Occupations in this group usually require education and/or training ranging from four years to more than ten years. Academic courses helpful in preparing for the medical sciences are algebra, geometry, advanced math, chemistry, biological sciences, English, and Latin. Most doctors serve a one- or two- year internship in an approved hospital after graduation from medical school.
Some physicians spend several additional years in study and training as a resident or intern in order to specialize. Dentists who specialize, teach, or perform research have taken postgraduate courses or completed a residency in a hospital or clinic.
What else should you consider about this kind of work?
Workers in this group find employment or set up private practices in large and small communities and rural areas all over the country. Although most physicians and other health care professionals are in private practice, large numbers are employed by federal, state, and local government agencies, industrial and commercial firms, and private companies which operate health care facilities.
Most workers in this group maintain regular working schedules; however, depending on their specialties, some must adjust to irregular hours, weekend and holiday work, and 24 hour on-call duties. The time and cost of training are significant.
What licenses and certificates are usually needed?
All medical doctors (medicine and surgery) and doctors of dentistry must have state licenses. Certification is usually required for an area of specialization. State licenses are required for Medical Officer (gov. ser.) and Ophthalmologist (medical ser.) in 02.03.01.
Veterinarians must be licensed by the state. However, the Veterinary Livestock Inspector, Veterinary Meat-Inspector, and Veterinary Virus-Serum Inspector (all in 02.03.03), who work under civil service regulations, do not need licenses. Workers in 02.03.04 Health Specialties are licensed in most states.
Organizations and Agencies to Contact for Additional Information about Jobs in the Medical Sciences;
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Academy of Osteopathy
- American Animal Hospital Association
- American Association of Dental Schools
- American Association of Foot Specialists
- American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
- American Chiropractic Association
- American Dental Association
- American Medical Association Education and Research Foundation
- American Occupational Medical Association
- American Osteopathic Association
- American Podiatry Association
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Society of Anesthesiologists
- American Society of Internal Medicine
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
- Civil Aviation Medical Association
- Council on Optometric Education
- International College of Surgeons
- National Association of Naturopathic Physicians
- National Association of Optometrists and Opticians
