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Online Gerontology Degrees

Online gerontology degree programs teach professionals how to care for the elderly

An online gerontology degree helps you contribute to the growing need for healthcare professionals specializing in geriatrics. Gerontology is a healthcare field focused on the aging process and the elderly. As we age, we need more help with everyday activities like cooking and cleaning. We need specialized care, unique therapies, and improved health services. You’ll be ready to provide these essential services with an online gerontology degree or certificate.

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Types of Online Gerontology Degree Programs

Certificate

Online gerontology certificate programs are for people who want to join the gerontology field or currently work in a healthcare or elder care setting but don’t have a formal education. They are fast-track online gerontology programs that can be completed in less than one year. For example, the Long-Term Care Certificate from Pitt Community College, which prepares students for a healthcare management career, takes 18 credits.

These online gerontology educations are highly focused on a specific topic, which may include long-term care, adult development, aging studies, or gerontology. Certificates can be completed 100% online. Graduates can work as administrative assistants or financial clerks for medical facilities.

You must submit a high school diploma or GED to apply for these online gerontology programs. You may also need to submit official SAT and ACT scores.

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Diploma

This type of gerontology degree online requires fewer credit hours than an associate degree. It allows virtually anyone to launch a career in healthcare and gerontology. Online gerontology diploma programs require only a high school diploma or equivalency, although you may need to complete placement testing before enrollment.

Once complete, you can apply gerontology-related skills to work in social services, administration, wellness, marketing, and more. Careers that use gerontology skills include home health aide, registered nurse, social service worker, and nursing assistant. These careers, however, will require additional education. A gerontology diploma, for example, will not prepare you to become a registered nurse. However, a gerontology diploma, in addition to a nursing degree, will provide you with the specialized skill set you need to serve as a nurse in a long-term care facility or hospice organization.

Gerontology programs can be completed online, but some have in-person volunteer requirements. For example, the Gerontology Diploma from the Harrisburg Area Community College requires 20 hours of volunteer work in a social work or healthcare setting. This online gerontology diploma includes 17 credit hours encompassing social services, general psychology, and allied health.

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Associate

There are a variety of online associate degrees that focus on gerontology and aging. These online gerontology programs take roughly two years to complete and include general and gerontology-specific courses. They take an interdisciplinary approach to education and examine the aging process, sociological issues, the psychology of aging, and elderly law, among many other topics.

An online gerontology degree will prepare you for social work and public health careers, including positions focused on the elderly. They also create the foundation for further education in healthcare and gerontology, including online bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The entrance requirements for an online associate degree in gerontology are light. You will need to submit your high school diploma or GED.

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Bachelor

A bachelor’s level gerontology degree online takes roughly four years to complete, assuming a constant full-time course load. In total, you will complete 120 credit hours of coursework.

Online gerontology programs include bachelor of science degrees, bachelor of professional studies, and bachelor of arts. These programs are ideal for students who want a career in healthcare management, counseling, or human services. As such, health services management is one of the most common careers. Still, you will also qualify for work as a human services assistant, social worker, or geriatric care manager.

The admission requirements for an online bachelor’s in gerontology will vary by institution. You will need to have completed a high school diploma or equivalency, and you will need to meet the school’s GPA requirement. You will also need to complete an online application.

Graduate Certificate

An online graduate certificate in gerontology allows students with a bachelor’s degree to specifically deepen their knowledge of a focused subject. Graduate certificate online gerontology programs are available in subjects like aging sciences and geriatric practices. They are generally for people with broader healthcare degrees who want to focus their education and career on the elderly. Many graduates will work as health services managers or administrators.

Some gerontology graduate certificate programs will qualify you for appropriate licensing. For example, Utica University’s online Nursing Home Administrator Certificate prepares graduates to sit for the Nursing Home Administrator licensure exam. However, you’ll need to check your specific state’s licensing agency and compare their requirements against the coursework.

Gerontology graduate certificates are also available 100% online, with no in-person requirements. They take 18 credit hours to complete, which usually requires a year of study.

Master

A master’s level gerontology degree online is for people who have already completed a bachelor’s but wish to continue their education and expand their professional options. While a bachelor’s is required, you do not need to be a current medical or healthcare professional to enroll.

These online master’s gerontology degrees take 36 credit hours, requiring two to three years of study, assuming a typical course load. These are master’s of science or master’s or arts degrees that prepare you for advanced careers in gerontological counseling, public policy, adult recreation, or long-term care administration.

These online gerontology degree programs can be specialized. For example, you can complete a Master of Healthcare Administration in Gerontology from Concordia University - Nebraska. This gerontology degree online will prepare you to manage a long-term care facility, a profession that requires licensing. The specific requirements for licensing vary by state. Students can find information from the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards.

Post-Graduate Certificate

Online gerontology post-graduate certificates are for students who already have a master’s degree. They expand your knowledge on a specific subject related to your current career, in this case, gerontology.

These online gerontology programs consist of six courses encompassing 18 credit hours. Assuming a regular class load, they take a little over a year to complete. For example, National University says its Post-Master’s Certificate in Psychology / Gerontology takes 12 months and 8 weeks.

You can complete a post-graduate certificate entirely online. To enroll, you will need to supply official transcripts from previous classes.

