Interested in a career in healthcare in the state of Kentucky? With the state’s job outlook for most medical occupations growing extremely fast over the next decade according to the Kentucky Department of Labor, the time for getting in to the medical field is really strong! Kentucky’s expansion falls in line with the nationwide trend for healthcare. The need for new professionals is at unprecedented levels in many towns and cities. The demand for health workers in America is growing fast, and this is detailed in the (2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
– JOLTS). The report states that there are around one million job openings nationwide.
Beginning a career in healthcare in Kentucky
The dramatic expansion of the healthcare marketplace in Kentucky contributes to the 18% growth rate that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts for the United States through 2026. The historic growth in the health industry is being driven by the nation’s need to take care of an increasingly aging adult population. This situation has created an abundance of options for future professionals of all qualifications.
The Best Healthcare Schools in Kentucky
| School Name / Website | Address | School Type | # of Students | # of Undergrads | Grad Rate | Transfer-Out Rate | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Lloyd College | 100 Purpose Rd, Pippa Passes, Kentucky 41844 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 598 | 598 | 55% | 17% | $14,075 |
| American National University-Lexington | 2376 Sir Barton Way, Lexington, Kentucky 40509 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 233 | 233 | 40% | NA | $18,755 |
| Asbury University | 1 Macklem Dr, Wilmore, Kentucky 40390-1198 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1990 | 1733 | 69% | 21% | $22,500 |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | 1400 College Drive, Ashland, Kentucky 41101-3683 | 2-year, Public | 2603 | 2603 | 26% | 8% | $6,380 |
| ATA College | 10200 Linn Station Rd Ste 125, Louisville, Kentucky 40223 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 289 | 289 | 44% | NA | $21,395 |
| Beckfield College-Florence | 16 Spiral Drive, Florence, Kentucky 41042 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 617 | 617 | 20% | NA | $21,385 |
| Bellarmine University | 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville, Kentucky 40205-0671 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 3757 | 2544 | 65% | 28% | $24,711 |
| Berea College | 101 Chestnut Street, Berea, Kentucky 40404-2182 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1670 | 1670 | 66% | 20% | $1,680 |
| Big Sandy Community and Technical College | 1 Bert Combs Dr, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653 | 2-year, Public | 4346 | 4346 | 22% | 9% | $5,810 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | 470 Cooper Drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 | 2-year, Public | 9478 | 9478 | 19% | 15% | $7,496 |
| Brescia University | 717 Frederica St, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301-3023 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1231 | 1175 | 39% | 43% | $13,496 |
| Brighton Center's Center for Employment Training | 601 Washington Ave., Suite 140, Newport, Kentucky 41071-1968 | < 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 135 | 135 | 34% | NA | $10,813 |
| Campbellsville University | 1 University Dr, Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718-2799 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 7207 | 3704 | 34% | NA | $16,523 |
| Daymar College-Bowling Green | 2421 Fitzgerald Industrial Dr., Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 288 | 288 | 34% | NA | $20,938 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 521 Lancaster Ave, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102 | 4-year, Public | 16612 | 14143 | 44% | NA | $12,659 |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | 600 College Street Rd, Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-3081 | 2-year, Public | 7115 | 7115 | 31% | 11% | $6,252 |
| Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education | 1165 Centre Parkway Suite #120, Lexington, Kentucky 40517 | < 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 142 | 142 | 40% | NA | $10,489 |
| Frontier Nursing University | 195 School Street, Hyden, Kentucky 41749 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2004 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Galen College of Nursing-ARH | 100 Airport Gardens Drive, Hazard, Kentucky 41701-9519 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 72 | 72 | NA | NA | $20,880 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | 1031 Zorn Avenue , Suite 400, Louisville, Kentucky 40207 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 1703 | 1703 | 56% | 17% | $23,161 |
