Changes and improvements in technology, combined with strict efforts to contain the skyrocketing costs of health care, will have tremendous influence and impact on which health care occupations grow the fastest. Out of the top twenty occupations expected to grow the fastest between 2004 and 2014, fourteen of them are in the health care industry.

Home health aides are expected to have the largest percentage of change over the next decade. Medical assistants ranked third, and physicians' assistants ranked fourth. Ranking sixth and seventh, respectively, are physical therapy assistants and dental hygienists. Dental assistants and personal care and home care aides ranked ninth and tenth. (Note: home health aides have more specific training than home care aides.)

Physical therapists ranked in thirteenth place. Veterinary technicians and technologists ranked fifteenth. Diagnostic medical sonographers ranked sixteenth. Ranking seventeenth through twentieth, respectively, are physical therapy aides, occupational therapy assistants, medical scientists (except epidemiologists), and occupational therapists. (Again, there is a difference in training between physical therapy assistants and aides.)

All of these positions require some degree of postsecondary formal education or training. This can include on-the-job training opportunities for medical assistants, dental assistants, and personal and home care aides, but in most instances employers will expect some training from a vocational school or adult education program. Physical therapy aides and home health aides require additional training as well.

For twelve of the occupations in this group, an associate's or bachelor's degree is minimal, and for three of these — physician assistants, and physical and occupational therapists — a master's degree is required.