Doctorate

Doctorate level online gerontology programs are the highest level of learning, designed for people who have already completed a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. Suppose you are working in a gerontology or healthcare career and want to deepen your understanding of the subject, a gerontology degree online is your next step. Expected career outcomes with an online doctorate or Ph.D. in gerontology include:

  • Elder residence administrator
  • Activities coordinator
  • Housing placement advisor
  • Community care coordinator
  • Policy advisor
  • Elder program developer
  • Elder care case manager

These gerontology courses are either entirely or primarily online. For example, Walden University’s Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services / Gerontology is taught almost entirely online, but there are Ph.D. residency requirements.

Doctorate gerontology programs require at least three years, although many students will take longer. The programs will have a time limit, which is relatively reasonable. For example, Ph.D. students in the University of Maryland - Baltimore’s online Palliative Care program have nine years to complete their doctorate.

Accreditation for Online Gerontology Degrees

When researching schools for gerontology degrees online, accreditation is one of the most critical considerations. In the U.S., there are two types of accreditations. The first is institutional, provided by a regional or national accrediting agency. In contrast, the second is programmatic, which is accreditation for a specific area of study.

To gain institutional accreditation, an entire college or university must be evaluated and approved by either the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education. To point out an important fact, online schools hold the same accreditation as in-person programs. Every single online school in the GetEducated database holds institutional accreditation.

There are a variety of organizations that provide programmatic accreditation for healthcare gerontology degrees online. These include the Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

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Can an Online Gerontology Degree Meet Licensing Requirements?

Online gerontology degrees will prepare you to work in various careers. However, most do not prepare you for licensing as a medical professional such as a nurse or doctor. Instead, depending on the program, these degrees develop skills in management and administration of senior care or build an understanding of gerontology and adult development. Online gerontology programs are typically attained by non-medical professionals, however not by medical doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers.

Take as an example the Bachelor of Science in Gerontology with a concentration in Administration from the University of Nebraska - Omaha. This degree, available exclusively online, prepares you to work as a manager or administrator for gerontology-focused organizations. You won’t learn how to deliver direct care but will learn about community resources, theories on death and dying, and mental health issues when aging. It will prepare you for work as a health services manager. This position does not require licensing unless you are a nursing home administrator.

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Licensure After an Online Gerontology Degree

Because online gerontology programs do not prepare you for careers applying direct care, such as a nurse or doctor, you typically will not need licensing or certification.

Home health aids, for example, do not need licensing or certification in most states. Be that as it may, according to the BLS, some states do require aides to have a license or certificate. This process may include training and passing a background check and competency exam. However, there is no national licensing process for this career. Accordingly, you will need to check with your state board of health for specific requirements.

Because careers involve caring for and serving the elderly, some positions will require CPR certification. Here is the process for becoming CPR certified through the American Heart Association:

  1. Find an accredited CPR certification course. The primary accrediting group for these courses is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
  2. Complete a training session.
  3. Then ,complete a 25-question exam with a score of 84% or higher.
  4. Prove your skills in practice tests such as clearing airways and executing a cardiac massage.

Some gerontology degree online programs train you to become a housing and facilities manager for elderly care and nursing homes. While healthcare managers generally don’t need licensing, those who oversee nursing homes do.

Each state has a different process. Let’s look at the state of Florida as an example. Here are the steps and requirements for obtaining Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) licensure in Florida:

  1. Complete at least a bachelor’s degree.
  2. Subsequently pass a criminal background check.
  3. Then, complete Administrator in Training (AIT) requirements (At least 1,000 hours).
  4. Pass the Florida Nursing Home Administrator Laws and Rules Examination.
  5. Pass the Florida Nursing Home Administrator Examination.

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Careers After Online Gerontology Programs

Because a gerontology degree online can lead to many careers, it’s difficult to say how much you’ll earn or where the best jobs will be. However, we can look at a few trends among these essential professions.

One of the most common themes is growth. The expected growth for all careers between 2021 and 2031 is 5%. However, many healthcare careers, especially ones tied to senior care, are expected to see much more significant rises.

Here is the expected growth (2021 to 2031) for some of the most common careers:

  • Medical Services Manager: 28%
  • Home Health Aid: 25%
  • Health Information Technologist: 17%
  • Occupational Therapist: 14%
  • Medical Records Specialist: 7%

With a growing population, there will consequently be a need for people trained in gerontology and aging issues.

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Online Gerontology Degree Salary

Many of the careers fostered by online gerontology programs bring excellent salaries:

  • Medical Services Manager: $101,340
  • Occupational Therapist: $85,570
  • Health Information Technologist: $55,560
  • Medical Records Specialist: $46,660
  • Home Health Aid: $29,670

When looking at salaries, keep in mind that some of these professions do not require advanced education. Home health aides have a median salary of $29,430 annually, for example, but the career only requires a high school diploma and training. Meanwhile, the top 10% in this profession earn over $37,000.

Medical records specialists provide another example. The career only requires a post-secondary certificate, yet the top 10% earn over $74,200.

Start an Online Gerontology Degree Today!

Review available gerontology degree online options and submit your information today. All of the online gerontology degrees listed in our database are regionally or nationally accredited and available with at least 80% online learning, and many are offered entirely online. These are high-quality accredited online gerontology programs from top institutions, so take a look and start your journey toward a career in gerontology today!

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