Career Moves: How to Become a Healthcare Professional

Would you like to work in the largest employment sector in the United States? A sector that is predicted to grow by a staggering 14% by 2028? In that case, you need to know how to join the more than 23 million people working in the healthcare sector.

There are so many different types of healthcare professionals and it’s about far more than just doctors and nurses. There is a whole army of support and administrative staff needed to run the medical industry. That means that there are so many career options open to you.

Let’s dive a little deeper into how you can become a healthcare professional.

Table of Contents

Qualifying as a Doctor or Nurse

When people set out to study healthcare, most of them plan to become either a doctor or a nurse.

To become a doctor, you will need to complete an undergraduate degree and then pass the MCAT examination. After that, you must study medicine at medical school and pass the first two parts of the USMLE.

Then you can complete your residency. At the end of your residency, you will need to pass part three of the USMLE. Then you can apply for your board certifications and obtain your state license.

To become a registered nurse, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing. After this, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Once you have successfully completed the exam, you can obtain a state license to practice as a nurse.

Other Types of Healthcare Professionals

The medical industry is not solely comprised of doctors and nurses. There are a whole host of other healthcare professionals that provide the backup needed so they can do their jobs.

One way to become a healthcare worker is to study for an associate degree or diploma through an online healthcare school. Online schools allow you to study skills such as:

Health information management
Medical administration
Medical billing
Pharmacy technician qualifications
Healthcare accounting

Instead of working in an administrative role, you can also pursue a medical career as a medical assistant. There is a wide range of these types of roles, including:

Phlebotomy technicians
Nursing assistants
Dental assistants

There is always a strong demand for these types of roles within the medical industry. It also takes much less time to train for them. This means lower study costs and quicker access to employment for students.

You can work in many different aspects of the healthcare industry. For example, nursing assistants can work in:

Hospitals
Long-term care facilities
Hospices
People’s homes

In many areas, there are lots of vacancies for these types of roles.

Skills and Qualities Needed

Healthcare professionals face many demands each day, but also find their jobs rewarding.

You need to be a caring, empathic person to be a successful healthcare professional. You need to be able to communicate well with patients, put them at ease, and work well with others.

Time management and good organizational skills are also important.

Are You Ready for a Medical Career?

Working with people in their hour of need can be very rewarding. You get to feel that you are making a real difference in their lives. Healthcare professionals provide support and treatment when people need it the most.

If you’re up for a challenge and love working with people, why not investigate a career as a healthcare worker?

For more ideas on training or choosing a new career, check out our Education section today!