Get educated, licensed, and certified for your medical job. Once you've decided on the best career, it's time to start studying to obtain the prerequisite qualifications needed. Most medical jobs require multiple certifications and licenses before starting work. Depending on which type of job you're pursuing, the education and certification process could take weeks, months, or years to complete.
Search and Apply for Medical Jobs. A variety of resources are available to help you to search and apply for medical jobs.
If you want to become a medical doctor, you must complete an intensive program of graduate and undergraduate studies, followed by extensive hands-on training via a clinical residency in a hospital setting. While attending medical school, future physicians select a specialty, such as family medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics. Physicians must pass board certifications and go through state licensing procedures prior to going to work. Doctors tend to be the most highly compensated medical professionals, whether working in private practice or for corporate groups.
Physical Therapy professionals, including licensed Physical Therapists and certified Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA) are in high demand in the medical field. Individuals who work in this capacity help patients with physical disabilities as well as those who are recovering from injuries that impair their physical mobility. Physical Therapists must complete intense undergraduate and graduate-level education and training prior to becoming licensed to practice in their state. PTAs must complete a formal, yet shorter, program of study and are also required to fulfill state-specific licensure requirements.
Nursing is among the highest demand career fields. There is a great need for qualified nursing professionals in both hospital and outpatient healthcare settings. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs typically run between 18 and 24 months in duration. Those seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing or Registered Nurse (RN) credentialing typically spend four or more years in training.
The field of practice management has now expanded greatly. Some medical practice managers move up into their jobs from lower level office administration positions, and others enter the field after completing a prescribed program of study in Healthcare Administration. Licensure is not required to work in this capacity, but most hospitals and large practices prefer to hire individuals with specific certifications to manage their offices.
Some people move into medical billing and coding field after working in other clinical or non-clinical aspects of the medical field. Others become medical billing and coding professionals following completion of a prescribed course of study. There are no specific licensure or certification requirements to become a medical billing and coding specialist, but many organizations prefer to hire certified professionals, such as those credentialed by AHIMA.
Individuals with strong communication skills, the ability to work independently, and who project positive professional images may be good candidates for employment in pharmaceutical companies.
If you want to work in the healthcare industry, but would prefer something requiring less education, less patient care, and shorter hours, then training to be part of the office staff may be an ideal choice. Medical careers in transcription, coding, and billing all begin with some basic training which you can usually receive from a vocational college in just two years.
