Choosing a Health Profession

General Considerations
The popular career statement upon graduation is, "All I want to do is to help people." Many students don't realize that a health career does not have to mean pursuing a career as a nurse or a doctor. There are more than 200 health career occupations that are important in providing health care in numerous health settings, such as homes, hospitals, offices, and laboratories.

To figure out which health profession is for you, you have to ask yourself several questions including:

  • Do you prefer working by yourself or with a team?
  • Do you want to work with sick people or do you prefer working with data or specimens?
  • What type of work environment is best for you? Do you want an action-pack or more relaxed career?
  • What skills do you already have and what do you need to know?
  • What are your short term and long-term goals?
  • Where do you want to live and work, in an urban or rural setting?
  • Check out the Explore Health Careers website.

 

Links to Specific Professional Organizations

Most health professions have a professional association to which many of its practitioners belong. Once you identify a profession of interest, a strong next step is to visit the website for that professional association as it will give you the “inside scoop” on the current benefits and challenges to practicing it, as well as provide links to accredited degree programs and institutions.

Further, preparing for each different health profession may require slightly different coursework or an alternative entry examination, such as the DAT for dental school. Please review the entry requirements for your chosen profession closely and talk to an advisor about them.

The links below provide a starting point for information on specific professions, or look up your profession of choice in the Listing of Health Professions Associations. [Note: This list does not include Midwifery, which can be explored at www.midwife.org. The “Education” page provides links to accredited programs and other preparation information.]

70 Bascom (UAS) advises students interested in these six areas: