Healthcare is one of the broadest career fields in the United States. While doctors and nurses may be the first professions that come to mind, healthcare organizations also employ medical assistants, laboratory professionals, therapists, health information specialists, counselors, healthcare managers, public health professionals, technicians, and many others.
That range gives prospective students a lot of options. You can work directly with patients, support their care behind the scenes, manage healthcare operations, work with medical technology and data, or help improve the health of entire communities.
The education required varies just as much. Some healthcare careers can be entered with a healthcare certificate or other short-term training, while others require a healthcare-related degree. Advanced roles such as physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, and psychologists require graduate or professional degrees.
This guide explores the different types of healthcare careers, the education they require, where they are typically found, and how to choose a healthcare career that fits your interests and goals.
What Is a Healthcare Career?
A healthcare career is any occupation involved in providing, supporting, managing, or improving health services.
Some healthcare professionals work directly with patients. Others perform diagnostic tests, maintain medical records, manage healthcare organizations, analyze health data, or provide administrative and technical support.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups healthcare occupations into several broad categories, including healthcare practitioners and technical occupations and healthcare support occupations. Its Occupational Outlook Handbook includes careers ranging from physicians and registered nurses to medical assistants, laboratory professionals, health information specialists, and emergency medical technicians.
This means that working in healthcare does not necessarily mean working in a hospital or providing hands-on patient care.
For example:
- A registered nurse may provide direct patient care in a hospital.
- A medical laboratory professional may analyze blood or tissue samples without spending much time with patients.
- A health information technologist may work primarily with electronic health records and clinical data.
- A healthcare manager may oversee the operations of a medical practice.
- A mental health counselor may provide therapy and behavioral health services.
- A public health professional may work with communities rather than individual patients.
Healthcare and related degrees also lead to careers outside traditional clinical occupations. BLS data show that people with healthcare and related degrees work in healthcare practitioner and technical occupations, management, education, business, and other fields.
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Types of Healthcare Careers
One of the best ways to explore healthcare careers is to start with the type of work you want to do. The following categories can help you narrow your options before you choose a degree or training program.
Nursing Careers
Nursing is one of the largest areas of healthcare employment and includes career paths at several education levels.
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and families, and work in settings ranging from hospitals and physicians’ offices to schools and home healthcare. RNs can enter the profession through several approved education pathways, including associate degree, bachelor’s degree, and diploma programs, although licensing is required.
Other nursing careers include:
- Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Nurse anesthetists
- Nurse midwives
- Nurse educators
- Nurse administrators
- Specialized clinical nurses
Nursing can also provide opportunities to advance without leaving healthcare. For example, an RN may eventually pursue a BSN, graduate nursing degree, or specialized certification depending on career goals.
Explore: Nursing Degrees | Nursing Careers | Online RN-to-BSN Degrees
Medical and Physician Careers
Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and other health conditions. Becoming a physician requires substantially more education and training than most healthcare careers.
Physicians typically complete a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, and several years of internship and residency training. Depending on the specialty, residency may last three to nine years, with additional fellowship training possible for subspecialization.
Healthcare also includes other medical provider roles, such as physician assistants and advanced practice nurses, which have different education, licensing, and scope-of-practice requirements.
Other careers that support physicians and clinical teams include medical assistants and a wide range of diagnostic and technical professionals.
Allied Health Careers
Allied health is a large part of the healthcare workforce and includes many diagnostic, therapeutic, technical, and patient-support occupations.
Examples include:
- Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Radiologic technologists
- Respiratory therapists
- Medical laboratory professionals
- Cardiovascular technologists
- Surgical technologists
- Physical therapist assistants
- Occupational therapy assistants
- Medical assistants
The education required can range from postsecondary certificates to associate and bachelor’s degrees, depending on the allied health career you choose.
For example, medical assistants may enter the field through a certificate program, while some diagnostic and therapeutic occupations require an associate or bachelor’s degree and may also involve professional certification or state licensing.
Your Allied Healthcare Programs guide provides a deeper look at this area of healthcare and the programs that can prepare students for allied health careers.
