Health Professions Resources

Chiropractic care (also simply "chiropractic") is a health care discipline that emphasizes the inherent power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. It focuses on the relationship between the body's structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.
Chiropractic doctors diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body's muscular, nervous and skeletal systems.

Areas of Specialization

• Sports Injuries
• Neurology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Nutrition
• Internal Disorders
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Ergonomics
• Solo and group practices
• Hospitals or health clinics
• Physicians’ offices

Degree Type: DC (Doctor of Chiropractic)

Test Required: GRE; MCAT

Approximately 80% of all dentists practice general dentistry. General dentists treat all patients, adults and children, in many different treatment facilities and settings. General dentists are graduates of dental school and hold a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. The D.M.D. and the D.D.S. are equivalent degrees that are awarded to dental students upon completion of the same types of programs. While many dental school graduates opt to enter general practice immediately upon graduation, in other cases, they may opt for one or two years of additional education in a general practice residency or advanced education in general dentistry program

A degree in dentistry offers a number of career options, including:

• Academic dentistry
• Private practice either as a general dentist or specialist (self-employed, employee, associate/ partner)
• Dental research
• Dental public policy
• International health care
• Federal government (military dentist)

Degree Type: DDS and DMD *These degrees DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are awarded upon graduation from dental school. While the DDS degree is more common, the education received by a DMD is the same.

Online Application: AADSAS

Online Application *TEXAS APPLICANTS: TMDSAS

Test Required: DAT

Prerequisites:

Undergraduate requirements (varies by program):
Be sure to check the admission requirements for the specific programs you will be applying to.

Health care managers, also known as health services managers and health administrators, direct the operation of hospitals, health systems and other types of organizations.  They have responsibility for facilities, services, programs, staff, budgets, relations with other organizations and other management functions, depending on the type and size of the organization.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this field are expected to grow 23 percent between 2012 and 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Degree Type: MHA (Masters of Health Administration)

Online Application: SOPHAS

Test Required: GMAT; GRE

Medicine M.D. (Allopathic Physician)

Physicians examine patients; obtain medical histories; order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests; and prescribe and administer treatment for people suffering from injury or disease. They counsel patients about illness, injuries, health conditions and preventive healthcare. They can also conduct medical research, teach and run medical centers. People with medical education are in demand in many areas.

Medicine D.O. (Osteopathic Physician)

Osteopathic physicians (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine or D.O.s) diagnose illness and injury, prescribe and administer treatment, and advise patients about how to prevent and manage disease. Like their M.D. counterparts, they are fully licensed to diagnose, treat, prescribe medications, and perform surgery in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Today, more than 20 percent of all U.S. medical students are studying at a college of osteopathic medicine.

In addition to using all of the tools and technology available to modern medicine, D.O.s have a strongly holistic philosophy and practice osteopathic manipulative medicine - a distinctive system of hands-on diagnosis and treatment which focuses specifically on the musculoskeletal system.

Areas of Specialization

• Allergology   
• Anesthesiology
• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine
• Family and General Practice
• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Orthopedics
• Pathology
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Radiology
• Surgery
• Research
• Public Health

Degree Type: MD (Medicine Degree) and DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) 

Online Application: AMCAS (Allopathic Schools); AACOMAS (Osteopathic Schools)

Online Application *TEXAS APPLICANTS: TMDSAS

Test Required: MCAT

Prerequisites:

Undergraduate requirements (varies by program).

Be sure to check the admission requirements for the specific programs you will be applying to.

*HR: Highly Recommended
*R: Recommend

Registered Nurse

Registered nursing (RN) requires a large base of knowledge used to assess, plan and intervene to promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illness. When providing direct patient care, nurses observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress, which provides the basis for care planning and intervention.

RN roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems, conducting clinical research and teaching in nursing programs, as well as practicing in many other invigorating settings.

Nurse Anesthetist

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses who safely provide more than 32 million anesthetics for surgical, obstetrical and trauma care each year in the United States. They administer every type of anesthetic, work in every type of practice setting and provide care for every type of operation or procedure – from open heart surgery to pain management programs.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses who provide care to patients throughout the lifespan, from premature newborns to the elderly.

They perform comprehensive and focused physical examinations; diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries; provide immunizations; manage high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and other chronic health problems; order and interpret diagnostic tests such as X-rays and EKGs, as well as laboratory tests; prescribe medications and therapies; perform procedures; and educate and counsel patients and their families regarding healthy lifestyles and health care options.

Master in Science Nursing

A master's in nursing program will equip you with the skills and advanced training you need to give high-quality nursing care in a specialized role, such as nurse practitioner. Earning your MSN qualifies you to deliver many of the same health care services that physicians are qualified to do, which is particularly important in today's health care field. Physicians may have packed schedules or cost too much for some patients making advanced practice nurses a great alternative.

Areas of Specialization (tracks)

• Administrative nurse leader
• Ambulatory care nursing
• Critical care nurse
• Clinical nurse leader
• Emergency nurse
• Hospice/palliative care nurse
• Labor and delivery staff nurse
• Neonatal nurse
• Nephrology nurse
• Nurse educator
• Nurse executive
• Oncology nurse
• Orthopedic nurse
• Perioperative (O.R.) nurse
• Psychiatric/mental health nurse
• School nurse
• Staff nurse
• Women's health nurse practitioner

Degree Type: ADN (Associate Degree Nursing); BSN (Bachelor Science Nursing); MSN (Master of Science Nursing); DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

Popular Certifications: RN (Registered Nurse), CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists), NP (Nurse Practitioner)

Test Required: Check with institution

Occupational therapists help people of all ages to fully engage in their daily lives, from their work and recreation to activities of daily living like getting dressed, cooking, eating and driving.
There are new specialties too, like training workers to use the correct ergonomics, helping people with low vision maintain their independence, making buildings and homes more accessible, evaluating and training older drivers and promoting health and wellness.

