Healthcare Timelines

Group 1

Group 1

a. EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)

Definition: Most basic level of emergency medical services. Works in ambulances.

Salary: 29 - 44k a year (usually around minimum wage)

Route: need high school diploma or GRE, then go to EMT course to get certification, then get license for state/county

Time: ~150 hours over variable time periods

b. MA (Medical Assistant)

Definition: Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities to perform administrative and clinical duties.

Salary: $27k - $40k

Route: The minimum medical assistant education requirement is a high school diploma or GED. However, some practices require training or examinations for those who do clinical work, and some employers prefer assistants with training or certification. If employers require training, programs usually take 560 hours or 2 semesters.

Time: variable time

c. Phlebotomist

Definition: Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, perform blood transfusions, conduct research and run or assist with blood donations.

Salary: $30k-$50k

Route: Phlebotomist school is short in length—one- to-two semesters, or 4 to 8 months, depending upon your school—and prepares you to work with patients and in different settings such as labs, blood banks and hospitals. You must have a high school diploma or GED in order to take courses and receive your phlebotomy license. You’ll need to accumulate CEUs (continuing education units) from a recognized continuing education program in order to keep your license current.

Time: 4 - 8 months

d. Medical Scribe

Definition: A medical scribe is a paraprofessional who specializes in charting physician-patient encounters in real time, such as during medical examinations. They also locate information and patients for physicians and complete forms needed for patient care.

Salary: $27k - $47k

Route: The standard requirement to become a medical scribe is a high school degree or GED. While most places looking for a scribe do not require that you have any degree beyond a high school diploma, having one or being in the process of obtaining one may increase the number of opportunities available to you. Medical scribes are expected to be familiar with human anatomy and medical terminology. Another option is to receive a certification in being a medical scribe.

Time: ~120 hours

e. CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)

Definition: A certified nursing assistant (CNA) helps patients with activities of daily living and other healthcare needs under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Some individuals will use their knowledge as a CNA to bridge the gap to further their career and become an LPN or RN. Becoming a CNA is useful as it allows you to learn more about the healthcare world and gain additional real world application and knowledge.

Salary: $29k - $45k

Route: CNA career programs in California are 6 to 12 weeks in length and require a high school diploma or GED. Programs include classroom and clinical work. They also prepare students to complete the NNAAP Competency Exam required by the state.

Time: 4 - 12 weeks

Group 2

a. Paramedic

Definition: essentially an advanced EMT, does all the same things as an EMT but has 1000 of hours of experience, can do a lot more than EMT as well, such as giving IVs and pneumothorax treatment

Salary: 34- 45k

Route: get EMT license and work for ~1500 hours, complete paramedic training (~2 years), pass state license exam

Time: 2 - 3 years at the minimum

b. Hospital Technician (x-ray/surgical tech/etc.)

Definition: Hospital technicians help physicians, nurses and health administrators deliver high quality patient care services. Their duties range from maintaining patients' records and operating laboratory equipment to performing basic patient care procedures and dispensing prescription drugs.

Salary: $25k - $70k

Route: The route to becoming a technician depends on what type of technician you want to become. For example, an EKG technician, surgical technician, and x-ray technician will be in different programs and take different courses to prepare them for their desired field.

Time: 1 - 2 years

Group 3

a. RN (Registered Nurse)

Definition: The RN is the direct caretaker for patients in the hospital,” managing patients' daily activities, medications, assessments, scheduled procedures, and operations. RNs work closely with fellow healthcare staff and physicians to ensure they know about and understand patient updates and care plans.

Salary: $45k-$140k

Route: 2 - 5 years (depending on education level)

1. Choose the type of nursing school you want to attend

a. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

b. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

c. Entry Level Masters Program in Nursing (ELM)

d. LVN 30 Unit Option

e. Military Corpsman

2. Select a college and apply for admission

3. Obtain an RN license

b. NP (Nurse Practitioner)

Definition: A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse and a type of mid-level practitioner. NPs are trained to assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe treatment plans.

