Career And College Prep

Health & Human Services

Make a Difference

What if high school was all you needed to get started on your dream job? Many healthcare and veterinary careers don’t require a college degree. You can begin making a difference sooner than you thought!

Which pathway is offered?

Medical Assisting—Students develop the knowledge base, skills, and behaviors that entry-level medical assistants need to succeed. Students are introduced to anatomy and physiology, diagnostic tests, diseases and disorders, treatments, and nutrition.

Mental & Social Health Technician— This pathway introduces students to social work, clinical interviewing techniques, therapeutic intervention strategies, patient testing and evaluation procedures, patient and family counseling, and social rehabilitation. Students learn mental health theory, applied psychopathology, patient communication and management, crisis intervention, psychotropic medication, mental health treatment procedures, substance abuse, record-keeping, clinical administrative skills, and applicable standards and regulations. 

Sports Medicine—This pathway prepares students for a career helping patients in need. It can lead to a career in sports medicine or as a certified nursing assistant, registered nurse, pharmacy technician, dental assistant, and more.

Veterinary Assistant—This pathway prepares students to care for animals under the supervision of veterinarians, laboratory animal specialist, and zoological professionals. Students learn about animal nursing care, animal health and nutrition, animal handling, clinical pathology, radiology, anesthesiology, dental prophylaxis, surgical assisting, clinical laboratory procedures, office administration skills, patient and owner management, and applicable standards and regulations. 

What types of jobs can my student learn about and prepare for?*

Examples of jobs include:

  • Admitting clerk
  • Medical assistant
  • Medical records technician
  • Medical and health services manager
  • Medical transcriptionist
  • Athletic trainer
  • Exercise physiologist
  • Nursing assistant
  • Physical therapy aide
  • Social worker
  • Mental health technician
  • Veterinary assistant

*Some of these jobs require additional education and certifications once a student graduates from high school.

nurse working

What could my future look like in this career field?*

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**Data is from Lightcast and is updated frequently.

Which industry-recognized, in-demand certifications and exams can my student prepare for?

  • ACT National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC)
  • The National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Medical Assisting Exam
  • American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC)
  • Mental Health Technician Certification
  • Psychological First Aid
  • Article 9 Certification
  • Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA)
  • OSHA 10 – Healthcare
  • OSHA 10 – Veterinary
  • Arizona Technical Skills Assessment