Between 2012 and 2022, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 29%, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Services Include

• An individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals
• Customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals
• An outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan
• Occupational therapy services may include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments (e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for family members and caregiver

Degree Type: OTD (Doctor of Occupational Therapy)

Online Application: OTCAS

Test Required: GRE

Doctors of Optometry (ODs) are the independent primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures. They also identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.

Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery, in addition to diagnosing and treating eye conditions. Dispensing opticians fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.

Areas of Specialization

• Family Practice
• Pediatric Optometry
• Geriatric Optometry
• Vision Therapy
• Contact Lenses
• Hospital-Based Optometry
• Primary Care Optometry
• Ocular Disease
• Public Health
• Research
• Private practice
• Physicians’ offices
• Retail optical centers
• Hospitals
• Armed services

Degree Type: OD (Doctor of Optometry)

Online Application: OptomCAS

Test Required: OAT

Prerequisites:

Undergraduate requirements (varies by program).

Be sure to check the admission requirements for the specific programs you will be applying to.

Pharmacists dispense medications prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and monitor patient health. They advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions and side effects of medications.

Pharmacists must understand the use, clinical effects and composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological and physical properties.

Areas of Specialization

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Intravenous Nutrition Support
• Oncology
• Nuclear Pharmacy
• Geriatric Pharmacy
• Research
• Public Health
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Mental health institutions
• Health clinics
• Retail chains
• Government agencies including:
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Public Health Service
  • Department of Veteran’s Affairs
  • Armed Services
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Health insurance firms

Degree Type: PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)

Online Application: PharmCAS

Test Required: PCAT

Prerequisites:

Undergraduate requirements (varies by program).

Be sure to check the admission requirements for the specific programs you will be applying to.

Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients with injuries or disease. Physical therapists work closely with patients and clients to restore, maintain, and promote their overall fitness and wellness for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Services Include

• Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities.
• Restore, maintain, and promote not only optimal physical function but optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health.
• Prevent the onset, symptoms, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, or injuries.

Degree Type: DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)

Online Application: PTCAS

Test Required: GRE

Physician assistants are medical providers who are licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease and to prescribe medication for patients. They work in physician offices, hospitals and clinics in collaboration with a licensed physician. Because of their advanced education in general medicine, modeled after physician education, physician assistants can treat patients with significant autonomy.

Areas of Specialization

• General Internal Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Emergency Medicine
• Occupational Medicine
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Dermatology
• Physicians’ offices
• Hospitals
• Surgical facilities
• Public clinics

Degree Type: PA (Physician Assistant)

Online Application: CASPA

Test Required: (Check the Institutions Requirements) GRE; MCAT 

Podiatric medicine is a branch of the medical sciences devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders resulting from injury or disease.

A Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) makes independent judgments and performs or orders all necessary diagnostic tests. They perform surgery, administer medications and prescribe physical therapy regimens. Podiatric physicians are educated in state-of-the-art techniques involving surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Areas of Specialization

• Surgery
• Orthopedics
• Primary Care
• Sports Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Dermatology
• Radiology
• Geriatrics
• Diabetic Foot Care

Degree Type: D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine)

Online Application: AACPMAS

Test Required: (Check the Institutions Requirements) GRE; MCAT

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience — from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged.

Psychologists traditionally treat patients with mental and emotional problems, but they also serve as scientists researching the phenomenon of human (and non-human) behavior. They study how human beings relate not only to each other but also to machines, and they work to improve these relationships.

Degree Type: PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)

Test Required: GRE

Public health is the science and art of creating healthy communities through education, research and promotion of healthy lifestyles. In public health, the focus is on health promotion and disease/injury prevention, in contrast to the medical model of care, which focuses more heavily upon diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions after they occur.

Public health professionals analyze and develop programs that protect the health of individuals, families and communities in the United States and abroad.

You can earn over 15 degrees from a school or program of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The most common are:

• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Master of Science (MS)
• Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
• Doctor of Science (ScD)

Degree Type: MPH (Maters of Public Health)

Test Required: Check with institution

Veterinarians play a major role in the health care of pets, livestock, laboratory animals, zoo animals, and animals as related to public health. Veterinarians work in food safety, sanitation, and research. Most veterinarians work in private practice, research centers, government agencies, and in the food industry.

Areas of Specialization

• Small Animal Care, e.g., Companion Animals
• Large Animal Care, e.g., Equine, Livestock
• Food Safety
• Preventative Medicine
• Surgery
• Laboratory Animal Medicine
• Research
• Group or private practice
• Federal government including:
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Health and Human Services
• State and local government
• Colleges of veterinarian medicine
• Medical schools
• Research laboratories
• Animal food companies
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Zoos

Degree Type: DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)

Online Application: VMCAS

Test Required: GRE; MCAT; VCAT (The VCAT is no longer administered, and is not required by any Veterinary School)