Behavioral and Mental Health Careers
Healthcare extends beyond physical health. Careers in mental health and behavioral health focus on working with individuals, families, and communities dealing with mental health conditions, substance use, emotional challenges, and other concerns.
Potential careers include:
- Mental health counselors
- Substance abuse counselors
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Psychiatric technicians
- Behavioral health professionals
- Community health workers
- Licensed counselor
Education requirements vary considerably. Some support roles can be entered with shorter postsecondary programs, while licensed counselors, psychologists, and advanced social work professionals generally need graduate-level education and state-specific credentials.
This is an important distinction for students researching psychology or counseling programs: earning a degree in a subject related to mental health does not automatically qualify someone for every mental health profession. Licensing requirements depend on the occupation and state.
Explore: Psychology Degrees | Counseling Degrees | Social Work Degrees
Pharmacy Careers
Pharmacy offers several career paths with very different education requirements.
Pharmacists are highly educated healthcare professionals who dispense medications, counsel patients, and work with other healthcare providers to manage medication therapy. Becoming a pharmacist generally requires a professional doctoral degree.
Pharmacy technicians, on the other hand, typically enter the field through substantially shorter education or training pathways. Their responsibilities include supporting pharmacists with medication preparation, prescription processing, and other pharmacy operations.
This difference makes pharmacy a useful example of why prospective students should research the specific occupation they want before choosing a healthcare program.
Explore: Pharmacy Technician Programs | Pharmacy Careers
Rehabilitation and Therapy Careers
Rehabilitation professionals help people regain, maintain, or improve physical, cognitive, communication, and functional abilities.
Career options include:
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Physical therapist assistants
- Occupational therapy assistants
These occupations have different education requirements. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists generally need graduate-level education, while assistant roles can provide a pathway into rehabilitation with less education.
For someone who enjoys working directly with patients but does not necessarily want to become a nurse or physician, rehabilitation careers can offer another direction to consider.
Healthcare Administration and Management Careers
Not every healthcare professional provides clinical care.
Healthcare organizations also need people who can manage staff, budgets, facilities, operations, compliance, scheduling, patient services, and organizational strategy.
Potential careers include:
- Healthcare administrators
- Medical practice managers
- Health services managers
- Healthcare operations managers
- Clinical managers
- Patient services managers
These careers may be a good fit for someone who wants to work in healthcare but prefers business, leadership, organization, or operations over hands-on clinical work.
A healthcare management or healthcare administration degree is one possible pathway, although employers may also hire candidates with backgrounds in business, health services, public health, or related fields.
Explore: Healthcare Administration Degrees | Healthcare Management Degrees
Health Information and Healthcare Technology Careers
Healthcare increasingly depends on electronic health records, clinical databases, data analysis, information systems, and other technologies.
Careers in this area include:
- Health information technicians
- Health information technologists
- Medical registrars
- Health informatics professionals
- Healthcare data analysts
- Health information managers
- Healthcare IT professionals
- Medical coders
These jobs can appeal to students who are interested in healthcare but would rather work with information, technology, or data than provide direct patient care.
For example, BLS reports that health information technologists and medical registrars analyze clinical data and advise organizations on computerized healthcare systems. The occupation typically requires an associate degree, although education requirements vary, and employment is projected to grow 15% from 2024 to 2034.
That makes health information and informatics particularly interesting for someone who wants to combine healthcare with technology or data.
Public Health Careers
Public health takes a different approach to healthcare by focusing on populations and communities rather than only treating individual patients.
Public health professionals may work on:
- Disease prevention
- Health education
- Community health
- Epidemiology
- Environmental health
- Health policy
- Public health administration
- Community outreach
Possible employers include government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, universities, and community organizations.
A public health career can therefore look very different from working in a hospital. Someone might spend their time analyzing population data, designing health education programs, coordinating community services, or working on disease-prevention initiatives.
Explore: Public Health Degrees
Healthcare Careers by Education Level
The amount of education you want to complete can be one of the most practical ways to narrow your healthcare career options.
There is no single degree required to work in healthcare. Some occupations require a short postsecondary program, while others require many years of education and supervised training.
Healthcare Careers With a Certificate or Short-Term Training
Some healthcare occupations can be entered with a certificate, diploma, or other postsecondary nondegree award.
Examples include:
- Medical assistants
- Pharmacy technicians
- Phlebotomists
- Medical billing and coding professionals
- Emergency medical technicians
- Some patient care support roles
Medical assisting provides one example. BLS reports that medical assistants typically need postsecondary education such as a certificate, although some enter the occupation with a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training.
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are another example of healthcare careers that do not typically require a four-year degree. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education for EMTs and paramedics.
Keep in mind that a “short program” does not necessarily mean an immediate job. Some healthcare occupations have certification examinations, clinical requirements, background checks, or state-specific requirements that students need to complete before they can work.
Healthcare Careers With an Associate Degree
An associate degree can open the door to a number of clinical and technical healthcare careers.
Examples include:
- Registered nurse through an associate-level nursing pathway
- Respiratory therapist
- Diagnostic medical sonographer
- Radiologic technologist
- Physical therapist assistant
- Occupational therapy assistant
- Health information technician
BLS specifically notes that registered nurses may enter the profession through an associate degree in nursing, although RNs must meet licensing requirements.
Associate degrees can be attractive to adult learners who want a healthcare credential that generally takes less time than a bachelor’s degree while still qualifying them for a professional occupation.
However, students should look beyond the degree title. Clinical requirements, prerequisites, program availability, accreditation, certification exams, and state licensing can all affect the actual pathway into a particular occupation.
Healthcare Careers With a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree can prepare students for both clinical and nonclinical healthcare careers.
Examples include:
- Registered nurse through a BSN pathway
- Healthcare administrator
- Health services manager
- Public health professional
- Health informatics professional
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Health information professional
A bachelor’s degree can also serve as the foundation for graduate-level healthcare education.
For example, a student may earn a bachelor’s degree and later pursue graduate education to become a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, counselor, or another advanced healthcare professional.
Healthcare Careers That Require Graduate or Professional Degrees
Some healthcare professions require education beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Examples include:
- Nurse practitioners
- Physician assistants
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Pharmacists
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Some advanced counseling and social work professions
The education required can vary significantly even among careers that appear similar.
For example, a physical therapist generally needs a doctoral-level professional degree, while a physical therapist assistant typically follows a shorter education pathway. Similarly, a physician may spend more than a decade completing undergraduate education, medical school, residency, and potentially fellowship training, while other clinical professionals can enter the workforce much sooner.
Understanding these differences before enrolling in a program can help prevent a common problem: choosing a degree because it sounds related to a desired career without realizing that additional education or licensing is required.
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Healthcare Careers by Work Environment
Where you want to work can be just as important as what you want to do.
Hospital Careers
Hospitals employ a wide range of healthcare professionals, including:
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Medical assistants
- Respiratory therapists
- Laboratory professionals
- Radiologic technologists
- Pharmacists
- Social workers
- Healthcare administrators
- Health information professionals
Hospital work can provide exposure to many specialties, but some clinical positions require nights, weekends, holidays, or on-call availability.
For example, BLS notes that hospital-based nurses commonly work shifts because hospitals provide around-the-clock care.
Clinic and Physician Office Careers
Outpatient clinics and physicians’ offices employ professionals such as:
- Registered nurses
- Medical assistants
- Licensed practical/vocational nurses
- Healthcare administrators
- Medical coders
- Health information professionals
- Behavioral health professionals
These settings may be appealing to people who prefer outpatient care and more predictable schedules, although schedules vary by employer and occupation.
Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Careers
Long-term care facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living communities employ professionals who support people with chronic conditions, disabilities, injuries, and age-related needs.
Careers may include:
- Nurses
- Nursing assistants
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Therapy assistants
- Social workers
- Healthcare administrators
These environments can be particularly suited to professionals who enjoy developing ongoing relationships with patients rather than working with people for only a brief encounter.
School-Based Healthcare Careers
Healthcare professionals also work in schools.
Examples include:
- School nurses
- School-based counselors
- Occupational therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Behavioral health professionals
- Health educators
These careers can combine healthcare with education and community support.
Community and Public Health Careers
Community health organizations, government agencies, nonprofits, and public health departments employ professionals who focus on population health.
