The possibilities are endless! Opportunities in healthcare range from becoming a doctor to a nursing assistant. There are many types of educational programs for careers in healthcare. For all of the programs, you must first complete high school! Programs range from quick - usually a few weeks (certifications), to 2-3 year programs and 4 year (or longer) programs.
Some things to think about before you get started:
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A hospital is always open and therefore needs many different kinds of people to keep it operating around the clock |
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Hospitals are not the only places you can work if you choose healthcare. People also work in a person's home, in a doctor's office, in a laboratory, in an ambulance, plus many, many more. |
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Did you know there are over 250 healthcare careers? |
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Can you imagine someone working for free? Well that is what will happen if there were no Human Resources Departments within organizations. This type of work does not involve patient care at all - and in some cases these people will never see a patient or even be in the hospital setting. |
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There are many types of education for careers in healthcare. They range from quick programs - usually a few weeks (certifications), 2-3 year programs and 4 year (or longer) programs |
What are the Hot Jobs for healthcare in North Carolina?
Listed below are a number of hot job categories for healthcare careers in North Carolina.
You can find more detailed information about the individual careers under each category by
going to nchealthcareers.com (The North Carolina AHEC healthcareers Web site).
| Clinical Laboratory Science |
Military healthcare |
| Dentistry |
Nursing |
| Dietetics and Nutrition |
Pharmacy |
| Health Information & Communication |
Public Health |
| Health Services Administration |
Radiology |
| Medical Careers |
Science and Engineering |
| Medical Office Personnel |
Special Technologies & Services |
| Mental Health Professionals |
Therapy |
| Veterinary Medicine |
Vision Care |
Types of healthcare Careers
healthcare Educational Programs
Many things will go into helping you make the decision in selecting your career. We have already talked about passions, but another factor is the length of time and type of program to get the degree/certification you desire. Take a look at the various programs available for careers in healthcare.
| GED/ H.S. Diploma |
12-24 months |
2-3 years |
4-6 years |
| Certified Nursing Assistant |
Surgical Technologist |
Registered Nurse |
Registered Nurse |
| Phlebotomist |
Licensed Practical Nurse |
Radiologic Technologist |
Registered Dietician |
| Dental Assistant |
Pharmacy Technician |
Respiratory Therapist |
Registered Occupational Therapist |
| Medical Assistant |
Occupational Therapy Assistant |
Medical Laboratory Technician |
Psychologist |
| Cardiovascular Technician |
Physical Therapy Assistant |
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Medical Technologist |
| Paramedic |
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| 5-8 years |
7-11 years |
8-9 years |
| Physician Assistant |
Audiologist |
Dentist |
| Physical Therapist |
Psychologist |
Pharmacist |
| Nurse Practitioner |
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Doctor of Medicine |
For more information on any of the above jobs, check out nchealthcareers.com (The North Carolina AHEC healthcareers Web site)
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