Here’s a list of the different medical positions out there.
Remember this is not a complete list. And to be like Dr. Carm takes lots of
practice and education.
Aides and Assistants
·
Home Health and Personal Care Aides: They help disabled, chronically ill, or
cognitively impaired people. Duties usually include things like bathing,
dressing, and light housework. You can have less than a high school diploma for
this position.
·
Medical Assistants: Administrative and clinical
tasks (usually in offices such as physicians, podiatrists, chiropractor, etc.)
Duties vary according to their office. You will need at least a high school
diploma.
·
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides: They work under the direction of occupational
therapists and help patients with injuries, illness, or disabilities with every
day activities. Generally, you should have an associate degree (and be
licensed).
·
Paralegals and Legal Assistants: They
support lawyers by maintaining file, organizing, performing legal research, and
drafting documents. You will need at least an associate’s degree for this
position.
·
Pharmacy Technicians: Also are known as
Pharmacy Assistants. They assist licensed pharmacists in distributing
prescriptions. You will need at least a high school diploma.
·
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides:
They work under the direction of physical therapists and help patients recover
from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries. You should have at least a high school
diploma for this position.
·
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides: They
care for patients with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. You
will need at least a high school diploma for this position.
·
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants:
They help offices perform clinical and organizational duties (such as filing,
scheduling appointments, etc.) You will need at least a high school diploma for
this position.
Dental
·
Dental Assistants: They help in dental offices. Their duties can
include things like patient care and record keeping. You will need at least a post-secondary non-degree award for this position.
·
Dental Hygienists: They provide
preventative dental care. You will need at least an associate’s degree for this
position.
·
Dentists: (includes Orthodontists, Oral and
maxillofacial surgeons.) They diagnose and treat dental problems. You will need
at least a doctoral degree.
Doctors
·
Chiropractors: This includes acupuncturists.
They treat patients with musculoskeletal (bones, muscles, ligaments, and
tendons) issues. You will need at least a Doctoral or Professional degree for
this position.
·
Optometrists: They exam your eyes for
problems and are able to write prescriptions for eye glasses or contact lenses.
You will need at least a doctoral degree for this position.
·
Pharmacists: They provide prescription medications
and offer advice to people. You will need at least a doctoral degree for this
position.
·
Physician and Surgeons: (includes Naturopathic Doctors, Anesthesiologist, Gynecologists, Neurologists,
Cardiologists, etc.) They diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They can
also provide prescriptions. You will need at least a doctoral degree for this
position.
·
Podiatrists: They help people with foot,
ankle, and lower leg problems. You will need a doctoral degree for this
position.
Imaging
·
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
and Vascular Technologists: They use imaging to help diagnoses heart
(cardiac) and blood vessel (peripheral vascular) problems and illnesses in
patients. You will need at least an associate’s degree.
·
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: This
includes ultrasounds, sonograms, or echo-cardiograms. They assess and diagnose
medical conditions through imaging equipment (that uses sound waves). You will
need at least an associate’s degree for this position.
·
Nuclear Medicine Technologists: They use radioactive drugs to help create
images of the patient’s body for any abnormalities. You will need at least an
associate’s degree for this position.
·
Radiologic Technologists: They perform
x-rays (diagnostic imaging) on patients. You will need at least an associate’s
degree for this position.
Nursing
·
Certified Nursing Assistant: Also known
as nurses’ aides, orderlies, and attendants. They provide basic care for
patients, usually in hospitals and long-term care facilities. You will need at
least a post-secondary non-degree award for this position.
·
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational
Nurses: Also known as LNs or LVNs.
They provide basic nursing care. They tend to work under registered nurses and
doctors. You will need at least a post-secondary non-degree award.
·
Registered Nurse: Also known as RNs. They provide patient care.
They also provide advice and support to the patients and public (i.e.,
families) about health conditions. They usually work in hospitals, physician
offices, home health care services, and nursing care facilities. However, they
can also work in correctional facilities, schools, camps, and the military. You will need at least an associate’s degree
for this position.
