Resources

Do you love working with people? Do you enjoy math and science? Do you find the healthcare field interesting? Then healthcare is a field worth considering. Whether you decide on a 4-year, 2-year or a certificate program, there are plenty of opportunities for you in Pierce County.

Photo: MultiCare Health System

Healthcare careers abound in the Pierce County region.  MultiCare and Franciscan Health Systems are the two largest private employers in Pierce County with a combined workforce of more than 17,000; in addition, there is a wide range of employment in public health, mental health, long-term care, and the Veterans’ Administration just to name a few. 

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 10 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations are in healthcare. Demand is high for Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Imaging Techs and other healthcare workers such as Medical Assistants, Certified Nursing Assistants, Pharmacy Techs, Medical Transcriptionists, Medical Receptionists and Medical Billing Specialists. In 2008, 14.3 million Americans worked in healthcare jobs.  By 2018 it is expected there will be an additional 3.7 million new jobs in healthcare.

Healthcare jobs pay good wages and have excellent benefits. Check out the programs available at local universities, community and technical colleges listed below.  In addition, you will find a few salary ranges listed for specific healthcare positions.  When you’re ready to talk with specific schools, be sure to ask them about their placement rates and average starting salaries for graduates.

Pay is just one of the rewards of a healthcare career.  You’ll also enjoy advancement potential, flexible scheduling and the chance to make a difference in your community.

Your first step toward a healthcare career is to finish your high school education.  Take as many math, science and English courses as you can.  This will prepare you for the specialized courses in your chosen field.  Pierce County colleges and universities offer a wide range of programs that will prepare you for a healthcare career.  These include certificate programs, associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and masters or doctorate-level programs.  There are even programs that are set-up to allow you to begin your career with a certificate or an associate’s degree and continue on to earn a bachelors degree.

There are many educational programs in Pierce County that will prepare you to confidently begin a healthcare career.  Before you commit to a specific school, gather all the information you need to make an informed decision about where to invest your time and money.  Talk with people in your field of interest, complete a job shadow if possible, attend a career day event, talk with your high school counselor about the classes you should take and talk with college advisors about pre-requisites for your chosen program.

253-680-7000
http://www.bates.ctc.edu
Dental Assistant ∙ Dental Lab Technician ∙ Medical Transcriptionist ∙ Practical Nursing (LPN)
 ∙ Nursing Assistant – Certified (NAC)

 253-589-5800
http://www.cptc.edu
Dental Administrative Specialist ∙ Health Unit Coordinator ∙ Hemodialysis Technician ∙ Medical Histology Technician ∙ Medical Assistant ∙ Medical Lab Technician ∙ Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) ∙ Nursing ∙ Pharmacy Technician ∙ Practical Nurse (LPN) ∙ Surgical Technologist ∙ Registered Nurse (option) ∙Medical Materiel management/Central Services

253-964-6500
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu
Dental Hygiene ∙ Emergency Medical Technician ∙ Medical Office Assistant ∙ Medical Transcriptionist ∙ Office Assistant: Medical Billing ∙ Nursing ∙ Pre-Nursing ∙ Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) ∙ Veterinary Technician

253-566-5001
http://www.tacomacc.edu
Diagnostic Medical Sonography ∙ Emergency Medical Health Services (Paramedic) ∙ Emergency Medical Tech Basic ∙ Health Information Management  ∙ Medical Office Assistant ∙ Medical Office Clerk ∙ Medical Office Professional ∙ Medical Registration & Admission Specialist ∙ Medical Transcriptionist ∙  Nursing    ∙ Pre-Nursing Transfer Degree ∙ Radiology Science ∙ Respiratory Therapy

253-531-6900
http://www.plu.edu
Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT) ∙ Social Work  ∙ Pre-medical & Health Sciences
http://www.plu.edu/nursing 
Nursing (BSN, MSN, RNB-MSN, LPN – BSN,  entry-level MSN)

253-879-3211
http://www.pugetsound.edu
Occupational Therapy ∙ Physical Therapy

253-692-4000
http://www.tacoma.washington.edu
Health Care Leadership ∙ Nursing

A number of free career assessments can be found online.  Below is a list of some helpful online assessments, with a brief description and web address:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The Handbook is revised every two years.

http://www.schoolfinder.com/careers/3step1.asp
This 3-step quiz takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and consists of 80 questions.  Based on the answers you provide, the site lists your top career categories and detailed information on specific careers that match your personality and interests. 
The quiz is free, but registration is required.

http://www.careerlink.org/english
This quiz can be completed in less than 10 minutes and is comprised of 24 questions.  This quiz will help you identify which personality group you are most aligned with, and then provide you with a list of jobs that may be a good match for you.  The site then links to pages with more detail about specific careers on the Department of Labor’s online Occupational Outlook Handbook.

http://www.futureproofyourcareer.com
Use this assessment to rate yourself on 84 spectrum-based questions.  The results page features a complete personal career profile that includes your temperament type, dominant intelligences and abilities, and preferred learning style. 
The quiz is free, but registration is required.

http://www.princetonreview.com/careers-after-college.aspx
This quick career quiz includes 24 questions, and calculates your work interest and style.  A list of possible career fields is provided with links to more detailed information.
The quiz is free, but registration is required.

http://www.iccweb.com/perfect_career.htm
This assessment consists of a review of a list of 252 common work activities found in our World of Work.  It helps you identify possible career goals that match your strongest personal interest.  This quiz takes about 30 minutes to complete.

http://www.youtube.com/cloverparktech#p/u/23/5mniDlz9nnU
Working in the medical field today has great rewards.
This video examines the role of males in nursing and
delves into the day-to-day responsibilities of a nurse.

http://www.multicare.org/home/high-school-students
If you’re interested in health care, MultiCare can
help you make the right career choice. We have a variety
of programs that help you explore career options and gain
the experience you need to get into a good school or get
a good job after graduation. Check it out.

October 18, 2010 - The Pierce County Health Careers
Council hosts up to 900 high school students
annually at Health Career Day, held in October
at the beautiful University of Puget Sound
Campus in Tacoma, Washington.

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

• Find a college that will meet your needs
• Find out what you need to do to prepare for education beyond high school
• Apply for Federal Student Aid on FAFSA

http://www2.yvcc.edu/coe/about_us.aspx    
The Center serves as a resource to all of Washington State Technical and Community Colleges and K-12 schools, business/industry partners, plus identified government entities to ensure a continues pipeline of a new healthcare professionals.

http://www.careerbridge.wa.gov
Career Bridge is a one-stop, searchable database of education and training programs throughout Washington state where you'll discover the state's Eligible Training Provider (ETP) list, average earnings and employment outlook and hot jobs for the future.