Start a Medical Career

Ready to launch your medical career? Here are some popular health care specialties, most of which require only a year or two of training:

• Medical Assisting: In this medical career, you'll work closely with doctors, nurses and other staff to make sure that every aspect of patient care runs smoothly. As a medical assistant, you'll often be the first person to greet incoming patients, take medical histories, record current complaints and take vital signs. You'll also be responsible for everything from answering phones to running lab tests.
   
• Dental Assisting: Much like a medical assistant, a dental assistant is often the first point of contact for incoming patients and has a hand in nearly every aspect patient care. With tasks ranging from performing basic office management functions, to educating patients, sterilizing equipment and assisting the dentist with a wide variety of procedures, dental assisting is an exciting and challenging medical career.
   
• Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists fill prescriptions, manage patient records, track insurance information and more.
   
• Medical Billing and Coding: Following a system of coding that is used across the health care system, medical coders assign alphanumeric codes to specific illnesses, injuries and medical procedures. Hospitals and doctors use the codes for internal data collection and planning, while insurance companies and public agencies require the codes to reimburse health care providers.

Health care offers a wide variety of medical career specialties. Learn more about your options in our health care career resources, or find an allied health school that's right for you.