Healthcare Practitioners

Find Employers with Healthcare Practitioner Careers

Types of occupations, skills, abilities, training ideas for career path:

Anesthesiologists: Administer anesthetics during surgery or other medical procedures.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; deductive reasoning; oral comprehension; reading comprehension; critical thinking; active listening; operation monitoring; social perceptiveness; judgment and decision making; biology;  medicine and dentistry; English language; biology
Training Programs: Anesthesiology; critical care anesthesiology

Audiologists: Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders. May fit hearing aids and provide auditory training. May perform research related to hearing problems.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; written comprehension; oral comprehension; reading comprehension; speaking; active listening; judgment and decision making; social perceptiveness; service orientation; customer and personal service;  medicine and dentistry; English language
Training Programs: Communication disorders; audiology

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians: Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary-functions, lung capacity, and similar tests.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; monitoring; speaking; active listening; operation monitoring; social perceptiveness; service orientation; customer and personal service;  medicine and dentistry; English language
Training Programs: Cardiovascular technology; cardiopulmonary technology

Chiropractors: Adjust spinal column and other articulations of the body to correct abnormalities of the human body believed to be caused by interference with the nervous system. Examine patient to determine nature and extent of disorder. Manipulate spine or other involved area. May utilize supplementary measures, such as exercise, rest, water, light, heat, and nutritional therapy.
Important Abilities & Skills: Written comprehension; oral expression; oral comprehension; reading comprehension; speaking; active listening; writing; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; time management;  medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; biology
Training Programs: Chiropractic

Dentists, General: Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums and related oral structures. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting vitality of teeth.
Important Abilities & Skills: Deductive reasoning; inductive reasoning; finger dexterity; critical thinking;  active listening; monitoring; social perceptiveness; judgment and decision making; coordination;  medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; biology
Training Programs: Dentistry

Dental Hygienists: Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop X-rays, or apply fluoride or sealants. 
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; oral expression; problem sensitivity; critical thinking;  active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; service orientation; coordination;  medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; English language
Training Programs: Dental hygiene

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; oral expression; near vision; reading comprehension;  active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; time management; coordination;  medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; physics
Training Programs: Diagnostic medical sonography and ultrasound technician; allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions

Dietetic Technicians: Assist dietitians in the provision of food service and nutritional programs. Under the supervision of dietitians, may plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; oral expression; problem sensitivity; reading comprehension;  active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; service orientation; coordination;  food production; English language; public safety and security
Training Programs: Nutrition sciences; foods, nutrition, and wellness studies

Dietitians and Nutritionists: Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; written comprehension; writing;  active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; coordination;  psychology; English language; biology
Training Programs: Foods, nutrition, and wellness studies; nutrition sciences; dietetics

Family and General Practitioners: Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; critical thinking;  active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; psychology; biology
Training Programs: Medicine; osteopathic medicine; family medicine

Internists, General: Diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; science;  active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making;  medicine and dentistry; English language; biology
Training Programs: Cardiology; critical care medicine; endocrinology; gastroenterology; hematology; neurology; infectious disease; oncology, rheumatology

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Care for ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled persons in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; speech clarity; active listening; speaking; reading comprehension; coordination; service orientation; social perceptiveness; medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; psychology
Training Programs: Licensed practical /vocational nurse training

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians: Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. Process, maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression, oral comprehension; near vision; reading comprehension; active listening; speaking; time management; social perceptiveness; service orientation; clerical, English language; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Health information/medical records technology

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians: Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; active listening; science; critical thinking; operation monitoring; quality control analysis; time management;  medicine and dentistry; chemistry; biology
Training Programs: Clinical/medical laboratory; hematology technologists

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists: Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; problem sensitivity; deductive reasoning; judgment and decision making; complex problem solving; time management; biology; chemistry; medicine and dentistry
Training Programs: Cyto-technology; histological technology; clinical/medical laboratory

Nuclear Medicine Technologists: Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies utilizing a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; oral expression; near vision; active listening; speaking; writing; coordination; time management; social perceptiveness; customer and personal service; mathematics; English language
Training Programs: Nuclear medical technology, radiation protection

Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system and the process of childbirth.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; inductive reasoning; oral comprehension; critical thinking; science;  active listening; service orientation; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; medicine and dentistry;   English language; therapy and counseling
Training Programs: Neonatal-perinatal medicine; obstetrics and gynecology

Occupational Therapists: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to disabled persons.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; reading comprehension; speaking;  active listening; service orientation; social perceptiveness; instructing; psychology; English language; therapy and counseling
Training Programs: Occupational therapy

Optometrists: Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; near vision; deductive reasoning; science;  active listening; critical thinking; coordination; service orientation; social perceptiveness;  medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; mathematics
Training Programs: Optometry

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Perform surgery on mouth, jaws, and related head and neck structure to execute difficult and multiple extractions of teeth, to remove tumors and other abnormal growths, to correct abnormal jaw relations by mandibular or maxillary revision, to prepare mouth for insertion of dental prosthesis, or to treat fractured jaws.
Important Abilities & Skills: Arm-hand steadiness; problem sensitivity; finger dexterity; critical thinking;  speaking; reading comprehension; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; time management;  medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; English language
Training Programs: Dental/oral surgery specialty

Orthodontists: Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusion and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; oral expression; critical thinking;  speaking; active listening; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; social perceptiveness;  medicine and dentistry; administration and management; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Orthodontics specialty

