Did you know UA provides critical healthcare training programs in Alaska, including exclusive offerings like the Master's in Social Work and radiology technician training?
February 27, 2024
The big picture:
Alaska's healthcare landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with projections
indicating a noteworthy 14.3% growth in healthcare jobs from 2020 to 2030—surpassing
all other sectors. In this evolving landscape, the University of Alaska is a pivotal
player, offering essential and unique healthcare programs that cater to the state's
growing needs.
What we're watching:
One distinct program, the Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology at
the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), offers a fast-track path to a rewarding
career, with graduates entering the workforce in less than two years.
- UAA’s program is also offered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ (UAF) Community and Technical College, in cooperation with the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.
UAA's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is singular to the state. This program is distance-delivered, allowing students to access the program from anywhere in Alaska.
- In 2022, UAA MSW graduates who took the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam for the first time had a 96% pass rate.
- The competitive salaries in these fields, averaging around $80,000 annually in Alaska, highlight the economic opportunities provided by UA's healthcare programs.
By the numbers:
With projections indicating a need for 4,500 new healthcare jobs over the next decade,
UA's commitment to meeting Alaska's healthcare demands is more crucial than ever.
- 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ has identified 60 programs whose graduates are important to the clinical and behavioral health industry in Alaska.
- Since 2011, 7,499 people have graduated from programs relevant to the state’s health industry.
Zoom in:
Beyond traditional coursework, MSW students engage in interdisciplinary research projects
like Project BLENDS, which trains 32 scholars over five years, two from each of four
disciplines — Communication Sciences and Disorders, Social Work, Clinical Psychology,
and Occupational Therapy. The goal: to meet Alaska's workforce needs in supporting
children with high-intensity social-emotional needs and their families.
Zoom out:
Alaska boasts some of the highest wages for healthcare positions nationwide, with
15 categories ranking highest or second highest in the country. Additionally, Alaska's
healthcare sector remains a cornerstone of the state's economy, contributing over
$3 billion in direct wages and comprising 11% of the workforce and nearly 43,000 annual
average healthcare jobs in 2022.
Why it matters:
As healthcare emerges as the dominant economic sector in Alaska and with the state
facing growing healthcare demands and workforce shortages, UA's role in training skilled
professionals will continue to be indispensable.
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