Chapter 2: Overview of Health Care Careers

Career Planning in Health Care Resources Career section of school or public library Librarian Books on occupation: overview & specific Databases Lists of web sites Occupational Outlook Handbook Web sites of schools & professional organizations Interviews & job-shadowing with health care professionals

Career Planning in Health Care (cont’d) Educational Requirements Graduation from accredited school Accreditation: recognition by outside agency as having standards that qualify graduates for professional practice Places to obtain training 4-year universities 2-year community colleges Technical institutions & hospital-based schools Trade schools & private schools The military

Career Planning in Health Care (cont’d) Licensure Granting of authority by a state to work in a given profession Required for many health care professions State sets guidelines & limitations Agency issues & renews license Typically requires: Graduation from accredited school Passing state exam

Career Planning in Health Care (cont’d) Registration Requires: Graduation from accredited school Passing standardized national exam by nongovernmental agency Administered by professional organization National registries verify a potential employee’s status

Health Care Careers Five Career Clusters Therapeutic services Diagnostic services Health informatics Support services Biotechnology research and development

Therapeutic Services: Physicians and Their Assistants Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Physicians Bachelor’s + MD + 3-8 yr intern. or residency L 661,400 22% $186,044 (general) $339,738 (special.) Physician assistants Bachelor’s 74,800 39% $81,230 Medical assistants 1- to 2-yr program N/A 470,000 34% $28,300 Surgical technologists 9-mo to 2-yr program 91,500 25% $38,740

Therapeutic Services: Physical and Occupational Therapy Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Physical therapists (PT) Master’s or doctorate L 185,500 30% $72,790 PT assistants Associate’s 64,000 33% $46,140 Occupational therapists Master’s 104,500 26% $66,780 OT assistants 26,600 $48,230

Therapeutic Services: Orthotics and Prosthetics Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Mean Salary Orthotists/prosthetists Bachelor’s + residency L (in some states) 5,900 Faster than avg. $64,300

Therapeutic Services: Respiratory Therapy Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Respiratory therapists (PT) Associate’s at least; Bachelor’s or Master’s is preferred L 106,000 21% $52,200

Therapeutic Services: Emergency Care Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Hourly Wage Paramedics 1- to 2-yr training program N/A 210,700 9% $14.10/hr Emergency medical technicians Varies, depending on level Same as above

Therapeutic Services: Nursing Care Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Registered nurses BS (4 yr) or Assoc. (2-3 yr) or dipl. (3 yr) L 2.6 million 22% $62,450 Licensed practical nurses Training program (1 yr) 750,000 21% $39,030 Nursing assistants High school diploma N/A 1.5 million 19% $11.46/hr Home health aides HS diploma not necessary 921,700 50% $9.84/hr

Therapeutic Services: Hearing and Speech Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Audiologists Master’s; some states require doctorate L 12,800 25% $62,030 Audiometric technicians HS diploma or GED Varies -- Speech-lang. pathologists Master’s 119,300 19% $62,930 Speech-lang. path. assists. Associate’s

Therapeutic Services: Eye Care Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Ophthalmologists Bachelor’s + MD + 3 yr residency L -- Optometrists Bachelor’s + doctorate of optometry 34,800 24% $96,320 Ophthalmic medical technicians HS diploma or GED N/A 119,300 19% $62,930

Therapeutic Services: Athletic Training Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Athletic trainers Bachelor’s; 70% have Master’s or more L or R 16,300 37% $39,640

Therapeutic Services: Pharmacy Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Pharmacists Doctorate L 268,900 17% $106,410 Pharmacy technicians 6-mo to 2-yr program Varies 381,200 25% $13.32/hr

Therapeutic Services: Dentistry Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Dentists Doctorate L 141,900 16% $142,870 Dental hygienists Associate’s 174,100 36% $66,570 Dental assistants 1-yr program; certificate or diploma L or R in some states 295,300 $32,380 Dental lab technicians on-job training; Associate’s N/A 46,000 14% $34,170

Therapeutic Services: Chiropractic, Massage, and Nutrition Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Chiropractors 4-yr chiropractic school L 49,100 20% $66,490 Massage therapists Massage program L or R 122,400 19% $16.78/hr Dieticians Bachelor’s or Master’s 60,300 9% $50,590 Dietetic technicians Associate’s 25,200 44% $18.75/hr

Therapeutic Services: Psychology Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Psychologists Bachelor’s + doctorate L 178,200 12% $64,140 Social workers Bachelor’s; Master’s in some positions L or R 642,000 $30,000 to $60,000

Therapeutic Services: Veterinary Care Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Veterinarians Doctorate L 59,700 34% $79,050 Veterinary technicians Associate’s; some bachelor’s L or R 80,000 36% $28,900

Diagnostic Services: Cardiology Diagnostics Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Cardiovascular technologists 2-yr or 4-yr training program N/A 49,500 24% $47,010 Cardiographic technicians 1-yr to 2-yr training program -- $22,760 (EKGs) $27,060 (other tests)

Diagnostic Services: Laboratory Science Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Electroneuro-diagnostic technologists Associate’s Varies -- $48,173 Clinical lab technologists Bachelor’s L or R 172,400 12% $53,500 Clinical lab technicians 155,600 16% $35,380 Lab assistants HS diploma; 9- to 18-mo program $28,080

Diagnostic Services: Pathology Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Pathologists Bachelor’s + MD + 4-yr residency L -- $150,000 Pathologist assistants Bachelor’s + Master’s Varies $72,008

Diagnostic Services: Phlebotomy Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Phlebotomists HS diploma + various training N/A -- $27,040

Diagnostic Services: Imaging Sciences Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Radiologists Bachelor’s + MD + 4- to 5-yr residency L -- $438,115 Radiologic technologists/ radiographers Associate’s 214,700 17% $52,210 CT technologists $56,180 MR technologists N/A $59,677

Diagnostic Services: Imaging Sciences (cont’d) Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Diagnostic medical sonographers Associate’s or bachelor’s N/A 50,300 18% $61,980

Diagnostic Services: Nuclear Medicine Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary PET technologists Associate’s or bachelor’s N/A 50,300 18% $61,980 Nuclear medicine technologists Varies --

Health Informatics Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Health services administrators Bachelor’s + master’s N/A 283,500 16% $80,240 Medical librarians -- $60,000 Health educators Bachelor’s 66,200 18% $44,000 Health information coders On the job or associate’s 172,500 20% $44,750

Health Informatics (cont’d) Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Medical billers On the job or associate’s N/A -- 15% $30,950 Health information technicians Associate’s R 172,500 20% $30,610 Medical transcriptionists Associate’s or 1-yr cert. program 105,200 11% $15.41/hr

Support Services Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Biomedical engineers Bachelor’s or master’s (engineering) N/A 16,000 72% $77,400 Biomedical/ clinical technicians Associate’s or bachelor’s R -- 27% $41,520 Industrial hygienists Bachelor’s or master’s L in some states 11% $94,947

Biotechnology Research and Development Occupation Ed. Lic. (L) or Reg. (R) # in 2008 Est. Growth ’08-18 Median Salary Microbiologists Bachelor’s for entry-level; PhD or MD N/A 16,900 -- $64,350 Medical scientists Bachelor’s + PhD + MD L 109,400 40% $72,590 Research scientists Bachelor’s + PhD 87,000 21% $82,840 Research assistants Associate’s or Bachelor’s 79,500 18% $18.46/hr