Pediatricians, General: Diagnose, treat, and help prevent children’s diseases and injuries.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; inductive reasoning; oral expression; critical thinking;  science; active listening; service orientation; judgment and decision making; social perceptiveness;  medicine and dentistry; biology; psychology
Training Programs: Child/pediatric Neurology; family medicine; pediatrics

Pharmacy Technicians: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications.
Important Abilities & Skills: Near vision; written comprehension; oral comprehension; reading comprehension;  speaking; active listening; service orientation; coordination; social perceptiveness;  customer and personal service; mathematics; English language
Training Programs: Pharmacy technician/assistant

Pharmacists: Compound and dispense medications following prescriptions issued by physicians, dentists, or other authorized medical practitioners.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; written comprehension; oral expression; instructing; service orientation;  judgment and decision making; active listening; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making; chemistry;  medicine and dentistry; English language
Training Programs: Medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry; pharmacy; clinical, hospital, and managed care pharmacy

Physical Therapists: Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; deductive reasoning; oral expression; speaking; reading comprehension; active listening; social perceptiveness; time management; coordination;  medicine and dentistry; therapy and counseling; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Physical therapy; kinesiotherapy

Physician Assistants: Provide health care services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; oral expression; active listening; speaking;  judgment and decision making; critical thinking; social perceptiveness; judgment and decision making; service orientation;  medicine and dentistry; biology; psychology
Training Programs: Physician assistant

Psychiatric Technicians: Care for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals, following physician instructions and hospital procedures. Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral medications and hypodermic injections.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; oral expression; active listening; speaking;  monitoring; coordination; social perceptiveness; service orientation;  therapy and counseling; customer and personal service; psychology
Training Programs: Psychiatric/mental health services technician

Podiatrists: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; written comprehension; active listening; speaking;  reading comprehension; judgment and decision making; coordination; social perceptiveness; medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; biology
Training Programs: Podiatric medicine/podiatry

Prosthodontists: Construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and other oral structures to correct natural and acquired deformation of mouth and jaws, to restore and maintain oral function, such as chewing and speaking, and to improve appearance.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral comprehension; near vision; speech recognition; critical thinking;  speaking; active listening; complex problem solving; service orientation; social perceptiveness;  medicine and dentistry; administration and management; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Prosthodontics/prosthodontology

Psychiatrists: Diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; written comprehension; writing;  speaking; active listening; social perceptiveness; service orientation; judgment and decision making;  medicine and dentistry; therapy and counseling; psychology
Training Programs: Child psychiatry, psychiatry, physical medical and rehabilitation

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians: Take X-rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient’s blood stream for diagnostic purposes. Includes technologists who specialize in other modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance. Includes workers whose primary duties are to demonstrate portions of the human body on X-ray film or fluoroscopic screen.
Important Abilities & Skills: Oral expression; oral comprehension; problem sensitivity; monitoring;  speaking; active listening; operation and control; service orientation; coordination;  medicine and dentistry; English language; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Medical radio-logic technician; radio-logic technology; allied health diagnostic

Radiation Therapists: Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist according to established practices and standards. Duties may include reviewing prescription and diagnosis; acting as liaison with physician and supportive care personnel; preparing equipment, such as immobilization, treatment, and protection devices; and maintaining records, reports, and files. May assist in dosimetry procedures and tumor localization.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; oral expression; reading comprehension; active listening; critical thinking; social perceptiveness; operation monitoring; operation and control;  customer and personal service; medicine and dentistry; physics
Training Programs: Medical radio-logic technology/science

Recreational Therapists: Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; oral expression; reading comprehension; active listening; speaking; social perceptiveness; service orientation; coordination;  therapy and counseling; English language; psychology
Training Programs: Therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy

Registered Nurses: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes advance practice nurses such as: nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Advanced practice nursing is practiced by RNs who have specialized formal, post-basic education and who function in highly autonomous and specialized roles.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; inductive reasoning; active listening; speaking; monitoring; social perceptiveness; service orientation; judgment and decision making;  medicine and dentistry; English language; psychology
Training Programs: Nursing; family practice nurse/nurse practitioner; pediatric nurse/nursing; public health/community nurse/nursing

Respiratory Therapy Technicians: Provide specific, well defined respiratory care procedures under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral expression; oral comprehension; deductive reasoning; monitoring; active listening speaking; social perceptiveness; service orientation; coordination; English language; customer and personal service; medicine and dentistry
Training Programs: Respiratory care therapy

Respiratory Therapists: Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral expression; oral comprehension; speaking;  critical thinking; active listening; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; service orientation; medicine and dentistry; English language; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Respiratory care therapy

Surgeons: Treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive methods, such as manual manipulation or by using instruments and appliances.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; inductive reasoning; written comprehension; reading comprehension;  critical thinking; active listening; social perceptiveness; complex problem solving; judgment and decision making;  medicine and dentistry; biology; customer and personal service
Training Programs: Colon and rectal surgery; critical care surgery; general surgery; hand surgery; neurosurgery; orthopedics; otolaryngology; pediatric surgery; plastic surgery; throacic surgery; urology; vascular surgery

Surgical Technologists: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon’s assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
Important Abilities & Skills: Problem sensitivity; oral comprehension; speech recognition; monitoring active listening; speaking; coordination; operation monitoring; operation and control; medicine and dentistry; customer and personal service; English language
Training Programs: Pathology/pathologist assistant; surgical technology

Education and training for this career path:
Biological Studies ; Family Consumer Science ; Health ; Physical Science ; Psychology