Potential roles include:
- Community health workers
- Health educators
- Public health specialists
- Epidemiologists
- Public health administrators
- Outreach coordinators
These careers may be a good fit for someone who wants to improve health outcomes at a community or population level rather than provide one-on-one clinical care.
Healthcare Careers Outside Traditional Clinical Settings
Healthcare work is not limited to hospitals, clinics, and medical offices.
Professionals in health information, informatics, administration, data analysis, coding, healthcare IT, consulting, insurance, and other areas may spend most of their working day in an office or computer-based environment.
For example, BLS reports that health information technologists and medical registrars generally work in office settings and may spend many hours working at a computer.
This creates opportunities for people who want to be part of the healthcare industry without spending their days in a clinical environment.
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Healthcare Careers by Amount of Patient Interaction
Another useful question to ask is: How much do you actually want to work with patients?
Healthcare Careers With Direct Patient Contact
These careers typically involve frequent interaction with patients:
- Registered nurses
- Licensed practical/vocational nurses
- Medical assistants
- Respiratory therapists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Physician assistants
- Physicians
- Emergency medical technicians
If you enjoy building relationships, communicating with people, and providing hands-on care, these types of careers may be worth exploring.
Healthcare Careers With Limited Patient Contact
Some healthcare professionals interact with patients but spend much of their time performing technical or administrative duties.
Examples include:
- Medical laboratory professionals
- Radiologic technologists
- Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Pharmacy technicians
- Health information professionals
The amount of patient interaction can vary significantly by employer and work setting.
Healthcare Careers With Little or No Direct Patient Care
You can work in healthcare without regularly interacting with patients.
Examples include:
- Medical coders
- Health information technologists
- Healthcare data analysts
- Healthcare IT professionals
- Healthcare administrators
- Medical registrars
- Some public health professionals
For example, a health information professional may spend much of the day reviewing clinical data, maintaining systems, and helping healthcare organizations use health information effectively rather than providing direct treatment.
This distinction is particularly useful for people who are interested in healthcare but know they do not want a traditional clinical role.
Healthcare Careers That Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree
A four-year degree is not required for every healthcare career.
The BLS highlighted a number of healthcare occupations in 2026 that typically require less than a bachelor’s degree for entry. Many of these occupations require an associate degree or postsecondary nondegree award.
Examples include:
- Medical assistants
- EMTs and paramedics
- Physical therapist assistants
- Occupational therapy assistants
- Respiratory therapists
- Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Radiologic technologists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Certain health information occupations
This can make healthcare attractive to adults who want to change careers without spending four or more years completing a bachelor’s degree.
However, “doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree” does not mean “requires little education.” Some occupations have demanding associate-degree programs, clinical rotations, certification exams, or state licensing requirements.
For example, becoming an RN does not necessarily require a BSN because an associate degree can be one pathway into the profession. But nursing programs include supervised clinical experience, and graduates must meet their state’s requirements for licensure.
Healthcare Careers With Strong Job Growth
Job growth is another factor to consider when comparing healthcare careers, but it shouldn’t be the only one.
The BLS projects employment growth for individual occupations from 2024 through 2034. For comparison, employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3% during that period.
Some healthcare-related occupations have considerably higher projected growth.
For example:
- Health information technologists and medical registrars: 15% projected growth
- Medical assistants: 12% projected growth
- Registered nurses: 5% projected growth
- Physicians and surgeons: 3% projected growth
These numbers illustrate why looking only at the phrase “healthcare is growing” can be misleading. Growth differs substantially from one occupation to another.
Job openings also matter. Registered nurses, for example, are projected to have about 189,100 openings per year on average from 2024 through 2034, while medical assistants are projected to have about 112,300 annual openings. Many openings reflect the need to replace workers who leave an occupation or retire, not simply newly created positions.
When researching a career, look at several measures together:
- Projected employment growth
- Number of annual job openings
- Median pay
- Education requirements
- Licensing requirements
- Local employment opportunities
- Work environment
- Advancement opportunities
How Much Do Healthcare Professionals Make?
Healthcare salaries vary substantially by occupation.
