Healthcare Careers Activity 4.3
Name _________________________________
In the following table place the appropriate letter that relates to the cluster of each health career beside the name of
the career: Therapeutic (T) Diagnostic (D) Health Informatics (I) Environmental Support (E) Biotechnology Research
and Development (B). (Example dentist is a therapeutic career so place a T beside the term.) Choose at least 15 of
the following careers, research those careers using reliable Internet sources, and complete information on the table
relating to those careers (Average salary and education requirements may change.)
Health Career Title
Dentist (T)
Dental Hygienist
Dental Assistant
Cardiovascular
Technologist
Medical Laboratory
Technologist MT
Medical Laboratory
Technician
MLT
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomist
(continued)
Page 1
Describe Career and
Duties Performed
Education
Requirements
Average Salary
Diagnose & treat diseased
or injured teeth, gums, &
oral tissues; may help
improve appearance of
patients’ teeth with braces or
dentures
Examine teeth for cavities,
remove tooth deposits,
apply fluorides & sealants,
take x-rays, make teeth
impressions, & educate
patients on oral health
Take patients’ medical
history, place & develop xrays, prepare instruments &
equipment, assist in patient
education, and assist dentist
during treatment procedures
Doctorate degree in
dentistry (typically 4year graduate
degree)
$163,240
Associate’s or
Bachelor’s
Degree
$70,700
9-11 month program
or on-the-job training
$35,080
Associate’s or
Bachelor’s Degree;
1-year certificates
are also an option
$52,070
Bachelor’s Degree
$56,130
Perform examinations to
determine how well the
heart & blood vessels are
functioning & report
results to cardiologist;
take histories & draw
blood samples
Microscopically examine
blood & other body fluids,
make cultures to find
bacteria, fungi, parasites,
etc.; type & cross-match
blood samples for
infusions
Analyze body fluids &
record abnormal findings,
study blood samples for
use in transfusions, use
lab equipment, log data
from tests
Draw blood from patients
& blood donors, enter
patient info onto
database, assemble &
maintain medical
instruments, such as
needles, test tubes, &
blood vials
$57,580
Associate’s Degree
or Certificate
$54,620
Places of Employment
Health Career Title
Radiological
Technologist
AART
Emergency Medical
Technician
Paramedic
EMT-P
Health Information
Technologist
Health Care
Administrator
Physicians
Physician Assistants
PA
Medical Assistant
MA
Page 2
Describe Career &
Duties Performed
Adjust & maintain
imaging equipment,
prepare patients for
procedures & shield
patients, take images,
work with physicians to
evaluate images &
determine if any
additional images need to
be taken
Respond to 911 calls,
assess patient’s condition
& determine a course of
treatment, keep patients
safe during transport,
transport patients to ER
Review patient records
for timeliness,
completeness, accuracy
& appropriateness of
date, track patient
outcomes for quality
assessment,
electronically record data
Plan, direct, & coordinate
medical health services;
provide services to the
communities they serve,
manage either whole
facilities or departments
Take a patient’s medical
history, order tests for
other healthcare staff to
perform, review tests to
find abnormal findings,
design a plan of
treatment, and help
educate patients on
health
Conduct physical exams
to check patients’ health,
order and interpret
diagnostic tests, make
diagnoses, prescribe
medicine, record patients’
progress
Work under a licensed
anesthesiologist to
operate anesthesia
equipment, monitor
patients & provide quality
anesthesia care; trained
in life-saving measures,
such as CPR & life
support
Education
Requirements
Average Salary
Associate’s Degree
or program certificate
$54,620
Postsecondary
education program
$32,020
Associate’s degree
or certificate program
$34,160
Bachelor’s degree
$88,580
Doctorate degree
Primary Care$220,942
Specialties$396,233
Master’s Degree
$90,930
Masger’s Degree
$110,000
Places of Employment
Health Career Title
Social Worker/
Sociologists
Mental Health
Counselor
Psychologist
PsyD
Funeral Director
Embalmer
Registered Nurse
RN
Page 3
Describe Career & Duties
Performed
Identify people who need
help, assess clients’
needs, situations,
strengths, & support
networks to determine
their goals, help clients
adjust to changes &
challenges in their lives,
refer clients to community
resources (food stamps,
childcare and healthcare)
Diagnose & treat mental &
emotional disorders,
encourage clients to
discuss their emotions &
experiences, help clients
process their reactions and
adjust to changes in their
life, guide clients through
decision making,
coordinate treatment with
other professionals
Conduct scientific studies
of behavior & brain
function, test for patterns
that will help to better
understand & predict
behavior; depending on
the type, they may
diagnose/treat mental
disorders, act as
counselors, study certain
age groups, or use their
knowledge in the business
world
Plan the details of a
funeral, help prepare
obituary notices & arrange
for pallbearers & clergy,
schedule the opening &
closing of a grave at a
cemetery, or coordinate
process of cremation.