Optometry
·
Dispensing Opticians: They fit you for
your eyeglasses and contact lenses. You will need at least a high school
diploma for this position.
Therapy
·
Massage Therapists: They work with the
soft-tissue muscles to relieve pain, aid in relaxation, and help injuries. You
will need at least a post-secondary non-degree award for this position.
·
Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and
Family Therapists: They help people with mental and emotional disorders.
You will need at least a master’s degree for this position.
·
Recreational Therapists: They help plan
and coordinate recreation programs for people with illness or disabilities.
These include arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games, swimming,
etc. You will need at least a bachelor’s degree for this position.
·
Respiratory Therapist: They provide care
to patients who have trouble breathing.
You will need at least an associate’s degree with this position.
·
Social Workers: (clinical) They diagnose and treat mental,
behavioral, and emotional issues. You will probably need a bachelor’s degree
for this position.
Other
·
Dietitians and Nutritionists: They advise people on what to eat to live a healthy lifestyle (or health-related goal.) You
will need at least a bachelor’s degree for this position.
·
Emergency Medical Technicians: Also known
as EMTs and paramedics. They help sick or injured people in emergency settings.
You will need at least a post-secondary non-degree award for this position.
·
Health Educators: They teach people about
wellness. You need at least a bachelor’s degree for this position
·
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
and Technicians: They are also known as Medical Laboratory Scientists. They
collect samples, perform tests, and analyze fluids, tissues, and other
substances. You should have at least an associate’s degree.
·
Medical Equipment Repairers: They install, maintain, and repair medical
equipment. You will need at least an associate’s degree for this position.
·
Medical Records and Health Information
Technicians: They organize and maintain health data through both paper and
electronic systems. You will need at least a post-secondary non-degree award for
this position.
·
Medical Transcriptionists: They take
voice recordings from the health professionals and transcribe them into
reports. They use medical terminology and abbreviations. You will need at least
a post-secondary non-degree award for this position.
·
Psychologists: They study mental
processes and behavior of people by observing, interpreting, and recording. You
will more than likely need at least a master’s degree for this position.
·
Radiation Therapists: They treat cancer and other diseases through
radiation treatments. You will need at least an associate’s degree for this
position.
·
Speech-Language Pathologists: They treat
and diagnose communication and swallowing disorders. You will need at least a
master’s degree for this position.
·
Surgical Technologists: Also known as Operating Room Technicians. They
help during surgical operations such as in preparation of the rooms and
equipment, as well as, helping the doctors and nurses during surgery. You will
need at least a post-secondary non-degree award for this position.
YEARS OF SCHOOLING NEEDED
Less than High School
Diploma
1.
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
High School Diploma
1.
Dispensing Opticians
2.
Medical Assistants
3.
Pharmacy Technicians
4.
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
5.
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides
6.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Post-secondary Non-Degree Award
1.
Certified Nursing Assistant
2.
Dental Assistants
3.
Emergency Medical Technicians
4.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational
Nurses
5.
Massage Therapists
6.
Medical Records and Health Information
Technicians
7.
Medical Transcriptionists
8.
Surgical Technologists
Associate’s Degree
1.
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and
Vascular Technologists
2.
Dental Hygienists
3.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
4.
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
and Technicians
5.
Medical Equipment Repairers
6.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
7.
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
8.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
9.
Radiation Therapists
10.
Radiologic Technologists
11.
Registered Nurse
12.
Respiratory Therapist
Bachelor’s Degree
1.
Health Educators
2.
Recreational Therapists
3.
Social Workers
Master’s Degree
1.
Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family
Therapists
2.
Psychologists
3.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Doctoral Degree
1.
Chiropractors
2.
Dentists
3.
Optometrists
4.
Pharmacists
5.
Physician and Surgeons
6.
Podiatrists
Based on the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from http://www.bls.gov/
Related Postings:
