This section lays out various pathways you can take to launch your healthcare career. Explore the field of allied health, college options, where certifications fit in, and how to get started while still in high school.
LEARN ABOUT CAREERS
In the Careers section, delve into different healthcare roles that may pique your interest. Learn more about the roles of a dietitian, nutritionist, community health professional, and medical IT administrator.
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Welcome to your personalized dashboard! This is your launchpad to navigate through a range of exciting healthcare careers and educational pathways. Here's a quick rundown to get you started:
Allied health jobs require training after high school. Some jobs require a college degree - an Associate or Bachelor’s degree. Some also require other experiences, like:
✅ Internships ✅ Practicums ✅ Clinical Rotations ✅ Work Experience ✅ License or Certification Exams
These experiences might be part of your college course schedule, or they may happen during school breaks or after graduation. Most of the time, your college program will help facilitate this process, but it’s still important to be aware of this from the start.
Some Allied Health jobs that don’t require a college degree require the job applicant to be certified. Certifications are an industry credential that you earn by demonstrating skills and knowledge, using by passing an exam. Certifications are awarded by the state or an industry recognized medical institution.
For example, to become a certified nutritionist in New York, you need:
A qualifying bachelor’s degree in a related field
800 hours of continuous work experience under the supervision of a NYS certified nutritionist (this can happen as either part of your degree program or completed after graduation)
Pass the Certified Nutrition Specialist exam through the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists
To become a licensed speech pathologist in New York, you need:
Bachelor’s degree in related field
Master’s degree in speech language pathology
Practicum of 400 hours (similar to an internship); organized as part of master’s degree
36 weeks of supervised work experience, post-graduation
Pass the licensing exam
To become a Phlebotomist in NYC, you need:
High school diploma or equivalent
Complete a state-approved course
Practicum: 30 successful blood draws
Pass a certification test
Explore requirements for other licensed allied health professions in New York State