Did you know ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å 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 (ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åA), offers a fast-track path to a rewarding career, with graduates entering the workforce in less than two years. 

  • ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åA’s program is also offered at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ (ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åF) Community and Technical College, in cooperation with the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åA'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, ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°åA 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 ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å's healthcare programs.

By the numbers:
With projections indicating a need for 4,500 new healthcare jobs over the next decade, ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å's commitment to meeting Alaska's healthcare demands is more crucial than ever.

  • The University of Alaska 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, ÂÌÅ«Ì컨°å's role in training skilled professionals will continue to be indispensable. 

Go deeper:

2023 Workforce Report - Health Programs