The 4 Best Ways to Advance Your Healthcare Career

The growing healthcare industry provides multiple ways of advancement for those engaged in this vast field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced in December 2015 that the Healthcare occupations and industries were expected to have the fastest employment growth between 2014 and 2024. BLS predicted that within this ten year period, 2.3 million or one in four new jobs would be created in healthcare support occupations and healthcare practitioners and technical occupations. 

With this fluidity, there will be people entering, moving about and advancing in this industry. What are some ways that you can advance your healthcare career? 

1. Get More Education

The surest way to move forward in your healthcare career is to further your education. The following are two examples of career advancement through further education.

Advancement through education is common in Nursing. Nurses at the CNA, LPN or ADN levels can advance through transition programs toward the BSN, which is becoming the entry level for professional nursing. The BSN RN can pursue a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist or other MSN specialty. A doctorate (DNP) qualifies a nurse to become a professor, research scholar or to take leadership positions in the healthcare industry.

The Emergency Medical Technician with six month training progresses to a Paramedic with an additional two years of training. The Paramedic can opt for Nursing and complete a BSN, or aim to become a Physician Assistant with a master’s degree.

2. Become Certified

Certification by your professional organization tells the public that you have passed an examination showing full competency in that profession. Generally, you are then authorized to add a certification designation after your name.

There are certifications issued in nursing in advanced practice areas, specialties and subspecialties. Certification is voluntary and signifies expert knowledge in the practice area. 

Physician Assistants can use the PA-C designation after their names if they pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) given by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

3. Learn a Specialty

Learning a specialty in your healthcare occupation through a program, courses, continuing education, or on-the-job training can make you more employable and also qualify you for a leadership or management position in that specialty.

The American Association of Physician Associates names 27 specialty organizations that provide professional growth and networking opportunities for their members. 

4. Take Up a Healthcare Related Career With an Expanding Future

One profession with a growing presence in the healthcare industry is law. The health law field is concerned with specific laws regulating the health industry, public health, and health care service delivery and financing. Those already working in the healthcare industry can expand their horizons by completing a health law program, while opportunities for lawyers with a degree or certificate in health law exist among the institutional and individual healthcare providers who require representation and counsel. Legal services are also required by pharmaceutical and medical device industries.


The healthcare field is an exciting place to be as it expands and undergoes transformational changes to adapt to new realities. Your motivation to advance in your career will keep you in readiness for opportunities that are sure to occur in your career area.