Health Career Information

Important: The following pre-professional guides are informational, and their purpose is to provide an introduction to the occupation and key resources.

Please keep in mind that any pre-requisite courses are general guidelines. It is your responsibility to research the requirements of the individual programs you're interested in.

Becoming a Medical Doctor

Modern medicine generally refers to clinical practice: the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease by a physician. There are three broad categories of physicians: primary care, surgeons, and specialists. Beyond the clinical practice of medicine, physicians can also research the science and technology of health care.

Is Medicine the Right Career for You?
Start by answering the following questions:

Do you enjoy learning about the human body and science?
Are you a disciplined, hard worker?
Would you enjoy a career where you interact with others (patients and colleagues)?
Are you willing to spend at least 8 years in college (4+ years for B.A./B.S. and 4 years in medical school)?
After your education, are you willing to spend another 3-7 years completing clinical training?

If you answered "yes" to these questions, a career in medicine may be a good fit for you!

Holland Interest Code

The interest code for medical doctors varies by specialty. However, most positions include Investigative, Social, and Realistic interests.

IS - Family and General Practitioners & Pediatricians
ISR - OB/GYN, Dermatologists, & Neurologists
IRS - Anesthesiologists

What's a Holland Code? This refers to a career assessment that measures your personality type across 6 areas: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. A Holland Code allows you to connect your personality directly with occupations! Find out your code at mynextmove.org/explore/ip

Choosing a Major for Medicine

There is no required undergraduate major for medical school, and “Pre-Medicine” is not a common undergraduate major. To apply to medical school, you will need to complete certain prerequisite courses in science and math. Therefore, common undergraduate majors for students interested in medicine include:

Biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry
Math, physics, or chemistry

Sample Prerequisite Courses
In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade. Some campuses may have policies regarding whether the requirements can be met through community college coursework.

Common Med School Prerequisites	SCC Courses
One year of English	ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 or 103
One year of biology	BIOL 211, 221, & 231
One year of general chemistry	CHEM 200A & 200B
One year of organic chemistry	CHEM 280A & 280B
One year of physics	PHYS 250A-C* *Some campuses may accept PHYS 150A-B. Refer to program-specific websites.

IMPORTANT: This list is meant to be used as an informational guide. All students must refer to the individual campuses or programs for specific information on prerequisite requirements.

Preparing for Medical School
As an undergraduate student, there are several things you can do now to prepare for medical school:

Maintain a high GPA.

Data on Med School Applicants (GPA, MCAT score, etc).

Clinical experience is not always required, but medical schools prefer students with relevant experience. This demonstrates an applicant’s knowledge and commitment to the field. Seek out volunteer and/or work experience in settings that involve close contact with patients, physicians, and other health professionals. Also, look into programs like:

For students interested in becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, you need to gain an understanding of the Osteopathic philosophy. Many programs require a letter of recommendation from an Osteopathic Physician. You can find Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine through www.ospsc.org.
Join a pre-med club
Connect with faculty and professionals. Remember that most programs will require multiple letters of recommendation.
Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to (i.e. MCAT).

Professional Organizations

Podcasts

Related Occupations

Not sure becoming a physician is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different educational requirements. For more healthcare-related careers, visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.

Job Title	Median Wages in CA	Required Education	Holland Code
Physician Assistant	$118,500	Master's Degree	SIR
Nurse Practitioner	$126,890	Master's Degree	SIR
Registered Nurse	$104,410	Associate's Degree	SIC
Medical Assistant	$36,080	Certificate	SCR

Becoming a Nurse
Nurses promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They have a unique scope of practice and can practice independently, although they also collaborate with all members of the health care team to provide the care needed by each patient as an individual.

Holland Interest Code
The interest code for nurses is SIC (Social, Investigative, & Conventional).

What's a Holland Code? This refers to a career assessment that measures your personality type across 6 areas: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. A Holland Code allows you to connect your personality directly with occupations! Find out your code at mynextmove.org/explore/ip

Is Nursing the Right Career for You?
Start by answering the following questions:

Do you enjoy learning about the human body and science?
Are you a disciplined, hard worker and able to manage your time effectively?
Are you both patient and flexible?
Are you a critical thinker?
Would you enjoy a career with a high level of interaction with patients and colleagues?

