If you have a specific career objective in mind, this will dictate the type of school or program you need to attend. If you are unsure, it may be more difficult, but a well-rounded basic college degree with an emphasis on math and life science courses can provide you with a basic foundation for many health care careers. If you didn't begin to prepare for this type of study in high school, you may have a few more math and science classes to take to bring you up to speed.

Always make sure that any school you attend is accredited. Not all schools are, and some have accreditation for some programs and not for others. Be sure to ask — never assume. Accreditation is achieved when an independent agency evaluates the school's program for quality of the faculty; content or curriculum; and the facilities available for the education, such as libraries, classrooms, and laboratories. This independent agency submits its findings in a report to the accrediting agency, and the agency decides whether or not to offer accreditation.

One of the best ways to begin your search for a program is to talk to people who work in the field that interests you. Find out where they got their education and what they recommend. Did the program work well for them? Would they do it the same way again or do something different, and why?

Technical or Vocational Schools

These schools offer health care education programs such as medical transcription, medical and dental assisting, EKG technology, and phlebotomy. Most C.N.A. (certified nurse's aide) and licensed practical or vocation nurse (L.V.N./L.P.N.) programs are now run by vocational schools. These programs combine classroom study with practical experience. Upon completion of the program you receive a certificate. If the position requires a license, then you will be duly qualified to sit for a licensure exam.

Community College

Community colleges, or junior colleges as they may be referred to in some areas, offer some of the same programs that vocational schools do, as well as other certificated programs such as certified nurse's aide training. They also offer associate's (two-year) degree programs in such areas as nursing, dental hygiene, and x-ray and other radiology technology areas. Community colleges also offer an excellent opportunity to fulfill general-education requirements before transfering to a bachelor's degree program at a four-year college or university. It is important that all professional programs be accredited so that graduates are eligible to sit for licensing or certification exams. It is also important to make sure your course work is transferable to a four-year college or university whether or not that is your goal at the present time. For example, not all anatomy and physiology courses taken at the community college level will transfer. Make sure you take the one that does, or be prepared to take it again at the higher-level institution.

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

Complex health care careers such as practitioner, therapist, dietitian, physician assistant, pharmacist, and psychologist all require a bachelor's degree. Many also require several years of postgraduate study and internship or training. A bachelor's degree includes basic education studies such as English, history, and humanities in addition to the math and science required by the specific career path.

Postgraduate study can include studies to obtain a master's degree or beyond, or specialized education such as medical school, which includes internship and residency responsibilities.