Health Care

The US Department of Labor sees the health care sector as the fastest-growing employer of Americans for the near future, providing 3 out of every 10 jobs that will be created in the US in the coming years. Health-related employment includes careers in nursing, physical, occupational, and recreational therapy, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, speech pathology, health administration, public health, environmental science, social work, emergency response, health communication, and many more. The most basic health-related specialties require at least two years of post-secondary school education or technical training plus licensure and continuing education. A career in nursing generally requires a 4-year bachelor's degree. A career as a doctor or dentist requires seven years of post-secondary education plus residencies. In addition to professional knowledge and expertise, medical careers demand interpersonal skills and decision-making ability. Medical careers involve constant interaction with patients and professional colleagues, often under stressful circumstances.

Health care careers include:

• Physicians

• Dentists

• Medical scientists and researchers

• Physician assistants and nurse practitioners

• Registered nurses

• Public health specialists

• Physical and occupational therapists

• Forensic science technologists

• Related careers include:

• Health care administrators

• Health care communication specialists

• Translators

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