| As the largest industry in 2006, health care provided 14 | | | | resident. If you plan on sub-specializing, you'll have to do |
| million jobs, with 13.6 million jobs for wage and salary | | | | a fellowship - usually 1-2 years more. In most cases to |
| workers and about 438,000 jobs for self-employed | | | | get a medical license, you'll need to complete your MD |
| and unpaid family workers. Of the 13.6 million wage | | | | or DO, and pass the 3 steps of the U.S. Medical |
| and salary jobs, 40 percent were in hospitals; another | | | | Licensing Exam during the 2nd and 4th years of |
| 21 percent were in nursing and residential care facilities; | | | | medical school and your internship year. The tests are |
| and 16 percent were in offices of physicians. The | | | | difficult, but 90% of students eventually pass. As a side |
| majority of jobs for self-employed and unpaid family | | | | note, many of the requirements for medical doctors. |
| workers in health care were in offices of physicians, | | | | Other related professions that require doctorate level |
| dentists, and other health practitioners with about | | | | training include: dentist, chiropractors and podiatrists. |
| 295,000 out of the 438,000 total self-employed. | | | | There are a number of medical careers available in |
| Health care will generate 3 million new wage and | | | | nursing. Some nursing students start out as Nursing |
| salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any | | | | Assistant which requires the completion of a short |
| other industry. Seven of the twenty fastest growing | | | | study program often at community college or technical |
| occupations are health care related. Job opportunities | | | | school. Other students may choose to become a |
| should be good in all employment settings. | | | | Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The LPN usually one |
| Wage and salary employment in the health care | | | | does requires college classes often at junior college. In |
| industry is projected to increase 22 percent through | | | | most cases they closely with other nurses and with |
| 2016, compared with 11 percent for all industries | | | | physicians to provide care for patients. Others in the |
| combined. Employment growth is expected to account | | | | nursing field study to earn an RN degree. The RN |
| for about 3 million new wage and salary jobs and 20 | | | | completes either a 2- or a 4-year degree program, |
| percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the | | | | then must pass the NCLEX exam to become licensed. |
| economy over the 2006-16 period. Projected rates of | | | | If you want to work in the health care industry, but |
| employment growth for the various segments of the | | | | would prefer something requiring less education, less |
| industry range from 13 percent in hospitals, the largest | | | | patient care, and shorter hours, then training to be part |
| and slowest growing industry segment, to 55 percent | | | | of the office staff or medical assistant may be an |
| in the much smaller home health care services. | | | | ideal choice. Medical careers in transcription, coding and |
| If you wish to be a physician, you must complete 4 | | | | billing all begin with some basic training which you can |
| years of undergraduate training, spend 4 years in | | | | usually receive from a vocational colleges, junior |
| medical school, and 3-7 years as an intern and | | | | college and online programs. |