Medical Careers Background

Top Careers In The Medical Field.

Medical field professionals use their knowledge and training to help others. there are many different occupations in the healthcare and medical fields.

Some of these careers will require a bachelor’s degree for an entry-level position, while others will require an associate’s degree or high school diploma.

You can browse careers/jobs in the medical field through the navigation options below.

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Medical Careers Background

Medical Careers

Certified Nursing Assistant Certified Nursing Assistant

Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant is an entry-level role that will give you hands-on experience when you are ready to take the next step in your medical career.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-6 Months
Outlook4%
Dental Assistant Dental Assistant

Dental assistants help dentists to provide patient care, keep records, and care for the dental equipment.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook11%
Dental Hygienist Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists take care of cleaning teeth to promote hygiene and help avoid cavities and gum problems.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook11%
Dialysis Technician Dialysis Technician

Dialysis technicians maintain and monitor dialysis equipment, and also act as primary caregivers for patients undergoing dialysis treatment.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook11%
EKG Technician EKG Technician

EKG technicians test and monitor the cardiovascular system.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook8%
EMT EMT

Trained emergency medical technician that arrives at the scene to provide medical services such as resuscitation.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook11%
Healthcare Administrator Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators – also known as healthcare executives or health services managers – are responsible for the planning, direction, and coordination of medical and health services.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education4+ Years
Outlook32%
Home Health Aide Home Health Aide

Home health aides provide home care to individuals who require assistance in their day-to-day living.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-1 Year
Outlook33%
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Licensed Practical Nurses provide basic nursing care to patients and work with Registered Nurses and Doctors.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook9%
Medical Assistant Medical Assistant

Medical assistants support the work of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook18%
Medical Biller and Coder Medical Biller and Coder

Medical billers and coders manage, organize, and code various health information data.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-6 Months
Outlook9%
Medical Technologist Medical Technologist

Medical laboratory technologists collect bodily samples and conduct tests to analyze those samples.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education4+ Years
Outlook11%
Medical Transcriptionist Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcriptionists go over voice recordings to convert them into written texts.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-6 Months
Outlook-7%
MRI Technologist MRI Technologist

MRI Technologists use a machine to scan the body and create a detailed image of the inside for doctors to analyze.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook8%
Nutritionist Nutritionist

As a Nutritionist, you’ll be tasked with creating meal plans, counseling, and understanding dietary restrictions for all types of clients.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education3-4 Years
Outlook7%
Optician Optician

Opticians are technicians and salespersons at the same time who spends most of their day talking to customers, reading prescriptions written by doctors, and dispensing glasses and lenses.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook6%
Patient Access Representative Patient Access Representative

The work involves helping people to orient themselves to the space and everything that is going on.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-6 Months
Outlook7%
Patient Care Technician Patient Care Technician

Patient care techs work directly with patients helping them with daily activities and assist the medical staff by measuring and monitoring the patients' vital signs among other tasks.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-1 Year
Outlook8%
Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians provide patients with medications through prescription or over the counter.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook4%
Phlebotomist Phlebotomist

As a Phlebotomist, it will be your responsibility to take blood samples from patients and send them to the lab for further testing.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook22%
Physical Therapist Assistant Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistants provide physical therapy services to patients and aide to physical therapists.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-4 Years
Outlook32%
Professional Recovery Coach Professional Recovery Coach

A professional recovery coach is a life coach who works with someone during their addiction recovery process.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-6 Months
Outlook22%
Radiation Therapist Radiation Therapist

Allied health provisional who specializes in radiation oncology treatments.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook9%
Registered Health Information Technician Registered Health Information Technician

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) help store and verify accuracy of health records as well as analyze patient data.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-4 Years
Outlook9%
Respiratory Therapist Respiratory Therapist

Respiratory therapists treat and care for patients who experience breathing difficulties.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-4 Years
Outlook23%
Registered Nurse (RN) Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurses provide hands-on patient care in various settings, mainly hospitals, and clinics.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-4 Years
Outlook9%
Sterile Processing Technician Sterile Processing Technician

A sterile processing technician is a healthcare professional who is responsible for preparing, sterilizing, maintaining, packaging, and storing medical tools and equipment used in surgical and other medical procedures.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-1 Year
Outlook15%
Surgical Technologist Surgical Technologist