| Gateway Community and Technical College | 500 Technology Way, Florence, Kentucky 41042 | 2-year, Public | 4201 | 4201 | 35% | 12% | $6,443 |
| Georgetown College | 400 East College Street, Georgetown, Kentucky 40324-1696 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1767 | 1061 | 53% | NA | $19,012 |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | One Community College Drive, Hazard, Kentucky 41701-2402 | 2-year, Public | 3305 | 3305 | 30% | 7% | $6,157 |
| Henderson Community College | 2660 S Green St, Henderson, Kentucky 42420-4699 | 2-year, Public | 1490 | 1490 | 22% | 14% | $5,542 |
| Hopkinsville Community College | 720 North Dr., Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240 | 2-year, Public | 2640 | 2640 | 32% | 13% | $6,782 |
| Interactive College of Technology-Newport | 76 Carothers Road, Newport, Kentucky 41071 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 66 | 66 | 26% | NA | $12,060 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | 109 E Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-2005 | 2-year, Public | 12250 | 12250 | 14% | 17% | $6,330 |
| Kentucky Christian University | 100 Academic Pkwy, Grayson, Kentucky 41143-1199 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 688 | 592 | 33% | NA | $18,025 |
| Kentucky State University | 400 East Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-2355 | 4-year, Public | 1926 | 1757 | 20% | 36% | $9,561 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | 3000 Frederica Street, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 716 | 716 | 32% | 50% | $21,958 |
| Lexington Healing Arts Academy | 272 Southland Drive, Lexington, Kentucky 40503 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 120 | 120 | NA | NA | NA |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 210 Lindsey Wilson St, Columbia, Kentucky 42728-1223 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2565 | 2068 | 35% | 38% | $15,897 |
| Madisonville Community College | 2000 College Drive, Madisonville, Kentucky 42431 | 2-year, Public | 3404 | 3404 | 43% | 8% | $5,359 |
| Maysville Community and Technical College | 1755 U.S. Hwy 68, Maysville, Kentucky 41056 | 2-year, Public | 3495 | 3495 | 34% | 8% | $5,415 |
| Medical Career & Technical College | 630 Eastern Bypass, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-2614 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 124 | 124 | 66% | NA | $25,525 |
| MedQuest College | 10400 Linn Station Road, Suite 120, Louisville, Kentucky 40223-1882 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 343 | 343 | 81% | NA | $17,114 |
| Midway University | 512 E. Stephens St, Midway, Kentucky 40347-1120 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1217 | 1002 | 52% | 33% | $24,895 |
| Morehead State University | University Blvd, Morehead, Kentucky 40351 | 4-year, Public | 10580 | 9661 | 42% | NA | $12,136 |
| Murray State University | 218 Wells Hall, Murray, Kentucky 42071-3318 | 4-year, Public | 10012 | 8559 | 49% | NA | $11,562 |
| Northern Kentucky University | Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099 | 4-year, Public | 14456 | 12329 | 40% | NA | $9,338 |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | 4800 New Hartford Rd, Owensboro, Kentucky 42303 | 2-year, Public | 3787 | 3787 | 33% | 8% | $6,809 |
| Ross College-Hopkinsville | 4001 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240-4948 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 73 | 73 | 60% | NA | $15,782 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Bowling Green | 1751 Scottsville Rd Ste 1, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42104 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 94 | 94 | 73% | NA | $19,264 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Erlanger | 600 Rodeo Drive, Ste. 2, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018-1279 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 61 | 61 | 85% | NA | $18,179 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Owensboro | 410 Southtown Boulevard, Owensboro, Kentucky 42303-7757 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 58 | 58 | 71% | NA | $18,466 |
| Somerset Community College | 808 Monticello Street, Somerset, Kentucky 42501-2973 | 2-year, Public | 5886 | 5886 | 25% | 9% | $6,045 |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | 1845 Loop Dr, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-3601 | 2-year, Public | 4289 | 4289 | 31% | 9% | $5,936 |
| Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | 700 College Rd, Cumberland, Kentucky 40823 | 2-year, Public | 3229 | 3229 | 32% | 6% | $5,481 |
| Spalding University | 901 S Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203-2188 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2071 | 1250 | 45% | NA | $20,619 |
| Sullivan University | 3101 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, Kentucky 40205-3013 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 3575 | 2684 | 29% | 2% | $25,843 |
| Thomas More College | 333 Thomas More Parkway, Crestview Hills, Kentucky 41017-3495 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2064 | 1880 | 45% | 40% | $19,221 |
| Union College | 310 College St, Barbourville, Kentucky 40906-1499 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1309 | 1094 | 34% | NA | $20,051 |
| University of Kentucky | South Limestone, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0032 | 4-year, Public | 29465 | 22425 | 65% | NA | $19,361 |
| University of Louisville | 2301 S 3rd St, Louisville, Kentucky 40292-0001 | 4-year, Public | 21402 | 15546 | 54% | NA | $17,008 |
| University of Phoenix-Kentucky | 10400 Linn Station Rd, Louisville, Kentucky 40223-3839 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 18 | 18 | 20% | NA | NA |
| University of Pikeville | 147 Sycamore St, Pikeville, Kentucky 41501 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2336 | 1560 | 30% | NA | $18,297 |
| University of the Cumberlands | 6191 College Station Drive, Williamsburg, Kentucky 40769 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 10097 | 3315 | 41% | NA | $19,212 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | 4810 Alben Barkley Drive, Paducah, Kentucky 42002-7380 | 2-year, Public | 6038 | 6038 | 43% | 8% | $5,865 |
| Western Kentucky University | 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1000 | 4-year, Public | 20257 | 17656 | 43% | 31% | $11,817 |
Entry-level positions in Kentucky healthcare
Around 50,810 people in Kentucky are presently working as Healthcare Support professionals. With an annual median salary of $29,610, these support professionals earn a solid salary for occupations that do not call for a college degree.
In the table below, you will review job and salary information for ten of the most-popular healthcare occupations in Kentucky.
| Kentucky Healthcare Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 720 | 31.24 | 64990 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 4600 | 14.88 | 30940 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 8440 | 13.88 | 28870 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 10140 | 19.64 | 40860 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 3720 | 17.89 | 37210 |
| Home Health Aides | 2680 | 11.78 | 24510 |
| Nursing Assistants | 23880 | 12.46 | 25920 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 430 | 27.52 | 57240 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1680 | 26.05 | 54180 |
| Dental Assistants | 4320 | 16.78 | 34900 |
| Medical Assistants | 8640 | 14.93 | 31050 |
| Phlebotomists | 2160 | 14.59 | 30340 |
Finding an entry-level position in allied health in the state of KY
Though it may be possible to start working in some roles without completing a formal training course, most employers in the state would rather employ candidates with some training. Regardless of your ultimate career objectives, this means that graduating from a training course an essential first step.
Completing professional training is often possible in less than one year for most healthcare support occupations.
Getting the appropriate Kentucky healthcare career training
Review some of the state’s entry-level healthcare occupations by clicking on the links shown below. To learn more about any of the highlighted occupations listed, you can click the title and read more on how to get started in that profession.
- SRNA training in Kentucky
- Dental assistant courses in Kentucky
- EMT programs in Kentucky
- HHA programs in Kentucky
- LPN classes in Kentucky
- Medical assistant training in Kentucky
- Medical billing & coding classes in Kentucky
- Pharmacy technician training in Kentucky
- Phlebotomy programs in Kentucky
- Ultrasound technician courses in Kentucky
Finding a healthcare position in Kentucky
Though it’s possible to get Healthcare Support jobs in just about every corner of Kentucky, the
Kentucky’s top locations for locating a healthcare position are listed below.
- Louisville, KY
- Bowling Green, KY
- Lexington, KY
- Owensboro, KY
- Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY