Jobs in healthcare will become more plentiful in coming years as members of the "baby boomer" generation age. There will be an abundance of opportunities in healthcare careers, particularly in geriatrics, end-of-life care and hospice and nursing home work. In addition, the large number of severely injured and disabled veterans returning from occupation duty in Iraq is already creating an urgent demand for workers in all healthcare fields that will continue for decades to come.

If this kind of work interests you, you'll need to prepare with health care training and education. Online degrees are a convenient and economical way to start the training you'll need in order to qualify for these jobs.

In addition to "hands-on" careers in healthcare in fields such as nursing, pathology, radiology and physical therapy, the U.S. Department of Labor anticipates a large number of openings for healthcare management jobs as well as healthcare administration jobs.

Healthcare administration is an area that will take on a great deal of importance in the coming years. If you saw Michael Moore's movie "SiCKO," you understand just how dysfunctional the present U.S. healthcare system is. The financial power of greedy insurance and pharmaceutical corporations and their undue influence over corrupt members of Congress presents considerable obstacles. However, there is growing rage among American citizens over this issue that may very well force changes at the state level.

Healthcare administrators are among those who see the problems firsthand and understand the issues; therefore, these people are in a position to help shape healthcare policy in the coming years as individual state governments begin the type of healthcare reform that most members of the U.S. Congress are unwilling to address.

Whether you choose an administrative or a hands-on career in healthcare, you'll be able to complete your coursework at home, often at your own pace, by attending college online. Contrary to what you may have heard, online courses are similar to traditional classes at a brick-and-mortar university or college. You'll hear lectures, read required texts, submit papers, take exams and even participate in class discussions. The only difference is that you'll be using Internet technology such as podcasts and electronic bulletin boards for these interactions.

As you might imagine, training for healthcare careers in "hands-on" fields such as nursing, anesthesiology and pathology require some real-world clinical experience. Once you are at that stage, many schools can arrange for you to complete these requirements at a local hospital or other medical center near your home.

When pursuing an online degree, it is important to make sure that the school is properly accredited. Most online college websites provide this information; you can also learn more about accreditation by visiting the U.S. Department of Education website at http://www.ed.gov.