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The health care industry is one of the fastest growing industries nationwide. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, more than eight million people work in health-related occupations in the United States, and projected
employment in this industry is expected to reach over thirteen million by the year 2008. Health care
professionals work in a multitude of areas. The majority of health care workers are employed in hospitals while the
remainder are employed by clinics, laboratories, nursing homes, research institutes, public health services, mental
health facilities, private medical practices, and pharmaceutical companies. Employment can also be found in
schools, government, private business and industry, and the Armed Forces.
This manual provides a general description of many of the hundreds of careers in nursing and allied health. This
manual also includes a listing of local accredited training programs for most allied health occupations. The
student interested in a health-related career who finds it impossible or undesirable to meet the high costs and
standards of education required by medical and dental schools should investigate a career in allied health. These
careers represent excellent job opportunities in the ever-expanding health care industry and provide many of the
same satisfactions, challenges, and benefits that are experienced by physicians, dentists, veterinarians,
chiropractors, podiatrists, optometrists, and other professional medical practitioners - but with less expensive,
shorter and less rigorous training requirements.
Why Choose a Career in Health Care?
Careers in health care are rewarding as well as challenging. Health care professionals receive a great deal of
satisfaction by helping other people maintain or regain their health. Health careers also provide individuals with
a strong sense of responsibility in knowing that what they are doing is important. Whether it's saving a life,
delivering a baby, drawing blood or taking a chest X-ray, the health professional is a vital link in rendering
patient care. The technical skill and knowledge, as well as the human aspect of compassion and concern for people
in need, is all part of being a member of the health care team.
Why is the Health Care Industry Experiencing Explosive Growth? The reason for the present expansion in health care
services is primarily a result of the aging population. Today, people are living longer than ever before and as a
result of this increase in the aging population, people are much sicker and recuperate at a much slower pace.
Advancements in medical technology have also created a need for additional skilled allied health personnel. As
medical research continues to develop new and specialized techniques and procedures for diagnosing, treating, and
preventing diseases, illnesses, and injuries, the demand for health care professionals will only increase. Though
certain careers in allied health have been traditionally held solely by either men or women in the past, that trend
is now changing. Both men and women have equal opportunities for admittance into all training programs, for
receiving financial aid, and for job placement.
What Does it Take to Become a Health Care Professional?
There are certain personal qualifications all health care workers must possess including good health, emotional
stability, and an ability and desire to work with and help the sick and the injured. Health care personnel must
also be accurate, thorough, responsible, sympathetic, versatile, and possess a willingness to keep abreast of new
medical procedures and technical equipment. They must have an interest and aptitude for biological and physical
sciences, and some, especially technologists and technicians, must be able to operate complicated electronic
equipment and delicate instrumentation. Many occupations in allied health, especially those of assistants or aides
who work for physicians in their private practices, are excellent opportunities for persons who wish to work
part-time in a health-related career.
What Education Preparation is Needed?
For the person planning a career in allied health, the education and training he or she receives is of extreme
significance when applying for good, well-paying jobs. Educational requirements vary as much as the range of
careers in allied health, and the selection of an appropriate training program is a major decision that will later
influence job placement opportunities. Educational requirements in allied health vary from one-to-two-months of on
the-job training to graduation from a master's degree program.
This manual has limited its selection of health-related careers to those that require a maximum of a bachelor's
degree as their educational requirement; that is, with practically all of the careers described herein, a student
can be in the work force earning a reasonably good salary within one-to-four years of education after graduation
from high school. However, a few careers listed require further education. Most allied health occupations at the
professional level, such as those of dietitian, physical therapist, and medical record administrator, require
bachelor's degrees to obtain employment in all but supervising, teaching, and research positions where a master's
degree is needed. In most paraprofessional occupations, that is those carried out by technologists, technicians,
and assistants, graduation with an associate degree or certificate awarded by a community (junior) college or
vocational/technical school is required. Aides and auxiliary workers who occupy entry-level positions are usually
trained on-the-job in hospitals and in other health services facilities. It should be noted that the U.S. Armed
Forces offers training in many health career occupations, and persons interested in combining a career in the
military and in health care should contact their local recruiting office.
