www.OKHealthCareers.com — Produced and maintained by the Oklahoma Hospital Association, OK Health Careers is a comprehensive resource.
Want to see a radiation technologist at work or look over the shoulder of a physical therapist or a medical records technician? Get a quick look with career videos from Career One Stop or Career Voyages.
Hear from those who are glad they chose a career in health care.
www.OKHealthJobs.com — Clinical, administrative and support jobs in hospitals and health care systems across the state.
Oklahoma Job Link — Oklahoma jobs in all fields.
Oklahoma Association of Health care Recruiters — Includes names and contact numbers for recruiters at many Oklahoma hospitals and other facilities.
Oklahoma Health Care Industry Workforce Report
Oklahoma Health Careers
Oklahoma Dental Association
Oklahoma Hospital Association
Oklahoma Nurses Association
Oklahoma Pharmacists Association
Oklahoma State Medical Association
Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
Oklahoma Board of Nursing
Oklahoma Board of Dentistry
Oklahoma County Medical Society
Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality
Tulsa County Medical Society
American Dental Association — Careers in Dentistry
American Medical Association — Click on "Medical School & Residency" then "Health Care Careers."
American Osteopathic Association — Click on "About Your D.O."
American Physical Therapy Association — Select "Students" in the "Information for" section.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association — Click on the "Students" tab then "Learn about the Professions."
Student Academy of Physician Assistants
Agape Center
If you are looking for a secure, rewarding career where the demand for workers will always exceed the supply, look no further than the health care industry. Here's a brief look at the opportunities that await you.
The second largest industry in Oklahoma, health care provides nearly 200,000 jobs, or 14% of the state's total employment. Surveys show Oklahoma is experiencing a strong demand for several key nursing and allied health positions. Take a look at the projected needs below to see how a career in health care in Oklahoma is a choice that promises secure employment.
Oklahoma's hospitals employ thousands of health professionals. But there are also plenty of opportunities with other facilities such as nursing homes, home health agencies, hospices, public health agencies, physician and dentist offices, surgical centers, and more. Some hospitals, including those below, employ thousands of people.
Health care is a field of specialists. Some work directly with patients to improve their health or conduct diagnostic tests. Others work behind the scenes or develop new ways to treat diseases or injuries. Below are a few of the categories of health care occupations to consider. For a more detailed look, visit the Oklahoma Career Information System database.
Therapeutic Services workers provide patients with direct care and treatment. They may give information and counseling so patients can care for themselves. Occupations include anesthesiologists, athletic trainers, dental hygienists, pharmacy technicians, emergency medical technicians, nurses, veterinary technicians and more.
Diagnostics Services workers conduct tests and evaluations to identify diseases and injuries. Occupations include cardiovascular technologists, nuclear medicine technologists, and radiation therapists.
Health Information workers deal with patient information and records, often compiling records or creating bills. This sector also includes administrators who manage hospitals, nursing homes, clinics or departments. Occupations include pharmacy aides and medical transcriptionists.
Support Services employees pave the way for other health care workers to do their jobs. They keep machines and offices running smoothly or see that patients get healthy meals. Occupations include dietetic technicians and medical secretaries.
Biotechnology Research and Development scientists typically work in laboratories. They might try to discover new treatments for diseases or injuries. Or they may develop medical devices to help patients live fuller lives or to improve diagnostic tests.
While various health care careers call for their own individual skills, there are plenty of common denominators. Academically, the focus is on biology. Beyond that, you can expect to use a wide range of skills ranging from the highly technical to some very general workplace proficiencies.
In addition to basic high school graduation requirements, you'll need a good knowledge of human structure and function and the things that can go wrong with them. This includes:
In addition, you'll need skills in:
For a more detailed examination of the health sciences skill requirements, see the Cluster Knowledge and Skills section of Career Cluster Resources for Health Science, a book published by the States' Career Clusters Initiative project of career educators across the nation.
Medical career training is everywhere — colleges and universities, community colleges, public career technology centers, private career schools and colleges, and elsewhere. Find a comprehensive list at Oklahoma Job Link. Click on Training Providers in the left navigation column and select from more than 500 specialties.
Health care pay scales vary widely, depending in part on the amount of training and education you have. This table offers some examples.