Perform cosmetic &
temporary procedures to
prepare the body for a
viewing of visitation of the
deceased
Record patients’ medical
histories & symptoms,
administer medicines &
treatments, operate &
monitor medical
equipment, help perform
diagnostic tests & analyze
results, educate patients to
manage illness or injuries
after treatment
Education
Requirements
Average Salary
Bachelor’s degree
$44,200
Master’s degree
$40,080
Doctoral degree
$69,280
Associate’s degree
at minimum,
mortuary college, &
state licensing exam
$46,840
Associate’s degree
at minimum,
mortuary college, &
state licensing exam
$46,840
Bachelor’s degree
$65,470
Places of Employment
Health Career Title
Licensed Practical
Nurse
LPN
Nursing Assistant
CNA
Surgical Technician
Dietitian
RD
Dietetic Technician
DTR
Occupational
Therapist
OT
Page 4
Describe Career & Duties
Performed
Monitor patients’ health,
administer basic patient
care & provide for their
basic comfort, keep
records on patients’ health
Clean and bathe patients
or residents, help patients
use the toilet & dress,
turn/reposition/transfer
patients between beds,
measure patients’ vital
signs, serve meals & help
patients eat
Prepare operating rooms
for surgery, sterilize
equipment and ensure that
there are sufficient
supplies for surgery, wash
& disinfect incision sites,
pass surgeons instruments
during surgery, keep a
count of supplies during
surgery to maintain a
sterile environment
They are experts on how
food and nutrition apply to
health; their job
responsibilities depend on
where they practice, but
they normally educate
people about good
nutrition, work with
individuals who are at risk
of poor health—pregnant
women, children, elderly,
and people with limited
resources
Assists in managing food
service & providing
nutritional care, screen
patients to identify
nutritional problems,
educate & train patients to
plan meals within their
budgets, supervise food
service personnel,
purchase/control inventory
Observe patients doing
tasks, ask them questions,
& review their medical
history, evaluate a patient’s
condition & needs, develop
a treatment plan for
patients, laying out the
types of activities & specific
goals to be accomplished,
recommend special
equipment, and help people
with various disabilities
Education
Requirements
Average Salary
1-year program
$41,540
State-approved
education program
$24,420
Associate’s degree
or postsecondary
certificate
$41,790
Typically a
bachelor’s degree
$56,170
Dietetic tech
program
$28,680
Master’s degree
$75,400
Places of Employment
Health Career Title
Pharmacist
(PharmD)
Pharmacy
Technician
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist
Assistant PTA
Massage Therapist
Page 5
Describe Career &
Duties Performed
Dispense prescription
medications to patients &
offer expertise in the safe
use of prescriptions,
provide advice on how to
lead a healthy lifestyle,
conduct health &
wellness screenings,
provide immunizations,
oversee the medications
given to patients
Help licensed
pharmacists dispense
prescription medication to
customers or health
professionals, answer
phone calls from
customers, organize
inventory & alert
pharmacists to any
shortages of medications
or supplies
Help injured or ill people
improve their movement
& manage their pain,
diagnose patients’
dysfunctional movements
through observation, use
exercises, stretching
maneuvers, hands-on
therapy, & equipment to
ease pain & increase
their mobility
Work under the direction
and supervision of
physical therapists to
help patients who are
recovering from injuries &
illnesses regain
movement & manage
pain, involved in the
direct care of patients
Treat clients by using
touch to manipulate the
soft-tissues of the body to
relieve pain, help
rehabilitate injuries,
improve circulation,
relieve stress, increase
relaxation, & aid in the
general wellness of
clients
Education
Requirements
Average Salary
Doctorate degree
$116,670
Postsecondary
education program or
on-the-job training
$29,320
Doctorate degree
$79,860
Associate’s degree
$52,160
Postsecondary
education program
$35,970
Places of Employment
Health Career Title
Recreational
Therapist
Respiratory
Therapist
RRT
Speech – Language
Therapist
Athletic Trainer
Perfusionist
Veterinarian
DVM or VMD
Animal Health
Technician
ATR
Optometrist
OD
Optician
Page 6
Describe Career &
Duties Performed
Plan, direct, & coordinate
recreation-based
treatment programs for
people with disabilities,
injuries, or illnesses; use
a range of modalities,
including arts & crafts,
drama, music, dance,
sports, games, &
community reintegration
field trips
Care for patients who
have trouble breathing,
provide emergency care
to patients suffering from
acute conditions, monitor
& record the progress of
treatment, teach patients
how to use treatments
Assess, diagnose, treat,
& help to prevent
communication &
swallowing disorders in
patients
Apply protective or injurypreventive devices (tape,
bandages, braces, etc.),
recognize & evaluate
injuries, provide first aid or
emergency care, develop &
carry out rehab programs
Use specialized equipment
to maintain the heart and
lung functions of a patient
during open-heart or related
surgeries
Care for the health of
animals & work to improve
public health by diagnosing,
treating, & researching
medical conditions &
diseases of pets, livestock &
other animals
Perform medical tests under
the supervision of a licensed
veterinarian to help
diagnose the illnesses &
injuries of animals
Examine, diagnose, treat &
manage disorders of the
visual system, eye diseases
& injuries; prescribe
eyeglasses or contact
lenses as needed
Help fit eyeglasses &
contact lenses, following
prescriptions; they also help
customers decide which
eyeglass frames or contact
lenses to buy
Education
Requirements
Average Salary
Bachelor’s degree
$42,280
Associate’s degree
$55,870
Master’s degree
$69,870
Bachelor’s degree
$42,090
Certificate program,
bachelor’s &
master’s degree
programs
$90,000
Doctorate degree
$84,460
2-year program
$30,290
Doctorate degree
$97,820
On-the-job training
$33,330
Places of Employment
1. Identify a career that you may be or are interested in perusing.
2. List one post-secondary school or job site where you could apply for this career
3. List 3 short-term goals to connect you with this career.
a.
b.
c.
Page 7