If you answered yes to these questions, a career in nursing may be a good fit for you!

Choosing the Nursing Path for You

Although an entry-level nurse can find a job with a three-year RN degree, there is a growing national movement to require all nurses to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Here are the types of nursing programs:

Certificate program

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN)

Already have a bachelor's degree in another subject? Consider an Accelerated Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (ABSN)

Admission to all nursing programs is competitive. Being open to options such as private and out-of-state schools may expand your chances of getting into nursing school. To research national programs, click here.

Sample Pre-Requisite Courses
In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade.

Common Nursing School Pre-Requisites	SCC Courses
Anatomy	BIOL 239
Physiology	BIOL 249
Microbiology	BIOL 229
Statistics	MATH 219
Chemistry	Varies by nursing program ADN Programs: Some programs may not require a chemistry course while others may award points for chemistry coursework CSU Schools: Typically a chemistry course that is: general, inorganic, organic or integrated with associated lab. UC Schools: May want general chemistry and a semester of organic chemistry (CHEM 200A, 200B, 280A). Be sure to check individual campus requirements to determine if chemistry is required and which course(s) are best to take.

IMPORTANT: This list is meant to be used as an informational guide. All students must refer to the individual campuses or programs for specific information on prerequisite requirements.

Preparing for Nursing School

As an SCC student, there are several things you can do now to prepare for nursing school:

Maintain a high GPA.
Research nursing programs and requirements.
Gain experience in the nursing profession through volunteering, interning or taking a summer job in a healthcare setting.

Consider the non-credit Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at SCC
Consider the EMT program at SAC

Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to (i.e. TEAS).

Resources

AACN Program Search (National)

Related Occupations

Not sure becoming a nurse is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different educational requirements. For more healthcare-related careers, visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.

Job Titles	Median Wages in CA	Required Education	Holland Code
Emergency Medical Technicians	$36,970	Certificate	SIR
Medical Assistant	$37,640	Certificate	SCR
Physician Assistants	$124,780	Master's Degree	SIR

Becoming a Physician Assistant

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.

More information from ExploreHealthCareers.org

Holland Interest Code
The interest code for physician assistants is SIR (Social. Investigative, Realistic).

What's a Holland Code? This refers to a career assessment that measures your personality type across 6 areas: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. A Holland Code allows you to connect your personality directly with occupations! Find out your code at mynextmove.org/explore/ip

Is PA the Right Career for You?
Start by answering the following questions:

Do you enjoy learning about the human body and science?
Are you a disciplined, hard worker?
Do you have experience working directly with healthcare patients? (Or are you willing to get this experience)
Would you enjoy a career with a high level of interaction with patients and colleagues?
Are you willing to spend at least 6 years in college (4+ years for B.A./B.S. and 2+ years in PA school)?

If you answered yes to these questions, a career in PA may be a good fit for you!

Occupation Basics

Sample Job Title	Median Wages*	Required Education
Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) Surgical Critical Care PA Emergency Medicine PA Family Medicine PA Dermatology PA	In CA: $129,950+ In LA/OC Area: $125,650+ *For more information visit CareerOneStop.org/Salary	Master's Degree: Master's in Medical Science (MMS) Master's in Physician Assistant Studies List of Accredited PA Graduate Programs

Sample Job Title

Median Wages*

Required Education

Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C)
Surgical Critical Care PA
Emergency Medicine PA
Family Medicine PA
Dermatology PA

In CA: $129,950+
In LA/OC Area: $125,650+

*For more information visit CareerOneStop.org/Salary

Master's Degree:

Master's in Medical Science (MMS)
Master's in Physician Assistant Studies

List of Accredited PA Graduate Programs

Choosing a Major for PA

There is no required undergraduate major to become a physician assistant. To apply to PA school, you will need to complete certain prerequisite courses in science and math. Therefore, other common undergraduate majors for students interested in PA include:

Biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry
Health sciences, nursing (BSN)

Applying to PA school requires Direct Patient Care experience, so you need to think not only about pre-reqs but also how you plan to obtain the required experience. See more details in the preparing for PA school section.

