HEALTH CAREERS

Secondary Education n Refers to basic preparation in high school n Includes the sciences, social studies, English, and math n Keyboarding and computer skills are necessary

Post-secondary n Education received after gradation from high school n Includes education in technical schools, community colleges, and universities

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

TYPES OF DEGREES n Associate n Bachelor’s n Master’s n Doctoral

ASSOCIATE n Awarded by technical or community colleges n Requires completion of prescribed two- year course of study

BACHELOR ’ S n Awarded by college or university n Requires completion of prescribed course of study that usually lasts for four or more years

MASTER ’ S n Awarded by college or university n Requires completion of one or more years beyond a bachelor’s degree

DOCTORATE n Awarded by college or university n Requires completion of two or more years beyond a master’s degree n 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 n Issued by professional organization or government agency that regulates a particular career n Certificate issued if person fulfills requirements of education, performance, and meets standards

Examples n Certified dental assistant n Certified laboratory technician n Certified medical assistant n Certified radiological technician

REGISTRATION n Required in some health careers n Done by regulatory body in a health career area n Administer examination and maintain current list of qualified personnel

EXAMPLES n Registered dietitian n Registered respiratory therapist n Registered animal technician

LICENSURE n Government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation n Varies from state to state n Completes an approved educational program, pass a state board test, and maintain certain standard to obtain and retain licensure

EXAMPLES n Physicians n Dentists n Physical therapists n Registered nurses

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

ASSISTANT OR AIDE n Usually requires up to one or more years of training that combines classroom and/or on-the-job experience n Examples: dental, medical, or nursing assistant

TECHNICIAN n Usually requires a two year associate degree, special health occupations education, or three to four years on- the-job training n Examples: patient care technician, dental laboratory technician, medical laboratory technician

TECHNOLOGIST n Usually requires three to four years of college plus work experience n Example: medical technologist

PROFESSIONAL n Usually requires four or more years of college and often an advanced degree n Example: medical doctor, dentist

MULTICOMPETENT OR MULTISKILLED WORKER n New trend in health occupations n Workers perform in a variety of occupations n Eliminates need for employing specialist for every aspect of care

EXAMPLES n Combine ECG or EKG technician and EEG technologist n Combine basic skills of radiology, medical laboratory and medical assistant n At times, workers trained in one field receive additional education to work in second or third occupation

ENTREPRENEUR n Individual who organizes, manages, and assumes the risk of a business n Opportunity available in many health occupations n However, even as entrepreneurs, many health professionals must still work under the direction or guidance of doctors

ENTREPRENEUR n Involves risks and requires certain level of education and ability n Satisfying to individual who is well motivated, self-confident, responsible, creative, and independent n 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 n Also referred to as Health-Related Professions n A cluster of health professions, encompassing as many as 200 health careers n Represent approximately 60% of all health care providers n Professions fall into two categories –technicians (assistants) –therapists/technologists

Allied Health Professions n Athletic Trainer n Cardiovascular Technologist/technician n Laboratory Technologist/technician n Cytotechnologist n Sonographer n Dietrician/nutritionist n EMT/Paramedic n Genetics Counselor n Health Info Manager n Home Care Assistant n Medical Assistant n Medical Interpreter n Nuclear Medicine Tech n Nursing Assistant n Optician n Pathologist’s Assistant n Radiological Technician n Respiratory Therapist n Surgical Technologist

Arts & Humanities n Art Therapist n Medical Historian n Medical Illustrator n Medical Librarian n This health field includes a number of excellent humanities- and arts-based careers

Alternative Medicine n Acupuncture Practitioner n Chiropractor n Massage Therapist n Naturopathic Doctor n Medical practices, and products that are not considered to be part of conventional medicine n Tend to be strongly prevention-oriented and place a high value on the body's natural ability to heal itself

Dentistry n Dental Assistant n Dental Hygienist n Dental Laboratory Technician n Dentist n Health professionals who provide a wide range of oral health care n At the forefront of a range of new developments in dental implants, computer generated imaging, and cosmetic and aesthetic procedures

Medicine n Physician Assistant n Physician – M.D. n Physician – D.O. n Physician Scientist n Podiatrist n Diagnose illness and injury, prescribe and administer treatment, and advise patients about how to prevent and manage disease n 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 n Psychologist n Psychiatrist – M.D. or D.O. n Counselor n Social Worker n Involves counseling patients in order to promote their optimum mental health n Help deal with a variety of life stresses and problems n Addiction & substance abuse n Mental health issues n Family, parenting or marital problems n Grief, anger, or depression n Behavioral issues

Nursing n Licensed Practical Nurse n Registered Nurse n Clinical Nurse Specialist n Nurse Anesthetist n Nurse Midwife n Nurse Practitioner n Occupational Health Nurse n Promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness n Wide range of career opportunities n Numerous specialty options -- each of which has its own certification requirements

Occupational Therapy n Occupational Therapy Aide n Occupational Therapy Assistant n Occupational Therapist n 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 n Optometrist n Involves everything that has to do with eyes and vision n Examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the eyes and surrounding structures n Treatment of vision problems

Pharmacy n Pharmacy Technician n Pharmacy Aide n Pharmacist n "medication experts" n concerned with safeguarding the public's health in matters relating to medication distribution and use and disease state management.

Physical Therapy n Involves using physical methods –Manipulation, traction, exercise, massage, hot/cold therapy, etc. –Assess, diagnose, and treat injury, disability or disease n Physical Therapist Assistant n Physical Therapist

Public Health n Create healthy communities through education, research, and promotion of healthy lifestyles n Play a key role in emergency preparedness n Behavioral Science n Biomedical Practice n Biostatistics n Epidemiology n Maternal & Child n Occupational Health n Public Health Practice

Speech-Language-Hearing n Speech Language Pathologist n Audiologist n Specialize in the science of speech, language, and hearing n Deal with disabilities and conditions related to speech delays or difficulties and hearing loss or limitations

Veterinary Medicine n Veterinary Technologist or Technician n Veterinarian n Known for healing ill and injured animals

Resources n Health Careers in Georgia Health Careers in Georgia n Explore Health Careers Explore Health Careers n Lifeworks Lifeworks n Career One Stop Career One Stop