Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/176094
Chapter 3 POST SECONDARY HIGH SCHOOL PLACES OF LEARNING Diagnostic Therapeutic Biotechnology Research and Development Health Informatics Support Services CAREER ORIENTATION/PREPARATION CLUSTER FOUNDATION STANDARDS Academic Foundation Communications Systems Employability Skills Legal Responsibilities Ethics Safety Practices Teamwork Health Maintenance Practices Technical Skills WORK PLACE Three other terms associated with health care careers are certification, registration, and licensure. These are methods used to ensure the skill and competency of CAREER PREPARATION PATHWAY STANDARDS PLACES OF LEARNING Certification, Registration, and Licensure Employment in Career Specialties WORK PLACE There are more than 250 different health care careers, so it would be impossible to discuss all of them in this chapter. A broad overview of a variety of careers is presented, however. Educational requirements for health care careers depend on many factors and can vary from state to state. Basic preparation Math Science begins in high school (secondary education) and should include the sciences, social studies, E nglish, and mathematics. Keyboarding, computer applications, and accounting skills are also utilized in most health care careers. Secondary health science education (HSE) programs can prepare a student for immediate employment in many health care careers or for additional education after graduation. Post-secondary education (after high school) can include training in a career/technical school, community college, university, or an accredited on-line program. Some careers require an associate's degree, which is awarded by a career/technical school or a community college after completion of a prescribed two-year course of study. Other careers require a bachelor's degree, which is awarded by a college or university after a prescribed course of study that usually lasts for four or more years. In some cases a master's degree is required. This is awarded by a college or university after completion of one or more years of work beyond a bachelor's degree. Other careers require a doctorate or doctoral degree, which is awarded by a college or university after completion of two or more years of work beyond a bachelor's or master's degree. Some doctorates can require four to six years of additional study. A health science career cluster has been developed by the National Consortium for Health Science E ducation (NCHSE) (Figure 3-1). This cluster allows a student to see how early career awareness and exploration provide the foundation for making informed choices to prepare for a career in health care. Students who take required courses in middle school and high school have the foundation for success at the post-secondary level. Detailed information and guidance on specific careers can be found on the states' Career Cluster Internet site, www.careertech.org. Additional information can be found at www.healthscienceconsortium.org. HEALTH SCIENCE CAREER CLUSTER MIDDLE 3:1 Introduction to Health Care Careers ELEMENTARY 40 Information Technology Applications CAREER EXPLORATION/ORIENTATION CAREER AWARENESS Figure 3-1 This cluster shows how early career awareness and exploration can provide a foundation for making informed choices to prepare for a career in health care. Courtesy National Consortium for Health S cience Education (NCHSE) health care personnel and to protect the consumer or patient. Certification means that a person has fulfilled the requirements of education and performance and meets the standards and qualifications established by the professional association or government agency that regulates a particular career. A certificate or statement is issued by the association. Examples of certified positions include certified dental assistant, certified laboratory technician, and certified medical assistant. Registration is required in some health care careers. This is performed by a regulatory body (professional association or state board) that administers examinations and maintains a current list ("registry") of qualified personnel in a given health care area. Examples of registered positions include registered dietitian, registered respiratory therapist, and registered radiologic technologist. Licensure is a process whereby a government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation. The license clearly defines the scope of practice, or what