Quick Guide to Healthcare Careers

Decency LLC is compiling publicly available information on healthcare roles and career paths, including but not limited to job titles, functions, education and licensing requirements (e.g., exams), average compensation, professional organizations, and entities responsible for certification or licensure.

Note that this list is not intended to be exhaustive; for example, it is likely that not every role, job function, sub-specialty, or relevant organization will be listed. Please be sure to cross-reference this information with other resources when researching healthcare roles.

Click here to download the compiled information in table form: [Quick Guide to Healthcare Careers v. 12924].

Keep an eye on this page for updates.

Last update: January 29, 2024.

Covered roles:

Advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT)

Advanced practice paramedic (APP)

Advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)

Anesthesia technician

Anesthesia technologist

Anesthesiologist assistant

Art therapist

Athletic trainer

Audiologist

Autotransfusionist (autotransfusion technician)

Bereavement coordinator

Board certified assistant behavior analyst (BCaBA)

Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)

Board certified behavior analyst—doctoral (BCBA-D)

Cardiovascular technician

Cardiovascular technologist

Certified midwife (CM)

Certified nursing assistant (CNA or LNA, “licensed nursing assistant”)

Certified pedorthist

Certified professional midwife (CPM)

Chaplain

Chiropractor

Clinical neurophysiologist

Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

Critical care nurse (ICU nurse)

Cytotechnologist

Dental assistant

Dental hygienist

Dental lab technician

Dental therapist

Dentist

Diagnostic medical sonographer

Dialysis technician

Direct-entry midwife

Doula

ECG (EKG) technician

Emergency medical responder (EMR)

Emergency medical technician (EMT)

Exercise physiologist

Flight medic (flight paramedic)

Genetic counselor

Health information technician

Histology technician (histologic technician, histotechnologist)

Home health aide

Lactation consultant

Lay midwife

Licensed practical nurse (LPN; or licensed vocational nurse, LVN)

Lithotripsy technologist

Marriage and family therapist

Massage therapist

Medical administrative assistant (medical secretary, medical receptionist, medical office assistant, medical office manager)

Medical assistant

Medical billing specialist

Medical coder

Medical interpreter

Medical science liaison

Medical scribe

Medical transcriptionist (healthcare documentation specialist)

Medical writer

Mental health counselor

MRI technologist

Music therapist

Nurse anesthetist (CRNA, “certified registered nurse anesthetist”)

Nurse assistant (CNA)

Nurse midwife (CNM, “certified nurse midwife”)

Nurse practitioner

Nutritionist (certified nutrition specialist)

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapy assistant

Optometrist

Orthodontist

Orthoptist

Orthotist (prosthetist)

Osteopathic physician

Paramedic

Patient care technician

Perfusionist

Pharmacist—clinical

Pharmacist—retail

Pharmacologist

Pharmacy clerk

Pharmacy technician

Phlebotomist

Physical therapist

Physical therapy assistant

Physician assistant

Physician—anesthesiologist

Physician—oncologist

Physician—pediatrician

Physician—psychiatrist

Physician—radiologist

Physician—surgeon

Podiatrist

Psychologist—clinical

Psychologist—educational

Radiation therapist

Radiologic technologist (“x-ray tech”)

Recreational therapist

Registered behavior technician

Registered nurse (RN)

Rehabilitation counselor

Respiratory therapist

Social worker—clinical (LCSW, LICSW)

Social worker—non-clinical

Speech and language pathologist

Sterile processing technician (medical equipment preparer)

Surgical nurse (perioperative nurse)

Surgical technologist

Travel nurse