Educational Requirements and Training Levels

Secondary Education

• High School courses• Health Science courses can prepare students

for immediate employment in some health care careers or for the additional education they need after graduation

Post-Secondary Education

• Occurs after high school• Career-Technical school• Community college• University

Education Levels

• Associate’s Degree• Bachelor’s Degree• Master’s Degree• Doctorate or Doctoral Degree

Associate’s Degree• Awarded by a technical school or

community college

• Is received after completion of a two-year course of study

Bachelor’s Degree

• Is awarded by a college or university • Is received after completion of a

prescribed course of study that usually lasts for four or more years

Master’s Degree

• Awarded by a college or university• Usually requires two years of work beyond a

bachelor’s degree• Usually a total of 6 years

4+2=6

Doctorate or Doctoral Degree

• Awarded by a college or university• Two or more years beyond a master’s degree• Some may require four to six years of study• (Minimum of 8 years of study)

Accreditation

• Graduation from an accredited program is required for most health care careers

• Ensures that the program of study meets the established standards and prepares the student for employment

• It is important to make sure that your school is accredited before enrolling

Continuing Education

• Continuing education units (CEUs) are required to renew licenses or maintain certification or registration

• Additional hours of education must be obtained in a specified period of time

• Healthcare workers should be aware of their state requirements regarding CEUs for their career

Levels of Training

• Professional• Technologist or Therapist• Technician• Aide or Assistant

Professional

• Four or more years of college• Usually have a master’s or doctorate degree• Examples: Doctor, Dentist, Physician

Assistant, Pharmacist

Technologist or Therapist

• Usually a bachelor’s degree; at times may have master’s degree

• Examples Physical Therapist, Medical Lab Technologist

Technician

• Two years associate degree• Special health occupations education with on

the job training• Examples: Medical Lab Technician; Surgical

Technician

Aide or Assistant

• Specific number of hours of specialized education or

• One or more years of on the job training• Examples: Nurse Assistant

Multi-Skilled Worker

• New trend to save cost in some rural and smaller facilities

• Workers are hired to perform a variety of skills

• Ex they may do both ECGs and EEGs or they may do both medical lab and respiratory therapy functions

Entrepreneur

• Individual who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business

• Many work under the supervision of physicians or dentists

• Examples: dental hygienists; physical therapists; physicians; dentists; optometrists

Entrepreneurship

• Involves many risks • Requires a certain level of education and

ability• Can be an extremely satisfying choice for

someone who is well motivated, self-confident, responsible, creative and independent