Health Occupations Chapter 3: Careers in Health Care

Part I: Introduction to Health Careers

Objectives: The student will learn… The educational requirements for an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree. The differences between certification, registration, and licensure.

A. Educational Requirements Education requirements for health careers depend on many factors and can vary from state to state. Basic preparation begins in high school (secondary education) and should include the sciences, social studies, English, and mathematics.

Health Science Technology Education (HSTE) High school programs that can prepare a student for immediate employment in many health careers or for additional education after graduation (Post secondary education). Post secondary education (education after high school) can include training in a career/ technical school, community college, or university.

Types of Degrees Associate degree- Awarded by career/ technical school or community college and requires completion of prescribed two year course of study. Bachelor’s degree- Awarded by a college or university and requires completion of prescribed course of study usually lasting four or more years.

Degrees continued… Master’s degree- Awarded by a college or university and requires completion of two or more years beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctorate, doctoral, or doctor’s degree- awarded by a college or university and requires completion of two or more years beyond a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Some can require 4-6 years of additional study.

The Health Science Career Cluster Each of you selected a career cluster in homeroom during your freshman year. Many of you may have changed your cluster several times as you have advanced through high school. The National Consortium on Health Science and Technology Education (NCHSTE) developed our health science career cluster.

Health Science Career Cluster continued… The Health Science Career Cluster allows a student to see how early career awareness and exploration provide the foundation for making informed choices to prepare for a career in health care. Students who take required courses in middle school and high school have the foundation for success at the postsecondary level.

B. Certification, Registration, and Licensure Certification, registration, and licensure are methods used to ensure the skill and competency of health care personnel and to protect the consumer or patient.

Certification, Registration, and Licensure continued… Certification- means that a person has fulfilled requirements of education and performance and meets the standards and qualifications established by professional association or government agency that regulates a particular career. Examples of certified positions include certified dental assistant, certified laboratory technician, and certified medical assistant.

Certification, Registration, and Licensure continued some more… Registration- This is performed by a regulatory body (professional association, or state board) that administers examinations and maintains a current list (“registry”) of qualified personnel in a given health care area. Examples of registered respiratory therapist, and registered radiologic technologist.

And more… Licensure- is a process whereby a government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation. Health care careers requiring licensure can vary form state to state. Obtaining and retaining licensure usually requires that a person complete and approved educational program, pass a state board test, and maintain certain standards.

Little bit more… Examples of licensed positions include physician, dentist, physical therapist, registered nurse, and licensed practical/ vocational nurse.

Accreditation For most health careers, graduation from an accredited program is required before certification, registration or licensure will be granted. Accreditation ensures that the program of study meets the established quality competency standards and prepares students for employment in the health career.

Accreditation continued… It’s important for students to make sure the learning center is accredited before enrolling. 2 major accrediting agencies are: ◦ CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) ◦ ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools)

Continuing Education Units CEU’s are required to renew licenses or maintain certification or registration in many states. Individuals must obtain additional hours of education in the specific health care career during a specified period of time. Ex. Louisiana requires EMT’s to have 72 hours of CEU’s every two years to renew their certification.

C. Training Training for most health care careers can by categorized into four levels: ◦ 1. Professional ◦ 2. Technologist or Therapist ◦ 3. Technician ◦ 4. Aide or Assistant

Training continued… Professional- Usually four or more years of college and an advanced degree. ◦ Examples include medical doctor, dentist Technologist or Therapist- Requires three or four years of college in addition to work experience, usually a bachelor’s and sometimes a master’s degree ◦ Examples include medical laboratory technologist, physical therapist, speech therapist.

More Training… Technician- Usually requires a two year associate degree, special health science technology education (HSTE), or three to four years of on the job training. ◦ Examples include dental laboratory technician, medical lab technician, surgical technician.

Little more training… Assistant or aide- Usually requires up to one or more years of training that combines classroom and/ or on-the-job experience. ◦ Examples include dental, medical, or nurse assistants.

D. Multicompetent or Multiskilled Worker Because of high health care costs, smaller facilities and rural areas often cannot afford to hire a specialist for every aspect of care. Workers are hired who can perform a variety of health care skills. Ex. Electrocardiograph Technician (records electrical activity of heart) may also be certified as a Electroencephalographic Technologist (records electrical activity of brain)

E. Entrepreneur Entrepreneur- is an individual who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business. Some health care careers allow individuals to work as an independent entrepreneur and others encourage the use of groups of cooperating individuals. Ex. Dental laboratory technicians, dental hygienists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants etc. (Bippo’s is an example)

F. National Health Care Skill Standards (NHCSS) NHCSS were developed to indicate knowledge and skills expected of health care workers primarily at the entry and technical levels.

There are seven groups of standards: ◦ 1. Health Care Core Standards ◦ 2. Therapeutic/ Diagnostic Core Standards ◦ 3. Therapeutic Cluster Standards ◦ 4. Diagnostic Cluster Standards ◦ 5. Health Informatics Services Cluster Standards ◦ 6. Support (Environmental) Services Cluster Standards ◦ 7. Biotechnology Research and Development Standards

Health Care Core Standards- Specify the knowledge and skills that most health care workers should have. Therapeutic/ Diagnostic Core Standards- Specify the knowledge and skills required to focus on direct patient care in both the therapeutic and diagnostic health care careers. Diagnostic Cluster Standards- Specify the knowledge and skills required of workers in health care careers that are involved in creating a picture of the health status of the patient at a single point in time.

Health Informatics Services Cluster Standards- Specify the knowledge and skills required of workers in health care careers that are involved with the documentation of patient care. Support (Environmental) Services Cluster Standards- Specify the knowledge and skills required of workers in health care careers that are involved with creating a therapeutic environment to provide direct or indirect patient care.

Biotechnology Research and Development Standards- Specify the knowledge and skills required of workers in health care careers that are involved in bioscience research and development.

SUMMARY Different health occupations require different levels of education. Some careers require certification, registration, or licensure. Requirements vary from state to state. Student must obtain information pertinent to an individual state.

SELF-EVALUATION What is an HSTE program? What is the difference between secondary and postsecondary education? How many years of education are required for an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degree? How are certification, registration, and licensure different?

SELF EVALUATION CONTINUED What is a multicompetent worker? What is an entrepreneur? What are the National Health Care Skill Standards (NHCSS) and why do they exist?

END OF PART I