Which Health Care Career Is Right for Me?

It’s important to thoroughly research your options in order to determine which careers would be a good fit for your skills and interests. Your answers to the following questions can help steer you toward specific health career options.

Is the health care environment right for me?

Health care is a rapidly changing, technology driven, fast-paced environment. It can be fascinating, rewarding and stressful.

How can I experience the health care environment to decide if this is what I want to do? 

• Volunteering in a hospital is an excellent way to find out if the health care setting is right for you. Contact the volunteer services office of any hospital to learn about opportunities.
• Shadowing professionals in careers that interest you is also an excellent way to find out more about health care. Contact your providers to ask if they allow this.
• Tri-C’s Career Center can help you determine if the health care environment and certain health care careers are a good fit for you. MyPlan is an excellent career assessment and planning tool available through the Career Centers.  Contact your campus Career Center for more information.

What health career programs does Tri-C offer?

Tri-C offers more than 30 different health career tracks, all of which provide critical services to patients and/or health care organizations. Visit the College’s Health Careers webpage or view descriptions of health care careers at explorehealthcareers.org.

Do I want to provide direct patient care, support care or diagnostic care?

Some healthcare professions — such as radiography, nursing, respiratory care, occupational therapy and physical therapy — are direct patient care professions. If that type of work isn’t for you,
Tri-C offers training in a variety of support care and diagnostic careers working in labs, with technology or in offices that support frontline workers.

How long does training take?

Training for a career in health care can take a few months or up to eight or more years, depending on the profession. It’s important to research a number of health care careers and consider your circumstances carefully before making a decision.

Who can I speak with to help me decide?

Tri-C’s Health Careers recruiter can talk through your options and get you started in the application and enrollment process. Email healthcareers@tri-c.edu to make an appointment.

Health Career program directors and managers can answer questions about career paths, program requirements and other program-specific details.