According to demographic data and the U.S. Department of Labor, there will be a grave shortage of qualified people to fill jobs in healthcare in the coming years; unless more workers receive quality health care training and education, there is a real possibility that thousands of healthcare jobs (including healthcare administration jobs) will go unfilled.

There are two primary reasons for the exponential growth in healthcare careers. One is the "graying" of America. The "baby boomers" born between 1946 and 1960 are now starting to enter their "golden years." As this population ages, there will be many more opportunities and a greater need for people to enter careers in healthcare.

The other reason, sadly, are the huge numbers of wounded and disabled veterans returning from occupation duty in Iraq. Many men (and women) in this group will require care and therapy for the rest of their lives - which in many cases, could be 60 to 70 years or more, leading to an ongoing demand for healthcare careers.

The good news for job seekers is that online health care education is available - and costs less than you might think. Health care management education is offered by reputable colleges and universities across the country - and online students typically are not charged out-of-state tuition and fees.

Online health care education is much like the pursuit such studies at traditional "brick-and-mortar" institutions - the only difference is that instruction, assignments and even class discussions all take place online over the Internet. Online health care education consists of hearing lectures via podcast or by means of audio files; questions and discussions are carried out via email and/or on electronic bulletin boards; assignments are submitted online.

When it comes to fulfilling lab work and clinical experience requirements, the institution will usually make arrangements with a local hospital or other medical facility near your home. It is easy to see how healthcare training an education can be obtained for substantially less online, while at the same time offering a great deal more convenience. With online classes, you can often proceed at your own pace and more easily work around your own schedule.

Healthcare careers also offer a great deal of variety. Office assistant and hygienist jobs are a great way to enter the field of medicine - it is possible to be trained for these positions in as little as a year.

On the other end are nursing programs and pharmacy. These careers in healthcare require substantially more training, and thus more time, but also offer greater challenges - and higher pay.

There is no time like the present to start your healthcare career - and online education makes it more practical than ever before.