Sample Pre-Requisite Courses

In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade. Some campuses may have policies regarding whether the requirements can be met through community college coursework.

Common PA School Prerequisites	SCC Courses
One year of biology	BIOL 211, 221, & 231
One year of general chemistry	CHEM 200A & 200B
Statistics	MATH 219
Microbiology	BIOL 229
Anatomy	BIOL 239
Physiology	BIOL 249
Other courses that may be recommended or required for some programs	Organic Chemistry Biochemistry Genetics Humanities and/or Social Science courses like Spanish, Psychology, or Sociology

IMPORTANT: This list is meant to be used as an informational guide. All students must refer to the individual campuses or programs for specific information on prerequisite requirements. Information can also be found at www.aacp.org.

Preparing for PA School

As an undergraduate student, there are several things you can do now to prepare for PA school:

Maintain a high GPA.
Gain experience "Direct Patient Care" experience. PA schools often require between 1,000-2,000 hours of experience working directly with patients, and some programs will require the experience to be paid. Here are some examples of DPC experience:

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - SCC Program
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - SAC Program
Medical Assistant - SAC Program
Home Healthcare Aide - SCC Program
And so many more! Check out the admissions sites for PA programs you are considering for more ideas of applicable PDC experience.

Chapman Example of DPC List

Develop your leadership skills through student organizations and/or community service.
Connect with faculty and professionals. Remember that most programs will require multiple letters of recommendation.
Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to (i.e. GRE).

Professional Organizations

Related Occupations

Not sure becoming a PA is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different educational requirements. For more healthcare-related careers, visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.

Job Titles	Median Wages in CA	Required Education	Holland Code
EMTs and Paramedics	$36,650	Certificate	RIS
Registered Nurse	$104,410	Associate's Degree	SIC

Becoming a Dentist

Dentists provide a wide range of oral health care services that contribute to the general health and quality of their patients’ lives. They are at the forefront of new developments in dental implants, computer-generated imaging, and cosmetic and aesthetic procedures. Dentists are instrumental in the early detection of oral cancer and other conditions of the mouth.

Is Dentistry the Right Career for You?

Start by answering the following questions:

Do you enjoy learning about the human body and science?
Are you a disciplined, hard worker?
Are you comfortable with close personal contact?\nDo you enjoy working with your hands?
Would you enjoy a career where you interact with others (patients and colleagues)?
Are you willing to spend at least 8 years in college (4+ years for B.A./B.S. and 4 years in dental school)?

If you answered yes to these questions, a career in dentistry may be a good fit for you!

Holland Interest Code

The interest code for dentists is IRS (Investigative, Realistic, Social).

What's a Holland Code? This refers to a career assessment that measures your personality type across 6 areas: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. A Holland Code allows you to connect your personality directly with occupations! Find out your code at mynextmove.org/explore/ip

Occupation Basics

Job Titles	Median Wages*	Required Education
General Dentist Pediatric Dentist Orthodontist Oral Surgeon	In CA: $125,860 In LA/OC Area: $112,390 ** For more information visit CareerOneStop.org/Salary	Doctorate Degree: Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Choosing a Major for Dentistry

There is no required undergraduate major for dental school, and “Pre-Dental” is not a common undergraduate major. To apply to dental school, you will need to complete certain prerequisite courses in science and math. Therefore, common undergraduate majors for students interested in dentistry include:

Biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry
Math, physics, or chemistry

Sample Prerequisite Courses
In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade. Some campuses may have policies regarding whether the requirements can be met through community college coursework.

Common Dental School Prerequisites	SCC Courses
One year of English	ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 or 103
One year of biology	BIOL 211, 221, & 231
One year of general chemistry	CHEM 200A & 200B
One year of organic chemistry	CHEM 280A & 280B
One year of physics	PHYS 250A-C* *Some campuses may accept PHYS 150A-B. Refer to program-specific websites.

IMPORTANT: This list is meant to be used as an informational guide. All students must refer to the individual campuses or programs for specific information on prerequisite requirements.