Surgical technologists – also known as operating room techs – prepare operating rooms and assist doctors and nurses during surgical procedures.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-4 Years
Outlook9%
Ultrasound Technician Ultrasound Technician

Ultrasound technicians aid physicians in monitoring and diagnosing patients through the use of ultrasonic imaging technology.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-4 Years
Outlook19%
X-Ray Technician X-Ray Technician

X-Ray Technicians are medical imaging professionals who use technology to visualize the inside of our bodies.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook9%

Working with Animals

Dog Groomer Dog Groomer

Dog groomers attend to grooming dogs, usually at dog salons or big pet-related chain stores.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-1 Year
Outlook34%
Veterinary Assistant Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistants work closely with Veterinarians to handle routine animal care.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education0-6 Months
Outlook14%
Vet Office Manager Vet Office Manager

Veterinary office managers work to make sure that the daily operations run smoothly and efficiently at veterinary hospitals or veterinary clinics.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education1-2 Years
Outlook21%
Veterinary Technician Veterinary Technician

Veterinary Technicians assist veterinarians as well as diagnosing and treating animals, mostly in private clinics.

Salary$/year
$/hour
Education2-3 Years
Outlook15%

Choosing Careers In Healthcare

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Working in healthcare can be fun, rewarding, and compensated very generously. If you feel that a career in healthcare might be a good fit for you, then your next task is to identify attainable healthcare careers that suit your goals.

Current Financial Situation

One of the most important factors in choosing an educational pathway is your current financial situation. It can determine the school you go to, your lifestyle during those years, and your life well after you’ve completed your education.

Your current financial situation should not only take into account your savings and your ability to earn income while studying, it should also take into account your ability (or willingness) to obtain additional funding through loans and scholarship programs. Can you get loans from family? Are you eligible for student loans, government grants, or a line of credit from a financial institution? More importantly, will you be able to pay off debt in a timely fashion, and will you be eligible for any government debt forgiveness programs after you graduate?

Years of Education

Going to school and working/living off savings is no easy task. How many years of schooling are you willing to undergo? How many years of schooling would you be able to afford? Will you be taking on a full-time or part-time course load?

There are careers in the medical field that only require a high school diploma or a 1 year program of study. There are also professions that require 2 year associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, or postgraduate degrees. Failing to make a realistic assessment of your current situation prior to committing to a program of study can be costly.

Online Schools vs. Local

While traditional colleges and technical/vocational schools are stil the preferred educational medium, training programs for many healthcare professions exist online. Online schooling offers a high amount of flexibility and convenience for those who need to juggle work and/or kids along with their continuing education. If you have commitments that command a significant amount of time and attention, choosing an online school can give you the flexibility you need to advance your education while taking care of your other commitments.

Note that – while virtually every program will offer some form of online support – not all programs and professions offer full online distance education programs. Some programs may offer part of their curriculum online, but will still require attendance at a local school for clinical training. If you need the flexibility offered by online schools, it’s a good idea to inquire about these options beforehand.

Earning Potential

Its important that you choose a career that will give you the earning power to achieve your goals. You should not only be looking at entry-level salaries, but what the salaries will look like as you gain seniority. Some careers offer attractive entry-level salaries, but with a lower upper salary range, while other careers may offer lower entry-level salaries, but more room for growth and earning power as you gain experience.

Work/Life Balance & Passion

Finally, it’s important to choose a career that you are passionate about and that allows you time for the things that are most important to you. While compensation is important, it should come second to your happiness. If reading a job description makes you cringe, then you’re probably looking at the wrong career, no matter how attractive it may look on paper. If you have family commitments and/or hobbies that require your time and attention, then choosing a career that offers more flexible hours may be a priority.

Ultimately, you want to choose a career that you find rewarding, that fits your lifestyle, and that is attainable based on your financial and educational situation. Fortunately, there are positions in healthcare that fit all different types. You can find out more about your career options in the medical field right here at ExploreMedicalCareers.com.

Becoming a Nurse

As part of the process of becoming a nurse, you will need to submit forms to the board of nursing in your state, your board of nursing will be your point of contact to get your ATT (Authorization to Test) letter.

With this letter, you will be able to take the NCLEX.

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