Top Associate's Degrees to Land Health Care Jobs

It's no secret that health care is one of the most stable and rapidly-growing industries you can enter today. What you may not know, though, is that you don't need an MD to work in health care. An Associate's degree can start you on a path to the operating room (or the emergency room, or anywhere else you'd like to work), where you'll be helping doctors, nurses and patients in just two years (or less).



Sound too good to be true? See for yourself. Check out these health care careers you can start with a diploma, certificate, or Associate's degree.



Surgical Technician Degrees
Scalpel. Sutures. Bandages. When a nurse or surgeon needs help during operating procedures, surgical technicians are there to provide valuable support. But before you can don those infamous green hospital scrubs, you'll need the hands on-training provided by a certificate, diploma or Associate's degree program.



Respiratory Therapist
If you've ever suffered through an asthma attack or watched someone struggle with emphysema, you know the important role respiratory therapists play in the health care industry. An Associate's degree will give you the background in anatomy, chemistry and pharmacology that you'll need to help patients manage their breathing rate, breathing medication, and other treatments.



Registered Nurse
One of the best-kept health care secrets is that there's not just one, but three ways to become a registered nurse. One is a traditional, four-year Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Another is a three-year diploma program administered by a hospital. And the third is a two-year Associate's of Science in Nursing, which is offered by community colleges, junior colleges and technical schools. With an Associate's degree, you'll learn all you need to diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and provide treatment plans to patients.



Radiologic Technologist
Radiologic technologists don't have magic x-ray glasses; they have something better. They have chemical solutions, magnetic resonance imaging (aka MRI), and x-ray machines that can take images of our bodies and internal organs to help doctors diagnose illness. To learn how to use these tools, radiologic technologists start with specialized Associate's degrees.



For more information, check out these health care career profiles.