HEALTH CAREERS

Secondary Education

Refers to basic preparation in high school

Includes the sciences, social studies, English, and math

Keyboarding and computer skills are necessary

Post-secondary

Education received after gradation from high school

Includes education in technical schools, community colleges, and universities

Depend on many factors Can vary from state to state Some basic standards do exist

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

TYPES OF DEGREES

Associate Bachelor’s Master’s Doctoral

ASSOCIATE

Awarded by technical or community colleges

Requires completion of prescribed two-year course of study

BACHELOR’S

Awarded by college or university Requires completion of prescribed

course of study that usually lasts for four or more years

MASTER’S

Awarded by college or university Requires completion of one or more

years beyond a bachelor’s degree

DOCTORATE

Awarded by college or university Requires completion of two or more

years beyond a master’s degree Some require four to six years of

additional study

CERTIFICATION, REGISTRATION, LICENSURE

Methods used to ensure skill and competency of health care personnel and protect consumer or patient

Certification

Issued by professional organization or government agency that regulates a particular career

Certificate issued if person fulfills requirements of education, performance, and meets standards

Examples

Certified dental assistant Certified laboratory technician Certified medical assistant Certified radiological technician

REGISTRATION

Required in some health careers Done by regulatory body in a health

career area Administer examination and maintain

current list of qualified personnel

EXAMPLES

Registered dietitian Registered respiratory therapist Registered animal technician

LICENSURE

Government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation

Varies from state to state Completes an approved educational

program, pass a state board test, and maintain certain standard to obtain and retain licensure

EXAMPLES

Physicians Dentists Physical therapists Registered nurses

TRAINING

Methods used to ensure skill and competency of health care personnel and protect consumer or patient

ASSISTANT OR AIDE

Usually requires up to one or more years of training that combines classroom and/or on-the-job experience

Examples: dental, medical, or nursing assistant

TECHNICIAN

Usually requires a two year associate degree, special health occupations education, or three to four years on-the-job training

Examples: patient care technician, dental laboratory technician, medical laboratory technician

TECHNOLOGIST

Usually requires three to four years of college plus work experience

Example: medical technologist

PROFESSIONAL

Usually requires four or more years of college and often an advanced degree

Example: medical doctor, dentist

MULTICOMPETENT OR MULTISKILLED WORKER

New trend in health occupations Workers perform in a variety of

occupations Eliminates need for employing specialist

for every aspect of care

EXAMPLES

Combine ECG or EKG technician and EEG technologist

Combine basic skills of radiology, medical laboratory and medical assistant

At times, workers trained in one field receive additional education to work in second or third occupation

ENTREPRENEUR

Individual who organizes, manages, and assumes the risk of a business

Opportunity available in many health occupations

However, even as entrepreneurs, many health professionals must still work under the direction or guidance of doctors

ENTREPRENEUR

Involves risks and requires certain level of education and ability

Satisfying to individual who is well motivated, self-confident, responsible, creative, and independent

Example: physical therapist may work as a hospital employee or work independently in home health industry

CAREERS

Do something that matters.

For yourself.

For others

Allied Health Professions

Also referred to as Health-Related Professions

A cluster of health professions, encompassing as many as 200 health careers

Represent approximately 60% of all health care providers

Professions fall into two categories– technicians (assistants)– therapists/technologists

Allied Health Professions

Athletic Trainer Cardiovascular

Technologist/technician Laboratory

Technologist/technician Cytotechnologist Sonographer Dietrician/nutritionist EMT/Paramedic Genetics Counselor Health Info Manager

Home Care Assistant Medical Assistant Medical Interpreter Nuclear Medicine Tech Nursing Assistant Optician Pathologist’s Assistant Radiological Technician Respiratory Therapist Surgical Technologist

Arts & Humanities

Art Therapist Medical Historian Medical Illustrator Medical Librarian

This health field includes a number of excellent humanities- and arts-based careers

Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture Practitioner

Chiropractor Massage Therapist Naturopathic Doctor

Medical practices, and products that are not considered to be part of conventional medicine

Tend to be strongly prevention-oriented and place a high value on the body's natural ability to heal itself  

Dentistry

Dental Assistant Dental Hygienist Dental Laboratory

Technician Dentist

Health professionals who provide a wide range of oral health care

At the forefront of a range of new developments in dental implants, computer generated imaging, and cosmetic and aesthetic procedures

Medicine

Physician Assistant Physician – M.D. Physician – D.O. Physician Scientist Podiatrist

Diagnose illness and injury, prescribe and administer treatment, and advise patients about how to prevent and manage disease

Two paths to becoming a doctor– allopathic medicine, which

leads to an M.D. (medical doctor)

– osteopathic medicine, which leads to a D.O. (doctor of osteopathic medicine)

Mental Health Psychologist Psychiatrist – M.D. or

D.O. Counselor Social Worker

Involves counseling patients in order to promote their optimum mental health

Help deal with a variety of life stresses and problems

Addiction & substance abuse

Mental health issues Family, parenting or

marital problems Grief, anger, or

depression Behavioral issues

Nursing

Licensed Practical Nurse Registered Nurse Clinical Nurse Specialist Nurse Anesthetist Nurse Midwife Nurse Practitioner Occupational Health

Nurse

Promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness

Wide range of career opportunities

Numerous specialty options -- each of which has its own certification requirements

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy Aide

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapist

Services typically include – Treatment programs to

improve one's ability to perform daily activities

– home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations

– Guidance to family members and caregivers

Optometry

Optometrist Involves everything that has to do with eyes and vision

Examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the eyes and surrounding structures

Treatment of vision problems

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy Aide Pharmacist

"medication experts" concerned with

safeguarding the public's health in matters relating to medication distribution and use and disease state management.

Physical Therapy

Involves using physical methods– Manipulation, traction,

exercise, massage, hot/cold therapy, etc.

– Assess, diagnose, and treat injury, disability or disease

Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist

Public Health

Create healthy communities through education, research, and promotion of healthy lifestyles

Play a key role in emergency preparedness

Behavioral Science Biomedical Practice Biostatistics Epidemiology Maternal & Child Occupational Health Public Health

Practice

Speech-Language-Hearing

Speech Language Pathologist

Audiologist

Specialize in the science of speech, language, and hearing 

Deal with disabilities and conditions related to speech delays or difficulties and hearing loss or limitations

Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Technologist or Technician

Veterinarian

Known for healing ill and injured animals

Resources

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