Careers in Health

1
Careers in Health Growing Demand, Growing
Opportunity
Support for ExploreHealthCareers.org is provided
in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey. Site is
administered by the American Dental Education
Association.
2
America needs more health workers
The U.S. population is getting older and living
longer and older people require more health
care services.
By 2030, one-fourth of the U.S. population will
be over age 65
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
U.S. Population (millions)
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
Source U.S. Bureau of the Census
3
Minority health workers are in high demand

• African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans
  are underrepresented in the health care workforce
• Experts believe more diversity in the health
  workforce will improve health care for minorities

• Minority health workers are more likely to
  practice in underserved areas
• Health workers who share the same language and
  culture as their patients can provide more
  effective care

4
Anyone can train to become a health worker

• There are hundreds of different types of health
  careers not just doctor and nurse
• While many health professionals work directly
  with patients, others help maintain records, work
  in labs or manage the office

• Many of the fastest-growing health careers
  require just two years of training after high
  school

5
7 Steps to a Successful Health Career

• Find out if a health career is right for you
• Learn more about health career opportunities
• Find a career that fits your educational plans

• Find out what health workers do
• Start building your resume now
• Dont let money stop you
• Believe in yourself

6
Is a Health Career Right for You?

• Its important to choose a career that you will
  enjoy.
• Think about what you like and what you dont
  like.
• Write a description of your ideal job what
  factors matter most to you?

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
• Point to the Getting Started tab
• Click on Is a Health Career Right for You?

7
Learn more about health career opportunities

• There are hundreds of health careers including
  many jobs you may not have heard about

• Health careers are organized into fields that
  focus on specific areas of health care or certain
  types of patients

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
• Look for the heading Career Explorer
• Click on the field to see a list of health careers

8
Find a career that fits your educational plans

• You can train for many health careers in 2 years
  at your local community college. Other jobs
  require a four-year degree, while some involve up
  to 14 years of education.

• If you want to get to work soon, consider
  training for a job as a health assistant or
  aide

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
• Point to the Career Explorer tab
• Click on Find a Health Career to search for
  careers by salary and education required

9
Find out what health workers do

• Before you choose a career, do some research to
  learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of
  the job.

• Shadow a health worker for a day to see what
  the career is really like.

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
• Use the Career Explorer to find a health career
• Click on working conditions tab to learn more
  about what the job entails

10
Start building your resume now

• Most health careers require a background in
  science take as many science and math courses
  as you can.

• Enroll in a summer program or internship to gain
  more experience in the health field

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
• Point to the Career Explorer tab
• Click on Find a pre-health enrichment program
  to search opportunities by field, program type
  and location

11
Dont let money stop you

• Paying for school is a challenge, but you can get
  financial assistance for college or a training
  program

• Many scholarships, grants and loans are available
  for minority and low-income students

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
• Point to the Career Explorer tab
• Click on Find funding opportunities to search
  financial aid programs by field of study, funding
  type, student ethnicity and state

12
Believe in yourself

• If you can dream it, you can do it
• Picture yourself working in a rewarding health
  career and take the steps to make it happen!

• EHC can help
• Go to www.ExploreHealthCareers.org often
• Youll find profiles of new health careers,
  achievement tips, funding opportunities,
  pre-health enrichment programs and more
• Subscribe to our eNewsletter for ongoing news and
  ideas to help you achieve your goals