Are you interested in a career in the health profession?
Knowing where to begin your search can feel overwhelming. The goal of this site is to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to help you explore the numerous health career paths. The opportunities are endless when it comes to the health sciences fields. There are jobs that require different levels of education and training and offer a wide range of starting salaries. You can have a real impact on the health of the community you serve. Once you narrow down what you might like to explore further, you can gain hands-on experience in the health profession of your choice by finding a pathway program that matches your interests. To jump straight to searching the inventory of pathway programs, click here.
Ten reasons why a health career Heading link
There are many reasons to pick a career in one of the various health professions. Here are 10 reasons why choosing a health career could be right for you:
You'll enjoy job security
Unlike many industries that are losing workers, the healthcare field is growing rapidly. The U.S. Department of Labor expects healthcare generated three million new wage and salary jobs between 2006-16, more than any other industry. Dozens of health careers have good or excellent job prospects, meaning you’ll never have trouble finding a job.
You will do work that interests you
A career in health can lead in many directions. You can treat patients in an office or study cells under a microscope. You can work in a small doctor’s office or run a hospital. You can examine eyes, mend bones, clean teeth or deliver babies. The range of skills and experiences is limited only by your imagination.
You can live and work anywhere you want
Almost every region of the United States has a strong demand for healthcare professionals in a wide range of fields. As a trained health worker, you can choose where you want to live in the setting you want to work in.
You can find a health career that fits your educational plans
There are health careers that require eight 10, even 13 years of specialized education after high school, and there are health careers you can train for in 18 to 24 months at your local community college. Search for health careers that fit your educational plans.
You can learn by reading and doing
Many health career training programs involve both classroom lectures and hands-on learning opportunities. You may spend time in a lab, do a summer internship in a community clinic or do a clinical rotation in a bustling hospital to hone your technical and patient care skills. There are even hands-on learning programs for high school and college students who haven’t decided on a career.
You can get help to pay for school
Hundreds of scholarships, financial aid programs, grants and student loans are available to help aspiring healthcare workers pay for school.
You'll have a clear path to advancement
It costs employers less to promote a trusted worker than to hire someone new. Many employers will reimburse educational expenses and even give you time off to go to school so you can qualify for a higher-paying position.
You'll earn a good salary
Healthcare workers make good money. The average entry-level health worker earns from $15 to $50 per hour. The more experience and training you get in your field, the more money you can make.
You can work with people (or not)
Do you prefer to work alone or on a team? Are you more comfortable working with people or with information? Whatever your preference, you can find a health career that matches your skills and interests.
You'll make a difference in people's lives
Perhaps the biggest benefit of being a healthcare professional is that you will make a difference in people’s lives. Whether you work as a nurse’s aide, an acupuncturist, a health services administrator or a veterinarian, to name just a few careers, you will be helping to make our world a little healthier, a little safer and a little better.