How to Become a Gerontologist in Nevada - NV

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: July, 20 2010

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the Nevada State Health Division oversees licenses for facilities under the general umbrella of nursing homes and long-term care, hospice care, hospitals, medical facilities, clinics and surgical centers themselves. Gerontologists as a profession are not regulated by the Nevada licensing board. However students are advised to seek certification in gerontology to boost their qualifications for careers in this growing profession.

In addition to attaining advanced degrees, there are several options to become a gerontologist in Nevada and attain a gerontology certificate, which is recognized nationally as a Program of Merit signifying excellence and a quality education studying the elderly.

The gerontology certificate program offers a specialization in aging to complement a student’s major field of study. There are 18 credits of required core courses, including three credits of field experience that must be approved in advance, along with an additional six credits that are to be selected from a list of approved electives.

There are also web-based online gerontology certificate programs available to Nevada residents that target aspiring and practicing professionals who cannot easily attend bricks-and-mortar educational institutions. This particular track to becoming a gerontologist requires 24 credits, nine in core courses such as the psychology of aging and counseling older adults, nine in electives and six in field work.