Prepare in High School
If you're still in high school, make the most of the opportunity to prepare for further education in health care. In most instances, you will need a strong background in math and sciences. Almost all health care jobs require a college degree. This can be from vocational or technical schools, professional schools, community colleges, or universities, depending on the program or degree required. The career path you have chosen will determine the type of school you need to attend.
Basic algebra is probably the minimal math requirement for most health care positions. In some you will need even higher math. Very few positions won't have a math requirement, and in order to pass most college-level entrance exams, you will need to have a grasp of basic algebra. Most schools have some sort of entrance exam and/or placement tests.
Science Courses
Life sciences such as biology, anatomy, or physiology are recommended, as are physical sciences such as chemistry and physics. Computer skills such as keyboarding and word processing are a must, and Internet search skills are highly recommended.
ssential
Work closely with your school's career center and your guidance counselor to set a path of study that will best prepare you for the next level in your education. If you don't have these options available in your school, use the resources you do have access to, such as a public library or the Internet. If you don't have a guidance counselor, seek help from a teacher or administrator.
Social sciences such as psychology or sociology are suggested as well to help you gain an understanding of cultural differences, coping mechanisms, and emotional issues you may face in the course of interacting with patients.
Communication Skills Are Essential
Of course, excellent written and verbal communication skills are extremely important. You must be able to clearly convey information and to document or even just interpret what care has been given. In order to complete college-level course work, you need to have at least a tenth-grade reading and comprehension level.
If you have chosen to do something that will involve another skill, such as art or photography, basic courses of study in these areas should be taken. Medical writers would be well advised to take a class in journalism.
Entrance Exams
Many schools will require an entrance exam of some sort. Preparation courses and practice tests may be available in your school library or online. These will usually test at least your basic reading-comprehension level as well as basic math skills. Other college entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT will test your knowledge of other areas as well, including social studies, science, foreign language, and literature. Prep courses and practice tests are readily available for these two popular exams.