While the educational requirements vary for each of the health careers, the more education students receive the
greater the opportunity for advancement and career mobility. The lists of educational programs contained in this
manual are comprised, for the most part, solely of local programs that are accredited by their respective
professional associations or societies or by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the
American Medical Association. Graduates from accredited programs have much better chances of being hired for the
jobs they desire, especially as some employers will not hire graduates of non-accredited programs. Graduation from
an accredited program is also often a major criterion for certification or registration with an occupation's
respective professional health association. Persons interested in applying to a specific program should contact the
school as early as possible. Considerable care should be taken in selecting a program, and information should be
obtained on the following:
| Factors to consider when selecting an educational program |
| • |
Entrance prerequisites |
| • |
Length of program |
| • |
Accreditation qualifications |
| • |
Type of degree or certificate offered |
| • |
Tuition and other costs |
| • |
Types of employment obtained by recent graduates |
| • |
Length of time the program has been operating |
| • |
Types of scholarships and financial aid |
| • |
Instructional facilities |
| • |
Faculty qualifications |
The potential student should apply to as many schools as possible to compare this data in different programs. For
the student interested in a career in allied health, this manual mentions recommended courses he or she should take
while in high school. Good high school grades are important, especially in certain occupations where there is
competition for the relatively few training facilities. In general, high school students should study biology,
health, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and English. Being able to communicate effectively is also very important
in health services, and the student should maximize his or her writing and speaking skills. A second language is
often beneficial in applying for certain jobs in some areas of the country, particularly in Chicago.
What About Certification?
Where available, certification or registration by a professional health association is definitely beneficial to the
allied health professional. Certification usually requires graduation from an accredited training program,
successful completion of written or clinical examinations, and some work experience. The benefits of certification,
however, include proof to future employers of the health worker's qualification, accessibility to a greater range
of jobs, higher salaries, and greater potential for job advancement.
What Benefits Can Be Expected?
Most hospital employees work a 36-40 hour week that often includes working on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Overtime is also sometimes required. Fringe benefits for hospital employees usually include paid vacations, health
insurance, and sick leave. Some hospitals even provide free education courses, pension programs, uniforms, and
salaries for on-the-job training. Work surroundings in hospitals and other health care facilities are usually
bright, clean, and comfortable. But even though salaries, fringe benefits, and working conditions are favorable,
the most satisfying reward for most health care professionals is their own personal gratification of being able to
provide humanitarian services to people, to relieve pain and suffering, and to educate and assist people to a
healthier, happier lifestyle. Health care professionals earn starting salaries that are competitive with many other
professions including accounting, sales, marketing, teaching and business. Not only is a background in health care
financially rewarding, but it also provides the basis for a career change to areas such as education, research,
sales, management and corporate administration.
What Can I Do Now?
To develop an interest and prepare for a career in allied health, students should talk with their school guidance
counselors and science teachers or with admissions counselors in schools of allied health. Students should also
visit hospitals and other health facilities and talk with their respective personnel directors. A listing of
several of the area hospitals is located in the resource section of this manual.
Volunteer programs are an excellent way for students to determine if they have the aptitude and interest to enter a
career in the health field. Volunteers actively participate in and perform necessary functions in a variety of
health facilities. Students interested in becoming a volunteer should contact the volunteer office at any hospital.
Membership in student health care organizations is also a valuable way to learn about health careers. One known
organization, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), is a national vocational student organization for
students enrolled in a health occupations education course or instructional program. For information on this
organization, write to: Executive Director, Health Occupations Students of America, Central Community High School,
Breese, IL 62230, (618) 526-4578.
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