There are literally hundreds of health fields, so it is easy to become overwhelmed: How do you choose the one that will be the right fit for you?
In general, there are seven basic categories of health careers. These categories do not represent a hierarchy; different careers call upon different strengths among their practitioners. We recommend that you consider the careers in the category that fits your strengths and interests best.
The Seven Categories of Health Careers
Diagnosing/Treating Fields
Entail direct patient care from exceptionally well-educated practitioners. These fields are usually highly selective/competitive, require significant levels of science/mathematics, require or prefer a completed bachelor’s degree, and require a post-baccalaureate degree.
Examples: dentists, optometrists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, podiatrists, and veterinarians.
Allied/Associated Fields
Either are allied with or carry out prescribed treatments from diagnosing/treating professionals. These fields require well-educated practitioners and entail direct patient care, usually more hands-on work than in diagnosing/treating fields, and consequently require strong interpersonal skills. These fields are moderately to highly selective/competitive, require moderate to high levels of science/mathematics, and usually begin at the undergraduate level, but can extend to the doctoral level.
Examples: nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, genetic counselors.
Rehabilitating Fields
Also entail direct, hands-on patient care from well-educated practitioners. They are usually moderately selective/competitive but can be highly selective/competitive if the number of applicants far exceeds the number of available seats. Some require a completed bachelor’s degree; others begin at the undergraduate level. Most require moderate levels of science/mathematics and strong interpersonal skills.
Examples: audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, recreational therapists.
Assisting/Adjunct Fields
Support other health professionals and usually entail primarily either direct patient care or hands-on applications. These fields are minimally to moderately selective/competitive and usually require minimal levels of science/mathematics. Some can be completed with just a certificate; others require an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or even a bachelor’s degree plus a certificate.
Examples: technologists, technicians, assistants, or aides.
Educational Fields
Assist patients and people with their health and with the healthcare system. Selectivity depends upon the program and degree sought, ranging from associates to bachelors degrees, post-baccalaureate certificates, and graduate-level degrees. These fields require little to no science/mathematics, but some science/mathematics usually provides an advantage. Some require a background in education or counseling, and a strong foundation in the humanities or social sciences is helpful. Strong interpersonal skills are usually essential.
Examples: dietary managers, biomedical writers, mental health workers, health educators, health science librarians.
Administrative Fields
Assist or manage health organizations, not individual patients. Selectivity depends upon the program and degree sought. Degrees are offered at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Courses in science are advantageous but not usually required. Some degrees require a background in business, which includes mathematics, and most require a strong foundation in the social sciences.
Examples: nursing home directors, geriatric care managers, health wellness coordinators, hospital public relations officers, quality assurance directors, medical secretaries, admitting officers.
Affiliated Fields
These are independent of but related to health care. These fields vary widely: some require direct patient care while others entail no patient care; some are science-based while others are based more in the social sciences; some are highly selective, others minimally selective. Most fields require a completed bachelor’s degree plus a graduate-level degree, often a Ph.D.
Examples: biomedical engineers, biostatisticians, social workers, epidemiologists, athletic trainers, environmental health scientists.
The information in this section has been reprinted with the permission of Dr. Ruth Bingham (University of Hawaii-Manoa) and Dr. Beverly Childress (Auburn University).