Education level is one factor, but it is not the only one. Pay can also depend on experience, location, specialty, employer, work setting, and whether a position requires a professional license.
For example, BLS reported the following median annual wages in May 2024:
| Career | Median annual wage |
| Medical assistant | $44,200 |
| EMTs and paramedics | $46,350 |
| Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians | $61,890 |
| Health information technologists and medical registrars | $67,310 |
| Registered nurses | $93,600 |
| Physicians and surgeons | $239,200 or more |
These figures are national medians rather than guaranteed salaries. Actual wages can be higher or lower depending on location and other factors.
Salary should therefore be considered alongside the cost and length of education required to enter the profession.
For example, comparing the salary of a physician with that of a medical assistant without considering their dramatically different education and training requirements doesn’t provide much useful information to someone choosing a career.
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How to Choose a Healthcare Career
There are so many healthcare careers that choosing one can feel overwhelming. Start by narrowing down the type of work you want rather than immediately choosing a degree.
Consider How Much Education You Want
Ask yourself how much time and money you are willing to invest in education.
Would you prefer:
- A certificate or short-term program?
- An associate degree?
- A bachelor’s degree?
- Graduate or professional school?
An adult learner looking for a career change may have very different constraints from a high school graduate planning a long-term professional career.
There is no universally “best” education level. The right choice depends on the occupation you want and your circumstances.
Think About How Much Patient Contact You Want
This can eliminate entire categories of careers.
If you enjoy hands-on interaction, nursing, medical assisting, therapy, emergency medical services, and other clinical careers may be worth exploring.
If you prefer working behind the scenes, consider health information, medical coding, healthcare administration, informatics, data, laboratory work, or healthcare technology.
Consider Your Interests and Strengths
Think about the type of work you naturally enjoy.
- Interested in science and anatomy? Consider nursing, laboratory science, respiratory therapy, diagnostic imaging, or other clinical fields.
- Enjoy technology and computers? Look at health informatics, health information management, healthcare IT, or healthcare data.
- Like working with people? Consider nursing, counseling, medical assisting, social work, rehabilitation, or other patient-facing careers.
- Enjoy organization and leadership? Healthcare administration and management may be worth exploring.
- Want to work with communities rather than individual patients? Look at public health, community health, and health education.
Consider Your Preferred Work Environment
Think beyond the job title.
Would you rather work:
- In a hospital?
- In a physician’s office?
- In a laboratory?
- In a school?
- In a community organization?
- In a rehabilitation facility?
- At a computer?
- In a combination of clinical and administrative settings?
Two healthcare careers can require similar education but provide very different day-to-day experiences.
Check Licensing and Certification Requirements
Do not assume that completing a healthcare degree automatically qualifies you to practice a profession.
Many healthcare occupations have specific licensing, certification, registration, or examination requirements.
These requirements can also vary by state.
Before enrolling in a program, check the requirements for the specific occupation in the state where you intend to work. Professional organizations, state licensing boards, accrediting organizations, and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook can be useful starting points.
How to Start a Career in Healthcare
Once you have identified a few careers that interest you, use a step-by-step approach to compare them.
1. Choose an Occupation
Start with the job you want rather than the degree you think you need.
For example, instead of searching broadly for “healthcare degrees,” decide whether you are more interested in nursing, medical assisting, healthcare administration, health information, physical therapy, or another occupation.
2. Research the Education Requirements
Find out what education the occupation actually requires.
Look at whether you need a certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree, or professional degree.
Also check prerequisites. Some healthcare programs require specific science courses before admission.
3. Check Licensing and Certification Requirements
Determine whether the occupation requires state licensure, national certification, registration, or another credential.
Do this before choosing a program so you can make sure the education you receive meets the requirements for the career you want.
4. Compare Healthcare Programs
Once you know the career pathway, compare programs based on factors such as:
- Program length
- Tuition and fees
- Admission requirements
- Online versus on-campus coursework
- Clinical requirements
- Accreditation
- Certification or licensure preparation
- Graduation and examination outcomes, when available
- Scheduling options
- Transfer opportunities
Online education can be particularly useful for working adults, but many healthcare programs cannot be completed entirely online. Clinical education, laboratory work, internships, or hands-on training may still be required.