Salary: $100,000- $150,000

Route: Become a Registered Nurse -> Get Your Bachelor's Degree -> Gain Nursing Experience->Enroll in a Graduate Program (Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)->Earn Your Advanced Practice Nursing Licensure in Practical Nursing

Link: https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/explore-the-variety-of-career-paths-for-nurse-practitioners

Time: 6 - 8 years

c. PA (Physician’s Assistant)

Definition: PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient's principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative.

Salary: $80k-$130k

Route: Master’s degree from an accredited institution (two years of post-graduate education after completing a four-year degree). Six years of rigorous education in total to become a physician assistant.

Link: https://www.aapa.org/career-central/become-a-pa/

Time: 6 - 7 years

d. Master’s

Definition: A master's degree is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. Popular Master's degrees for pre-health students include: Public Health, Global Health, MBA, and master's degrees with a biological emphasis.

Route: Obtain a Bachelor's Degree then apply to a Master’s program.

Time: 1 - 3 years

Group 4

a. MD (Doctor of Medicine)

Definition: A MD is a Doctor of Medicine who has a wide range of responsibilities including diagnosing patients, treating patients at the highest level available, performing surgery, etc. MD’s can be very general (family medicine) or be very specific (neuro/cardiac).

Salary: Starting around 200K (depending on specialty and client base)

Route: Attend a 4-year university, then go medical school, finally obtain 3 - 7 years of residency.

Time: 10 - 15 years

b. DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

Definition: A DO is a Doctor of Osteopathy which is very similar to a Doctor of Medicine in responsibilities. Major differences are in schooling, tests, and what they practive. DOs generally have a more holistic approach to medicine.

Salary: Same as MD.

Route: Same as MD (go to DO school instead).

Time: Same as MD.

c. Combined Programs:

1. BS/MD

Definition: BS/MD programs, also known as direct medical programs, allow students to earn a Bachelor's of Science (BS) degree followed immediately by a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree without having to go through a separate admissions process for medical school. Conditional acceptance into medical school out of high school under condition of successful undergrad.

Route:

Highschool: Apply in high school, need close to 4.0 and near perfect SAT/ACT, lots of community service, extracurriculars,1-5 letters of rec, essentially a high school Group premed.

Undergraduate: As long as undergrad requirements are met; medical school acceptance is guaranteed (as low as 3.5 GPA)

2. MD/JD

Definition: The MD/JD program is a six-year program designed specifically for individuals interested in the areas of health law, health care policy, bioterrorism, forensics or biomedical compliance (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center). Essentially someone who wants to become a doctor that deals specifically with legal health issues.

Route:

Undergraduate: Standard pre-med route and consider law specific majors and extracurriculars.

Medical school: Complete two years of medical school, study law for 2-3 years, return to medical school for final two years.

3. MD/MBA

Definition: A MD/MBA joint degree essentially combines the world of business and medicine (i.e. doctor and entrepreneur). Also prepares students who want to become a doctor and open their own private practice or lead hospital administration.

Route:

Undergraduate: Standard pre-med route, consider business specific majors and extracurriculars

Professional School: 4 years of medical school with the MBA being completed in between the 2nd or 3rd year of medical school.

4. MD/MPH

Definition: A physician that also specializes in areas of public health and how they affect patients.

Route:

Undergraduate: Standard pre-med route, consider extracurriculars/volunteer opportunities specific to aiding public health.

Professional School: Typically the MPH is completed between the 2nd and 3rd year of medical school, but this varies from school to school.

5. MD/PhD

Definition: A physician that also does research and understands both the clinical and laboratory sides to medicine. It is extremely important to have a significant amount of research already completed. Additionally, applicants need to demonstrate to the admissions committee why they should accept them into this dual program and not just into the PhD or MD/DO program.

Route:

Undergraduate: Standard pre-med route. It is extremely important to get lots of undergraduate research experience (getting published/presenting at conferences) as these programs are highly selective, need a STEM major

Professional School: 4 years of medical with the PhD being completed 2nd and 3rd year of medical school. The PhD typically takes 4-5 years to complete.