The Healthcare career family includes direct care practitioners (Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, etc.) and allied health professionals. Allied health workers (Phlebotomists, Technicians, Lab Scientists, etc.) support the implementation of the health care, treatment and referral plans provided by direct care practitioners. Direct care practitioner roles usually require bachelor's or advanced degrees while allied health professionals may be trained in hospitals or college-based programs that take anywhere from a few months to 4+ years of education and training. Most healthcare professionals are also certified by the state they work in by passing an examination. Work locations include hospitals, healthcare centers, specialty offices, and increasingly home-based services. Some healthcare professionals choose to train others, perform research, and lead teams of healthcare workers (administrators).
There are also professionals who work in the healthcare industry who are more behind the scenes and not specialized in direct patient care. Examples include IT (internet technologies) professionals ensuring equipment and data are securely connected and biomedical engineers designing diagnostic systems and replacement body parts used by healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes. These careers are also included in the Technology career family.