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How long does it take to enter a medical career? Explore the education and experience timelines of today’s most popular careers in healthcare.

3-6 Months

  • Community Health Worker (OJT)
  • Dental Assistant (OJT)
  • Emergency Medical Technician- Basic C
  • Home Health Aid (OJT,C)
  • Medical Interpreter C
  • Medical Secretary
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Personal Care Aid
  • Phlebotomist

6-12 Months

  • Dental Assistant C
  • Emergency Medical Technician C
  • Massage Therapist C
  • Medical Assistant C
  • Medical Coder C
  • Medical Transcriptionist C

Legend

 

OJT - On the job training
C - Certificate
D - Diploma
A - Associate Degree
PAC - Post associate degree certification
B - Bachelor’s degree
PBC - Post-baccalaureate certificate
M - Master’s degree
PMC - Post- Master’s certificate
DOC - Doctoral Degree

1-2 Years

  • Biomedical Equipment Technician (D)
  • Dental Assistant(D)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse(D)
  • Massage Therapist (D)
  • Medical Assistant (D)
  • Medical Coder (D)
  • Medical Secretary (D)
  • Optician (D)
  • Paramedic (D)
  • Pharmacy Technician (D)
  • Polysomnographic Technologist (D)
  • Surgical Technologist (D)
  • Biomedical Equipment Technician (A,PAC)
  • Cardiovascular Technologist (A)
  • Clinical Laboratory Technician (A)
  • Dental Hygienist (A)
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (A,PAC)
  • Dietetic Technician (A)
  • Health Information Technician (A)
  • Histotechnician (A, PAC)
  • Human Services Worker (A)
  • Medical Assistant (A)
  • Medical Secretary (A)
  • Neurodiagnostic Technologist (A,PAC)
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant (A)
  • Optician (A)
  • Paramedic (A)
  • Pharmacy Technician (A)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant (A)
  • Polysomnographic Technologist (PAC)
  • Athletic Trainer (B)
  • Biomedical Engineer (B)
  • Cardiovascular Technologist (B, PBC)
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist (B, PBC)
  • Cytogenetic Technologist (B, OJT)
  • Cytotechnologist (PBC)
  • Dental Hygienist (B)
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (B)
  • Dietitian (B)
  • Environmental Health Specialist (B)
  • Exercise Physiologist (B)
  • Healthcare administrator (B)
  • Health Educator (B)
  • Health Informatics Professional (B,PBC)
  • Health Information Administrator (B)
  • Histotechnologist (B, PBC)
  • Human Services Worker (B)
  • Medical Dosimetrist (PBC)
  • Acupuncturist (M,DOC)
  • Anesthesiologist Assistant (M)
  • Art Therapist (M)
  • Athletic Trainer (M, DOC)
  • Biomedical Engineer (M,DOC)
  • Biostatician (M, DOC)
  • Chiropractor (DOC)
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist (M)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (M, PMC)
  • Counselor (M, DOC)
  • Cytotechnologist (M)
  • Dance/Movement Therapist (M)
  • Dentist (DOC)
  • Dietitian (M,DOC)
  • Doctor of Medicine (DOC)
  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DOC)
  • Drama Therapist (M)
  • Environmental Health Specialist (M,DOC)
  • Epidemiologist (M, DOC)
  • Exercise Physiologist (M)
  • Genetic Counselor (M)
  • Geneticist (M,DOC)
  • Healthcare Administrator (M,DOC)

2-3 Years

  • Radiation Therapist (A, PAC)
  • Radiologic Technologist (A)
  • Registered Nurse (A)
  • Respiratory Therapist (A)
  • Surgical Technologist (A)
  • Veterinary Technician (A)

4-5 years

  • Music Therapist (B)
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist (B)
  • Perfusionist (B, PBC)
  • Radiation Therapist (B, PBC)
  • Radiologic Technologist (PAC, B)
  • Recreational Therapist (B)
  • Registered Nurse (B)
  • Respiratory Therapist (B)
  • Social Worker (B)

6+Years

  • Health Educator (M, DOC)
  • Health Informatics Professional (M,DOC)
  • Health Sciences Librarian (M, DOC)
  • Medical Illustrator (M)
  • Music Therapist (M)
  • Nurse Anesthetist (DOC)
  • Nurse Educator (M,PMC,DOC)
  • Nurse Midwife (M, PMC)
  • Nurse Practitioner (M, PMC, DOC)
  • Occupational Therapist (M)
  • Optometrist (DOC)
  • Orthotist (M)
  • Perfusionist (M)
  • Pharmacist (DOC)
  • Physical Therapist (DOC)
  • Physician assistant (M)
  • Podiatrist (DOC)
  • Prosthetist (M)
  • Psychologist (DOC)
  • Registered Nurse (M, DOC)
  • Social Worker (M, DOC)
  • Speech- Language Pathologist (M, DOC)
  • Veterinarian (DOC)

Health Careers in Georgia

Detailed descriptions of health professions and the pathway to those professions

Health Education Journey

Timeline showing how long it will take to obtain degrees in certain fields

Health Careers by Institution

Explore different health careers offered through a number of Georgia institutions

Medical Schools in Georgia

A list of the public and private medical schools in Georgia

Recruit

Explore Health Careers

AHEC develops and implements recruitment initiatives to increase knowledge of health professions and career pathways for students seeking a healthcare career.

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