5. Complete Your Education and Training
Healthcare programs can include classroom coursework, laboratory experiences, clinical rotations, internships, or supervised practice.
The exact combination depends on the profession.
6. Complete Required Exams or Credentialing
If your profession requires a licensing or certification examination, make sure you understand when and how you qualify to take it.
7. Begin Applying for Healthcare Jobs
Once you meet the education and credentialing requirements, you can begin looking for positions that match your training.
Your first healthcare job does not necessarily have to be your final destination. Many healthcare professions offer opportunities to specialize, move into management, or continue your education.
8. Consider Long-Term Advancement
Healthcare can offer multiple educational pathways.
For example, an RN may pursue a BSN or graduate nursing degree. A healthcare employee working in administration may eventually pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Someone working in health information may move into informatics, management, or data-focused roles.
Understanding potential advancement pathways can help you choose an initial program that fits both your immediate and long-term goals.
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FAQs About Healthcare Careers
What are the different types of healthcare careers?
Healthcare careers include clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, administrative, technological, behavioral health, public health, and support occupations. Examples include nursing, medicine, medical assisting, laboratory science, rehabilitation, counseling, healthcare administration, health information, and public health.
What healthcare careers can I enter with an associate degree?
Depending on the occupation and state requirements, an associate degree can prepare students for careers such as registered nursing, respiratory therapy, diagnostic medical sonography, radiologic technology, physical therapist assisting, occupational therapy assisting, and health information technology.
The exact education and credential requirements should be checked for the specific occupation and state.
What healthcare careers don’t require a bachelor’s degree?
Several healthcare careers do not typically require a bachelor’s degree for entry. Examples include medical assisting, EMT/paramedic work, pharmacy technology, physical therapist assisting, occupational therapy assisting, respiratory therapy, diagnostic medical sonography, and some health information occupations.
What healthcare careers don’t involve direct patient care?
Healthcare administration, medical coding, health information, healthcare IT, health informatics, healthcare data analysis, and some laboratory and public health roles can involve limited or no direct patient care.
The amount of patient interaction varies by occupation and employer.
What is the easiest healthcare career to get into?
There is no single healthcare career that is easiest for everyone.
Some occupations have shorter education pathways than others, but students should also consider prerequisites, certification, licensing, clinical requirements, and local employment opportunities.
A career that requires a short program may still involve a demanding training process, while a longer program may provide more advancement opportunities.
What healthcare careers pay the most?
Some of the highest-paying healthcare occupations include physicians, dentists, pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, and other highly educated professionals. However, these careers generally require significantly more education and training.
For example, BLS reports that physicians and surgeons had a median annual wage of at least $239,200 in May 2024, while registered nurses had a median annual wage of $93,600.
Salary should be considered alongside education costs, training time, licensing requirements, work schedule, and job responsibilities.
What healthcare career is right for me?
The right healthcare career depends on what you want from your work.
Start by considering four questions:
- How much education am I willing to complete?
- How much direct patient contact do I want?
- What type of work do I enjoy?
- Where do I want to work?
Those answers can help narrow the field considerably.
How long does it take to start a healthcare career?
It depends on the occupation.
Some healthcare support occupations can be entered after a relatively short postsecondary program, while careers such as nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and psychology require more extensive education and training.
The time required can also depend on prerequisites, clinical training, licensing examinations, and state requirements.
Takeaways
A career in healthcare does not have to mean becoming a doctor or nurse.
The healthcare field includes professionals who provide hands-on patient care, perform diagnostic testing, support rehabilitation, manage healthcare organizations, work with health data and technology, provide mental health services, and improve the health of communities.
The education required can range from a short-term certificate to a graduate or professional degree. Some careers involve constant patient interaction, while others are primarily office- or technology-based. Some require state licensure, while others may require certification or employer-specific training.
The best place to start is with the career itself. Think about the type of work you want to do, the amount of education you are willing to complete, the level of patient interaction you prefer, and the environment where you would like to work. Then research the education and credential requirements for that specific occupation.
Once you know the career direction you want to pursue, you can explore online healthcare programs that can help you get there.