If you are considering pursuing an online healthcare degree, you might be interested in learning more about some of the career paths you can follow within the industry and what type of degree is required in order to become qualified within the field. Here is a look at some of the different categories of healthcare occupations and the educational requirements of each.

· Professional Occupations – professional occupations include occupations such as dentist, physician, surgeon, social worker, registered nurse and physical therapist. These positions generally require earning a minimum of a bachelor degree, though it is sometimes possible to become a registered nurse after completing a specialized diploma program or earning an associate degree.
· Other Health Professionals and Technicians – this category includes positions such as dental hygienists and medical records and health information technicians. You can usually obtain a position within this category after completing a one or two year training program.
· Service Occupations – positions within this field include home health aides, nursing aides, dental assistants, building cleaning workers, personal and home care aides and home health aides. Although it is sometimes possible to obtain one of these positions without specialized training, most employers prefer someone who has completed a certificate or diploma program within the chosen field.

Of course, the amount of money you can expect to earn within this industry is directly related to the amount of education you obtain. Registered Nurses, for example, earned a median hourly salary of $27.54 in 2006, while dental assistants earned $14.53 and home care aides earned $8.54. So, in order to earn as much as possible, head to an online school and start working toward earning that online healthcare degree you have always wanted!