Post-Secondary Health Care Progr

To look at the lists, click either of the following:

Click on List by School to see the occupational programs listed together by school.

Click on List by Occupation to see the occupational programs listed by type of occupation.

In discussions about health care careers, one of the questions regularly raised is, “What kind of health care education and training is available for area residents?” To answer this question, a comprehensive list of post-secondary health care programs serving West Michigan residents has been painstakingly compiled. This would not have been possible without the cooperation and support from the staff of all the schools that submitted the information. We are very grateful for their past and future support.

This listing of 246 post-secondary health care programs is intended to serve as a reference point for individuals who want to know what kinds of educational opportunities are available to them and to professionals who are advising these individuals about health care careers. It represents a compilation of basic information that should be useful in helping individuals take the next step toward a career in a health care occupation.

The information is presented alphabetically in two ways – by school and by occupation – so you can see all the health care programs offered by a specific school or which schools offer training in a specific health care occupation. The information for individual programs is the same in both lists. It will be periodically updated in order to ensure that it is as current and complete as possible.

While some of the information will be clear, there may be questions about what certain information means. The following explanations may help you to understand the information presented. It is listed in the order presented on the spreadsheets, from left to right.

1. Occupation: This is the occupation for which the education or training is offered. In quite a few instances, the title presented in this list will be different from the official title that the school uses. The names were changed so that they would be grouped together to allow you to compare them easier.

2. Degree categories: This shows the degree or credential earned by completing the program and meeting the school’s requirements. The categories include a Certificate or Diploma, an Associates Degree, a Bachelors Degree, a Masters Degree and a Doctorate Degree.

3. College/University: This identifies the college, university or other educational institution that offers the program.

4. Contact Information: (First Name, Last Name, Phone & E-mail): This is the contact person who can be contacted for more information about the specific program, including the phone number and e-mail address. These obviously will change periodically, but will be updated at least annually.

5. Normal Start Date(s): These are the times of the year when programs typically start. Some programs that are shorter in length are offered multiple times annually.

6. Graduation Date(s): These are the times of the year when schools present their degrees. In some cases, the individual may complete the program earlier than the official graduation ceremony.

7. # Students Accepted/Yr: If there is a limit, the number shown is the number of students typically admitted to the program each year. In some cases there is no limit or the number may be variable each year.

8. Full Time, Part Time or Both: This shows if the program accepts (a) only full time students, (b) only part time students, or (c) both full time and part time students.

9. 100% Online, Face to Face or Mixed: This shows if the program offers its courses (a) 100% online, (b) only face to face (in the classroom or in a clinical setting), or (c) mixed, with some courses online and some face to face.

10. Length of Program (for full time and/or part time): This shows the amount of time it will take to complete the specific program.

For information on the specific occupational programs, please contact the person listed for that program.

For questions about how to read the lists or, for the educational institutions, to officially change the content for specific programs, please contact Craig Nobbelin, Regional Skills Coordinator at the Alliance for Health, at 616-458-0471 or craig.nobbelin@afh.org. Suggestions for improving the lists are also welcome.

This information was compiled through the regional health care workforce initiative begun in 2004 by the West Central Michigan Health Care Regional Skills Alliance and the Alliance for Health. (You can find information on this initiative on this website under “RSA” on the main menu.)

For individuals interested in a rewarding career, many investigate the opportunities in the fast growing field of health care. With a growing older population, expansions of care in technology and treatment, and baby-boomer health care workers who are set to retire, many health occupations are and will continue to experience shortages of workers. Leading the list is the seemingly ongoing shortage of Registered Nurses. However, there is a wide variety of health care occupations that are needed by health care employers, ranging from entry-level jobs to highly technical or skilled jobs.

To find out about these jobs and careers, there are websites that present information on the jobs and skills required, as well as the relative demand in these fields. One of the most comprehensive websites was developed by U.S. Department of Labor and is called the O*Net. It can be found at http://online.onetcenter.org/.

Another important resource is a Michigan information clearinghouse called the Michigan Healthcare Workforce Center that is hosted by the State of Michigan and can be reached at http://www.michigan.gov/healthcareworkforcecenter. A collaborative Michigan non-profit organization was formed in 1943 to address health care issues and offers information on health care education and career opportunities. The Michigan Center for Health Professions at the Michigan Health Council can be found at http://www.mhc.org/. Finally, your local Michigan Works! Agencies and your local colleges should be able to help you find information on health care occupations.