Preparing for Dental School

As an undergraduate student, there are several things you can do now to prepare for dental school:

Maintain a high GPA.
Gain experience in the dental field. Consider seeking out a dentist in a private practice to shadow. Not sure where to start? You can begin with your family dentistry who may be able to accept volunteers or suggest colleagues. You can also gain broader experience in the healthcare field through programs like:

UCLA's Pre-Medical Enrichment Program (PREP)
USC's Bridging the Gaps summer program

Join a pre-dental club, or start one if it doesn’t already exist at your college!
Develop your leadership skills through student organizations and/or community service.
Connect with faculty and professionals. Remember that most programs will require multiple letters of recommendation.
Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to (i.e. DAT).

Professional Organizations

Podcasts

Related Occupations

Not sure becoming a dentist is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different educational requirements. For more healthcare-related careers, visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.

Job Title	Median Wages in CA	Required Education	Holland Code
Dental Assistant	$38,740	Certificate	CRS
Dental Hygienist	$102,510	Associate's Degree	SRC

Becoming a Veterinarian

Veterinarians are professionals who diagnose medical problems and care for pets and farm animals. While most veterinarians work in private practice, there are many others who are involved in preventive medicine, laboratory animal medicine, research and development, and teaching. There are also multiple specializations within veterinary medicine.

Is Veterinary Medicine the Right Career for You?

Start by answering the following questions:

Do you enjoy learning about animals and science?
Are you a disciplined, hard worker?
Would you enjoy a career where you interact with others (pet owners and colleagues)?
Would you be comfortable taking care of sick animals and performing euthanasia?
Are you willing to spend at least 8 years in college (4+ years for B.A./B.S. and 4 years in veterinary school)?

If you answered yes to these questions, a career in veterinary medicine may be a good fit for you!

Occupation Basics

Sample Job Title	Median Wages*	Required Education
Veterinarian Emergency Veterinarian Equine Veterinarian Veterinary Surgeon Theriogenologist	In CA: $107,880+ In LA/OC Area: $107,960+ *For more information visit CareerOneStop.org/Salary	Doctorate Degree: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Choosing a Major for Veterinary Medicine
There is no required undergraduate major for veterinary school, and “Pre-Veterinary” is not a common undergraduate major. To apply to veterinary school, you will need to complete certain prerequisite courses in science and math. Therefore, common undergraduate majors include:

Animal science, animal biology, or zoology
Biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry

Sample Prerequisite Courses
In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade. Some campuses may have policies regarding whether the requirements can be met through community college coursework.

Common Vet School Prerequisites	SCC Courses
One year English	ENGL 101 & 102 or 103
One year of biology	BIOL 211, 221, & 231
One year of general chemistry	CHEM 200A & 200B
One year of organic chemistry	CHEM 280A & 280B
One year of physics	PHYS 250A-C* *Some campuses may accept PHYS 150A-B. Refer to program-specific websites.

Preparing for Veterinary School
Is an undergraduate student, there are several things you can do now to prepare for veterinary school:

Maintain a high GPA.
Gain as much broad and varied exposure to veterinary medicine as possible. Veterinary programs place great importance on these experiences. Here are some examples:

Consider job shadowing veterinarians in both large and small practices
Shadowing or working in a lab/research setting
Working or volunteering on a farm, ranch, zoo, or shelter

Join a pre-vet club, or start one if it doesn’t already exist at your college!
Connect with faculty and professionals. Remember that most programs will require multiple letters of recommendation.
Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to (i.e. GRE; MCAT).

Professional Organizations

Podcasts

Vet School Unleashed
Voices of Veterinary Medicine (Apple Podcasts)
SAGE Veterinary Science

Related Occupations

Not sure becoming a veterinarian is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different educational requirements. For more healthcare-related careers, visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.

Job Title	Median Wages in CA	Required Education	Holland Code
Veterinary Technician	$40,020	Associate's Degree	RI
Animal Caregiver	$26,320	~HS Diploma	RC

Becoming a Pharmacist

Pharmacy is the science and practice of the preparation, formulation, and dispensing of medicinal drugs. Common Area of Confusion: Another health field, Pharmacology, is often confused with Pharmacy. Pharmacology is focused on the study of how a drug affects the biological system and how the body responds.

