise, researching your training options is a good idea at most anytime.

We’ve made it amazingly simple to get things going.  If you see a career field that interests you, just click on the link to have free information sent your way.  Doing this with several schools in the field allows you to make an informed decision about which school may best serve your needs.  One thing is certain, though.  If you don’t ask for the information, things will never change and you won’t get started down the path of a new career.

Sow the seeds of success today by requesting your free information.

There is so much to do to get ready for your new health care career.  You’ve done your research, found just the right school and laid a solid foundation for moving your life forward.  Here are some tips to help you get ready for school:

• Chances are you will be writing several research papers over the course of your schooling.  Pick up an MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 7th Edition style manual, which is the standard style guide your teachers will expect your paper’s format to follow.  Before you shell out money for new ones, check out used bookstores or second hand stores where these can usually be had for a song.
• If you don’t own a computer, now would be a good time to consider this purchase.  These days it’s almost a requirement.  You don’t need the fastest computer set up for gaming, the basics will work just fine.
• Don’t spend a lot of money buying Microsoft Office.  Go to OpenOffice.org and download the OpenOffice suite for FREE!  It is a far superior product and you can save any documents in a Microsoft format so those who have yet to see the light can still read your  work.

This is just the beginning of what you can do to get ready for school.  Future posts will add to this all important list.

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We are proud to feature schools that train folks in the art and science of natural medicine.  Here are some links to sites that may help you learn more about this worthwhile health care career:

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Think about the last time you went to a medical office.  Maybe it was your doctor or maybe it was a lab or radiology facility.  The first person that you had contact with was someone at the front desk.  They may have been a receptionist or maybe a medical assistant.  Either way, this professional person hopefully put you at ease right away and explained the paperwork and billing.

Working the front desk at a medical facility can be challenging.  it can also be very rewarding.  Are you the kind of person who enjoys interacting with people?  Do you have an eye for detail?  If so, a health care career in medical administration and assisting may be right up your alley.

The folks who work the counter are team players who help to start the office visit process.  When this is done well, the patient feels better and is less apprehensive about the visit and procedures.  Certainly the end goal is to make the experience as pleasant as possible for every patient (customer) who comes through the door.  Professional front office staff do this every day.

If you are intrigued by working in a doctor’s office but hesitate about learning all things medical, relax.  You can contribute and work at the front counter without being medically trained.  To find out more about classes to help you reach this goal, contact one of the medical assisting schools on this page.

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There has never been a better time to switch to a career in the health care industry.  Here are ten tips to help you in your journey.

1. Contact someone working in the particular field that interests you.  If you want to be a nurse, call your local hospital and ask for a nursing supervisor in the particular department you’d most like to work.  Ask if you can come in and “shadow” for a day.  This is true for any health care profession that interests you.  Shadowing a person for a day will give you a real sense of what the job is like.  It’s easier than you may think and most facilities allow this type of activity.
2. Go online and fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The FAFSA is your first step in qualifying for all manner of student loans and grants.  You will be amazed by how many loans you may be qualified for.
3. Do an internet search for the profession that holds the most interest for you.  Dozens, and sometimes hundreds of sites are out there to provide excellent information about a particular health care career.  There are professional association web sites that often have very good straightforward information that can help you make an informed decision about a new career.
4. For unbiased job outlook information, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  You can find information out about everything from typical pay to expected job growth.
5. Contact one of the schools on this site and get information sent directly to you.  The information is free and having this will help you determine what will be needed in terms of cost and time commitments.
6. Ask friends and families for people they know who may be working in the industry.  Ask to contact that person to set up an interview and develop a list of questions that you would like to ask.  Most people will be happy to tell you their story and talk about the highs and lows of their particular career.
7. Your local library usually will have a good number of books available pertaining to a health care field.  Don’t be shy about asking the staff about any recommendations or where specific subject areas may be located.
8. Check with a local community college about what general education required courses they may have available.  This is especially important if you are considering a four year nursing degree program.  Be sure and check to see if the credits are transferable.
9. Research the trade journals that may be available for your newly chosen career.  Subscribe to one or two.  This investment is worthwhile because these trade journals provide excellent information regarding current industry trends.  They are also an great resource for finding work in the field.
10. Contact your local health department and ask to speak with someone about the careers most needed in the public health arena.  Working in public health can be very rewarding and there are almost always shortages of qualified staff within the different sections.

What other tips do you have?

An integral component of health care has to do with the follow up care that is delivered to patients after they have received some kind of traumatic injury.  There are also some medical conditions that require certain types of ongoing treatment.  Massage therapists can help in both of these areas.

Here is the low-down on what Massage Therapists do:

“Massage therapists can specialize in over 80 different types of massage, called modalities. Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, acupressure, sports massage, and neuromuscular massage are just a few of the many approaches to massage therapy. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, which require different techniques. Some use exaggerated strokes ranging the length of a body part, while others use quick, percussion-like strokes with a cupped or closed hand. A massage can be as long as 2 hours or as short as 5 or 10 minutes. Usually, the type of massage given depends on the client’s needs and the client’s physical condition. For example, therapists may use special techniques for elderly clients that they would not use for athletes, and they would use approaches for clients with injuries that would not be appropriate for clients seeking relaxation. There are also some forms of massage that are given solely to one type of client, for example prenatal massage and infant massage.” - From the Bureau of Labor Statistics

With such a diverse range of modalities, it is easy to see why this health care career is one of the fastest growing segments of the health care industry.  Job growth is expected to be much higher than average, and given the state of the economy and the job situation, now is the ideal time to consider this kind of career.  Employment is expected to grow by 20% per year.

A true advantage for Massage Therapists is the environment in which they work.  They can be found in hospitals and clinics of course, but many Massage Therapists work on a freelance basis and develop their own appointments and schedules based on referrals.  They can also be found at airports, spas and fitness centers.  The locations are almost limited by the imagination.

Every state has different licensure requirements but the essential starting point for anyone interested in doing this as a career is to find a school with a solid history of providing excellent training.  We have schools like that listed here.  The best way to move forward is to request information from one of our schools through the tabs on the left side of this page.