A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Health Occupations
Also called: Health professions, Medical occupations, Medical professions
Every day, around the clock, people who work in the healthcare industry provide care for millions of people, from newborns to the very ill. In fact, the health care industry is one of largest providers of jobs in the United States. Many health jobs are in hospitals. Others are in nursing homes, doctors' offices, dentists' offices, outpatient clinics and laboratories.
To work in a health occupation, you often must have special training. Some, like doctors, must have more than 4 years of college.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Start Here
- Careers in Health Care(American Medical Association)
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LifeWorks(National Institutes of Health, Office of Science Education)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- Careers in Medicine (CiM)(Association of American Medical Colleges)
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Latest News
- School Debt, Income Gap Push Med Students Away from Primary Care(09/27/2012, HealthDay)
- Cancer Survivors Prefer to Stay with Cancer Doctors(09/14/2012, HealthDay)
- Docs' Sensitivity to Patients' Feelings Tied to Good Outcomes(09/12/2012, HealthDay)
- More News on Health Occupations
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Cytotechnologist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Orthoptist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Polysomnographic Technologist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Professions in Diagnostic Radiology(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Who's Who in the Lab: A Look at Laboratory Professionals(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Nutrition
- Dietitians and Nutritionists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Careers in Dietetics(Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
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Rehabilitation/Recovery
- Art Therapist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Dance/Movement Therapist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Fluency Specialist(Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders)
- Kinesiotherapist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Massage Therapist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Music Therapist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Occupational Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Physical Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Recreational Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Rehabilitation Counselor(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Speech-Language Pathologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- What Is a Physiatrist?(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
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Specific Conditions
- About Critical Care Nursing(American Association of Critical-Care Nurses)
- About Osteopathic Medicine(American Osteopathic Association)
- About the Anesthesiology Profession(American Society of Anesthesiologists)
- Anesthesiologist Assistant(American Medical Association) - PDF
- AspiringDocs.org(Association of American Medical Colleges)
- Athletic Trainers(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Audiologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Becoming a D.O.(American Osteopathic Association)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Biological Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Blindness and Visual Impairment Professions(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Blood Bank Technology-Specialist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Career Information: Nuclear Medicine(Society of Nuclear Medicine)
- Careers in Health Sciences Librarianship(Medical Library Association) - PDF
- Chiropractors(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Considering a Career in Medical Research(Association of American Medical Colleges)
- Dental Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Dental Hygienists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Dentists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Doctors of Oral Health: What It Takes to Be a Dentist(American Dental Association)
- Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Frequently Asked Questions: What Is Public Health?(Association of Schools of Public Health)
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Interested in a Career as a Genetic Counselor?(National Society of Genetic Counselors)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Medical and Health Services Managers(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Medical Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Medical Records and Health Information Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Medical Scientists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Medical Transcriptionists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Meet the Experts: Environmental Health(Maryland Public Television, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)
- Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Opticians, Dispensing(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Optometrists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Orthodontist(American Association of Orthodontists) - PDF
- Orthotist and Prosthetist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Perfusionist(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Pharmacists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Pharmacy Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Physician Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Physicians and Surgeons(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Podiatrists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Professions in Radiation Therapy(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Profiles in Geriatrics(American Geriatrics Society) - PDF
- Psychologists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Public Affairs Specialists: On the FDA's Front Line(Food and Drug Administration)
- Public Health Professionals(Association of Schools of Public Health)
- Registered Nurses(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Requirements for Becoming a Physician(American Medical Association)
- Resource Guide to Careers in Toxicology(Society of Toxicology)
- Respiratory Therapists(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- So You Want to Be a Laboratory Professional(American Society for Clinical Pathology)
- Social and Human Service Assistants(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Surgical Assistant(American Medical Association) - PDF
- Surgical Technologists(Bureau of Health Professions)
- Veterinarians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- What Is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)?(American Osteopathic Association)
- What Is a Gastroenterologist?(American College of Gastroenterology) - PDF
- What Is a Rheumatologist?(American College of Rheumatology)
- Also available in Spanish
- What Is an Endocrinologist?(Hormone Health Network)
- Also available in Spanish
- What Is an Otolaryngologist?(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
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Related Issues
- Ergonomics: Occupational Therapy in the Workplace(American Occupational Therapy Association)
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Videos
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Genomic Careers: Interactive Videos(National Human Genome Research Institute)
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Genomics Challenge: Test Your Knowledge of Genomics Careers(National Human Genome Research Institute)
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Genomic Careers: Interactive Videos
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Financial Issues
- Financial Aid for Nursing Students(American Association of Colleges of Nursing)
- Paying for Medical School(American Medical Association)
- Scholarships and Loans(Bureau of Health Professions)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Health Occupations(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Health Occupations
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- About Board Certified Doctors(American Board of Medical Specialties)
- Glossary for Program Information(American Medical Association)
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Directories
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing Member Schools(American Association of Colleges of Nursing)
- CAAHEP Accredited Program Search (Allied Health)(Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs)
- Find a Nurse Practitioner(American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)
- Member Medical Schools(Association of American Medical Colleges)
- Search for NLNAC Accredited Nursing Programs(National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission)
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Organizations
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Statistics
- Generalist and Specialty Physicians: Supply and Access, 2009-2010(National Center for Health Statistics)
- Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Physician Assistants in Physician Offices(National Center for Health Statistics)
- Overview of Home Health Aides: United States, 2007(National Center for Health Statistics) - PDF
- Physician Assistant and Advance Practice Nurse Care in Hospital Outpatient Departments: United States, 2008-2009(National Center for Health Statistics)
- Projections Overview(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
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MedlinePlus Magazine
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Children
- Pediatric Specialists(American Academy of Pediatrics)
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Seniors
- Careers in Aging(Gerontological Society of America)
- Role of the Geriatric Psychiatrist(Geriatric Mental Health Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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