Careers: registered nurse, medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, and pharmacy technician. Majors: Nursing, Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, and Medical Assisting.
College majors for healthcare and medicine
Nursing
Prepares you to assess, treat and educate patients as part of a healthcare team.
Health Sciences
A broad science-based major that prepares you for clinical programs and health careers.
Healthcare Administration
Teaches you to manage the business side of hospitals, clinics and health systems.
Public Health
Studies how to prevent disease and improve the health of whole communities.
Medical Assisting
A short program that prepares you for clinical and administrative work in medical offices.
Health Information Management
Teaches you to manage, protect and code patient health records and data.
Radiologic Technology and Medical Imaging
Prepares you to create medical images such as X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound.
Respiratory Therapy
Prepares you to evaluate and treat patients with breathing and heart-lung problems.
Emergency Medical Services
Trains you to provide emergency care at the scene and during transport.
Careers in healthcare and medicine
Registered Nurse
Assess patients, give treatments, coordinate care and educate families.
- Typical training: 2–4 years
Medical Assistant
Room patients, take vitals, give injections and keep clinic records accurate.
- Typical training: 9–12 months
Certified Nursing Assistant
Provide hands-on daily care to patients and residents under nurse supervision.
- Typical training: 4–12 weeks
Phlebotomist
Draw blood for tests, transfusions and donations, safely and accurately.
- Typical training: 1–4 months
Pharmacy Technician
Fill prescriptions, manage inventory and help pharmacists keep patients safe.
- Typical training: 3–12 months
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
Translate medical records into codes and claims so providers get paid correctly.
- Typical training: 4–12 months
Emergency Medical Technician
Respond to 911 calls, assess and treat patients and transport them safely.
- Typical training: 1–6 months
Medical and Health Services Manager
Run hospital departments, clinics and practices so patients get good care.
- Typical training: 4–6 years plus experience
Home Health Aide
Help older adults and people with disabilities live safely and comfortably at home.
- Typical training: 2–6 weeks
Skills these careers use
- Patient assessment
- Vital signs measurement
- Medication administration and dosage calculation
- IV therapy
- Care planning and documentation
- Injections (intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal)
Minors that fit this interest
- Biology: Adds a foundation in living systems, cells, genetics and ecology.
- Exercise Science: Adds knowledge of fitness, movement and physical health.
- Gerontology: Focuses on aging and the needs of older adults.
- Healthcare Administration: Adds knowledge of how health organizations are managed and financed.
- Nutrition: Adds knowledge of food, diet and health.
- Public Health: Adds knowledge of disease prevention and community health.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what registered nurses do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: patient assessment, medication administration and dosage calculation, and IV therapy
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Healthcare and Medicine
A self-paced online course on what medical assistants do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: vital signs measurement, injections (intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal), and phlebotomy and specimen handling
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Healthcare and Medicine
A self-paced online course on what certified nursing assistants do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: activities of daily living (ADL) care, safe patient transfers and positioning, and vital signs
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Healthcare and Medicine
A self-paced online course on what phlebotomists do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: venipuncture and capillary collection, order of draw and tube additives, and specimen labeling and processing
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Healthcare and Medicine
Healthcare and Medicine: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in healthcare and medicine?
Careers connected to healthcare and medicine include registered nurse, medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, pharmacy technician, medical billing and coding specialist, emergency medical technician, and medical and health services manager.
What should I major in if I am interested in healthcare and medicine?
Majors connected to healthcare and medicine include Nursing, Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Medical Assisting, and Health Information Management. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What healthcare and medicine careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include registered nurse, medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, pharmacy technician, and medical billing and coding specialist. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which healthcare and medicine careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include medical and health services manager, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, pharmacist, speech-language pathologist, and physician assistant. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in healthcare and medicine?
Skills that come up often in these careers include patient assessment, vital signs measurement, medication administration and dosage calculation, IV therapy, care planning and documentation, and injections (intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal), along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in healthcare and medicine?
Minors connected to healthcare and medicine include Biology, Exercise Science, Gerontology, Healthcare Administration, and Nutrition.
How do I start a career in healthcare and medicine?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore healthcare and medicine careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in healthcare and medicine involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to healthcare and medicine?
Yes. Related online trainings include Registered Nurse Training, Medical Assistant Training, Certified Nursing Assistant Training, and Phlebotomist Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to healthcare and medicine?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.