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 |
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Hospitals are not the only places you can work if you choose healthcare. People also work in doctor's offices, laboratories, ambulance, home healthcare, and many, many more places |
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Talk to your family about how they decided what they wanted to do |
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When you go to the Doctor, talk with the Doctor and the staff... ask them how they made the decision to get into healthcare and their likes and dislikes. |
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Did you know there are over 250 healthcare careers? |
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In some jobs, you will never see a patient or even be in the hospital setting. |
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 get
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 |
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 you may want to check out nchealthcareers.com
(The North Carolina AHEC healthcare careers site).
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