Holland Interest Code
The interest code for pharmacists is ICS (Investigative, Conventional, Social).

What's a Holland Code? This refers to a career assessment that measures your personality type across 6 areas: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. A Holland Code allows you to connect your personality directly with occupations! Find out your code at mynextmove.org/explore/ip

Is Pharmacy the Right Career for You?
Start by answering the following questions:

Do you enjoy learning about the human body and science?
Are you a disciplined, hard worker?
Do you have a good attention to detail?
Would you enjoy a career with a high level of interaction with patients and colleagues?
Are you willing to spend at least 8 years in college (4+ years for B.A./B.S. and 4 years in pharmacy school)?

If you answered yes to these questions, a career in pharmacy may be a good fit for you!

Occupation Basics

Sample Job Title	Median Wages*	Required Education
Clinical Pharmacist Hospital Pharmacist Pharmacist in Charge	In CA: $144,660+ In LA/OC Area: $141,240+ *For more information visit CareerOneStop.org/Salary	Doctorate Degree: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Choosing a Major for Pharmacy

There is no required undergraduate major for pharmacy school; however, some schools may offer a major in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutical chemistry, or pharmacology. To apply to pharmacy school, you will need to complete certain prerequisite courses in science and math. Therefore, other common undergraduate majors for students interested in pharmacy include:

Biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry
Math, physics, or chemistry

Sample Pre-Requisite Courses

In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade. Some campuses may have policies regarding whether the requirements can be met through community college coursework.

Common Pharmacy School Prerequisites	SCC Courses
One year of English	ENGL 101 & 102 or 103
One year of biology	BIOL 211, 221, & 231
One year of general chemistry	CHEM 200A & 200B
One year of organic chemistry	CHEM 280A & 280B
One course in calculus	MATH 180

IMPORTANT: This list is meant to be used as an informational guide. All students must refer to the individual campuses or programs for specific information on prerequisite requirements. Information can also be found at www.aacp.org.

Preparing for Pharmacy School

As an undergraduate student, there are several things you can do now to prepare for pharmacy school:

Maintain a high GPA.
Gain experience in the pharmacy profession through volunteering, interning, or taking a summer job in a pharmacy or healthcare setting.

Consider one of the SCC non-credit medical programs like CNA or Healthcare Support Worker

Join a pre-pharmacy club, or start one if it doesn't already exist at your college!
Develop your leadership skills through student organizations and/or community service.
Connect with faculty and professionals. Remember that most programs will require multiple letters of recommendation.
Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to (i.e. PCAT; GRE).

Professional Organizations

Podcasts

Related Occupations

Not sure becoming a pharmacist is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different educational requirements. For more healthcare-related careers, visit ExploreHealthCareers.org.

Job Titles	Median Wages in CA	Required Education	Holland Code
Pharmacy Technician	$40,120	~High School Diploma	CR
Registered Nurse	$104,410	Associate's Degree	SIC

Coming Soon!

If you're interested in exploring a health career, you should consider getting experience to expose you to the field, confirm your interests, and help your chances of being admitted to a program. Some career paths will absolutely require clinical experience (ex. PA, PT), but no matter your goal - getting experience early is always a good idea! Here are some ideas and resources to help you get started:

Pre-Health/Summer Programs:

Research Experience:

SCC Summer Research Programs (Partners: CSUF, Chapman, UCI)
UCSD Medical Scientist Training Program Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Keck Graduate Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Volunteering:

California Healthcare Facility search database
California Community Clinics search database
UCLA Care Extender volunteer program

Paid Experience:

Medical Scribe
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - SCC Certification Training Program, completed in 1 semester (2 non-credit classes)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - SAC Training Program, completed in 1 semester (11 units, 2 classes)
Medical Assistant- SAC Training Program, completed in 2 semesters (15 units, 5 classes)
Phlebotomy - Approved training programs
Pharmacy Clerk

Events/Other Resources: