Health Occupations (Print Version)

MedlinePlus Health Information: A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

Health Occupations

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthoccupations.html

Also called: Also called: Health professions, Medical occupations, Medical professions

Every day, around the clock, people who work in the healthcare industry provide care for millions of people, from newborns to the very ill. In fact, the health care industry is one of largest providers of jobs in the United States. Many health jobs are in hospitals. Others are in nursing homes, doctors' offices, dentists' offices, outpatient clinics and laboratories.

To work in a health occupation, you often must have special training. Some, like doctors, must have more than 4 years of college.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Start Here

Choosing a Career(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/10481.html
LifeWorks(National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Education) - http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/feature/index.htm

Overviews

Career Voyages - Health Care(Dept. of Education, Dept. of Labor) - http://www.careervoyages.gov/healthcare-main.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.careervoyages.gov/healthcare-main.cfm?language=spanish

Latest News

America's Pending Shortage of Cancer Doctors(10/31/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_71124.html
Doctors Often Overestimate Patients' Health Literacy(10/17/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70581.html
Doctors Know Little About Consumer-Directed Health Plans(10/07/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_70167.html
More News on Health Occupations http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_h.html#healthoccupations

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Careers in Diagnostic Radiology(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/careers/index.cfm?pg=diagcareer&bhcp=1
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos096.htm
Cytotechnologist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/cytotech0809.pdf
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/electech0809.pdf
Orthoptist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/orthoptist0809.pdf
Polysomnographic Technologist(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/polytech0809.pdf
Who's Who in the Lab: A Look at Laboratory Professionals(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://labtestsonline.org/lab/who-3.html

Nutrition

Dietitians and NutritionistsLinks to PDF(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm
Frequently Asked Questions about Careers in Dietetics(American Dietetic Association) - http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/SID-5303FFEA-D36F48D2/ada/hs.xsl/career_3203_ENU_HTML.htm

Rehabilitation/Recovery

Art Therapist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/artther0809.pdf
Dance/Movement Therapist(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/dance0809.pdf
Kinesiotherapist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/kinesiother0809.pdf
Massage Therapist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/massther0809.pdf
Music Therapist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/musicther0809.pdf
Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm
Occupational Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm
Physical Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos080.htm
Recreational Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos082.htm
Rehabilitation Counselor(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/rehabcoun0809.pdf
Speech-Language Pathologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos099.htm
What Is a Physiatrist?(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) - http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/what.htm

Specific Conditions

About Critical Care Nursing(American Association of Critical-Care Nurses) - http://www.aacn.org/WD/PressRoom/Content/aboutcriticalcarenursing.pcms?pid=1&&menu=
Anesthesiologist Assistant(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/aa0809.pdf
AspiringDocs.org(Association of American Medical Colleges) - http://www.aspiringdocs.org
Athletic Trainers(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos294.htm
Audiologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos085.htm
Becoming a D.O.(American Osteopathic Association) - http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ost_becomedo
Becoming an MD(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2320.html
Biological Scientists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm
Blindness and Visual Impairment Professions(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/blind0809.pdf
Blood Bank Technology-Specialist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/bloodbank0809.pdf
Cardiovascular Specialists and Your Health Care(American College of Cardiology) - http://www.acc.org/media/patient/cardio.htm
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos100.htm
Career Information: Nuclear Medicine(Society of Nuclear Medicine) - http://interactive.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=946&RPID=193
Careers in Dentistry: Be a Dentist(American Dental Association) - http://www.ada.org/public/careers/beadentist/
Careers in Medical Research(Association of American Medical Colleges) - http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/research.htm
Careers in Public Health(Association of Schools of Public Health) - http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=728
Careers in Radiation Therapy(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/careers/index.cfm?pg=rtcareer&bhcp=1
Careers in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science(American College of Sports Medicine) - Links to PDF - http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search§ion=Careers&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=99
Chiropractors(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos071.htm
Considering a Career in Long Term Care(American Health Care Association) - http://www.longtermcareliving.com/career_options/index.htm
Counselors(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm
Dental Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm
Dental Hygienists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm
Dentists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos072.htm
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos101.htm
Infection Control and Epidemiology--The Profession(Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) - Links to PDF - http://www.apic.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search§ion=Brochures&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=271
International/Global Health(Association of Schools of Public Health) - http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page=739
JAMA Patient Pages: Medical Specialties(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/298/9/1120.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/298/9/1120/DC1/1
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos102.htm
Medical and Health Services Managers(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos014.htm
Medical Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm
Medical Librarianship: A Career Beyond the Cutting EdgeLarge PDF file(Medical Library Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.mlanet.org/pdf/career/eng_cutting_edge_05.pdf
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm
Medical Scientists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos008.htm
Medical Specialty of Anesthesiology(American Society of Anesthesiologists) - http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation/specialty.htm
Medical Transcriptionists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos271.htm
Mental Health Provider Degrees and Certifications(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00077/METHOD=print
Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos165.htm
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos017.htm
Opticians, Dispensing(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos098.htm
Optometrists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm
Orthotist and Prosthetist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/orthopros0809.pdf
Osteopathic Medicine(American Osteopathic Association) - http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ost_omed
Perfusionist(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/perfus0809.pdf
Personal and Home Care Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos173.htm
Pharmacists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm
Pharmacy Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos274.htm
Pharmacy Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos252.htm
Physician Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm
Physicians and Surgeons(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm
Podiatrists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos075.htm
Psychologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm
Public Affairs Specialists: On the FDA's Front Line(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/602_pas.html
Registered Nurses(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm
Resource Guide to Careers in Toxicology(Society of Toxicology) - http://www.toxicology.org/AI/APT/careerguide.asp
Respiratory Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos084.htm
Science Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos115.htm
So You Want to Be a Forensic Scientist!(American Academy of Forensic Sciences) - http://www.aafs.org/default.asp?section_id=resources&page_id=choosing_a_career
Social and Human Service Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos059.htm
Staff Career Opportunities in Orthodontics(American Association of Orthodontists) - http://www.braces.org/studentsteachers/careers/staffcareers.cfm
Surgical Assistant(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/40/surgassist0809.pdf
Surgical Technologists(Bureau of Health Professions) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos106.htm
Veterinarians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos076.htm
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos183.htm
What Is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)?(American Osteopathic Association) - http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ado_whatis
What Is a Rheumatologist?(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/rheumatologist.asp?aud=pat
Also available in Spanish http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/rheumatologist-esp.asp?aud=pat
What Is an Endocrinologist?(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/public/endocrinologist.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.hormone.org/Spanish/que_es_un_endocrinologo.cfm
What Is an Otolaryngologist?(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery) - http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/otolaryngologist.cfm

Related Issues

Ergonomics: Occupational Therapy in the Workplace(American Occupational Therapy Association) - http://www.aota.org/Consumers/Tips/Work/Ergonomics/35176.aspx

Financial Issues

Paying for Medical School(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2372.html
Scholarships and Financial Aid Resources for Nursing Students(American Association of Colleges of Nursing) - http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/financialaid.htm
Student Assistance Programs(Bureau of Health Professions) - http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/

Genetics

Career in Genetic Counseling(National Society of Genetic Counselors) - http://www.nsgc.org/career/
Training and Careers in Human Genetics(American Society of Human Genetics) - http://www.genednet.org/pages/career_training.shtml

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Career experiences and perceptions of underrepresented minority medical school faculty. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18807440&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Reaping what we sow: the emerging academic medicine workforce. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18807430&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Science education. And then there was one. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18801978&tool=MedlinePlus
Health Occupations -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(career+choice[majr]+OR+vocational+guidance[majr]+OR+career+mobility[majr]+OR+health+occupations[majr:noexp])+AND+english[la]+AND+united+states[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Medical Encyclopedia

health care providers - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=health+care+providers

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Glossary of Osteopathic Terminology(American Osteopathic Association) - Large PDF file - http://www.osteopathic.org/pdf/sir_collegegloss.pdf
How a Physician Becomes Board Certified(American Board of Medical Specialties) - http://www.abms.org/Who_We_Help/Consumers/process.aspx
Medical Glossary(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2376.html

Directories

American Association of Colleges of Nursing Member Schools(American Association of Colleges of Nursing) - http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Memberservices/membdir.htm
CAAHEP Accredited Program Search (Allied Health)(Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) - http://www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx
Member Medical Schools(Association of American Medical Colleges) - http://services.aamc.org/memberlistings/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.search&search_type=MS
Search for NLNAC Accredited Nursing Programs(National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission) - http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/directory_search.htm

Organizations

Bureau of Health Professions - http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/
Bureau of Labor Statistics - http://www.bls.gov/
National Institute of Nursing Research - http://www.ninr.nih.gov/

Newsletters/Print Publications

Health Professions E-letter(American Medical Association) - http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2302.html

Statistics

Fastest Growing Occupations(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocotjt1.htm
Health Care(Bureau of Labor Statistics) - http://stats.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm
United States Health Workforce Personnel Factbook(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/factbook.htm

Children

Learn More about Pediatric Subspecialists(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/family/pedspecfactsheets.htm

Teenagers

Snapshots of Science and Medicine: People Doing Science(National Institutes of Health) - http://science-education.nih.gov/snapshots.nsf/Titles?openform&pds

Seniors

Careers in Aging(Gerontological Society of America) - http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/
Role of the Geriatric Psychiatrist(Geriatric Mental Health Foundation) - http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/factsheets/geriatric_psychiatrist.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/factsheets/geriatric_psych_span.html
Why Geriatrics as a Career Choice?(American Geriatrics Society) - Links to PDF - http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/geristudents/whygeriatrics4.pdf

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Choosing a Doctor or Health Care Service - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/choosingadoctororhealthcareservice.html
Health System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthsystem.html

Date last updated: November 03 2008

Topic last reviewed: October 09 2008