Web www.ocouha.com

www.ocouha.com

An internet presentation of the Occupational Outlook Handbook plus related career guidance information

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 | All Occupations

The section of the ocouha website contains the text of the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook. This information is no longer being updated. For more recent information, start at the ocouha homepage www.ocouha.com.

Health diagnosing and treating occupations

  • Audiologists
    • Employment of audiologists is expected to grow rapidly because the expanding population in older age groups is prone to medical conditions that result in hearing problems.
    • More than half worked in healthcare facilities, and most others were employed by educational services.
    • A master’s degree in audiology is currently the standard credential; however, a clinical doctoral degree is expected to become the new standard.
  • Chiropractors
    • Chiropractors must be licensed, requiring 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education, completion of a 4-year chiropractic college course, and passing scores on national and State examinations.
    • Employment is expected to increase faster than average as a result of research and changing attitudes about alternative healthcare practices.
    • Job prospects should be good; establishing a new practice will be easiest in areas with a low concentration of chiropractors.
    • As with other types of independent practice, earnings for chiropractors are relatively low in the beginning, but increase as the practice grows.
  • Dentists
    • Most dentists are solo practitioners.
    • Dentists usually complete at least 8 years of education beyond high school.
    • Employment is projected to grow more slowly than average, and most job openings will result from the need to replace the large number of dentists expected to retire.
    • Job prospects should be good.
  • Dietitians and nutritionists
    • Most jobs were in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and offices of physicians or other health practitioners.
    • Dietitians and nutritionists need at least a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area.
    • Average employment growth is expected; however, growth may be constrained if employers substitute other workers for dietitians and if limitations are placed on insurance reimbursement for dietetic services.
  • Occupational therapists
    • Employment is projected to increase faster than the average, as rapid growth in the number of middle-aged and elderly individuals increases the demand for therapeutic services.
    • A bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy is the minimum educational requirement; beginning in 2007, however, a master’s degree or higher will be required.
    • Occupational therapists are increasingly taking on supervisory roles.
    • More than a quarter of occupational therapists work part time.
  • Optometrists
    • Licensed optometrists must earn a Doctor of Optometry degree from an accredited optometry school and pass a written and a clinical State board examination.
    • Admission to optometry school is competitive.
    • Optometrists usually remain in practice until they retire, so relatively few job openings arise from the need to replace those who leave the occupation.
  • Pharmacists
    • Pharmacists are becoming more involved in drug therapy decisionmaking and patient counseling.
    • A license is required; one must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy and pass a State examination.
    • Very good employment opportunities are expected.
    • Earnings are very high, but some pharmacists work long hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.
  • Physical therapists
    • Employment is expected to increase faster than the average, as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for therapy services.
    • After graduating from an accredited physical therapist educational program, therapists must pass a licensure exam before they can practice.
    • About two-thirds of physical therapists work either in hospitals or in offices of physical therapists.
  • Physician assistants
    • The typical physician assistant program lasts about 2 years and requires at least 2 years of college and some healthcare experience for admission.
    • Most applicants to physician assistant programs hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
    • Job opportunities should be good, particularly in rural and inner city clinics.
    • Earnings are high.
  • Physicians and surgeons
    • Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular hours; almost one-third of physicians worked 60 or more hours a week in 2002.
    • New physicians are much less likely to enter solo practice and more likely to work as salaried employees of group medical practices, clinics, hospitals, or health networks.
    • Formal education and training requirements are among the most demanding of any occupation, but earnings are among the highest.
  • Podiatrists
    • Demand for podiatric care is expected to increase; however, only a limited number of job openings for podiatrists is expected because the occupation is small and most podiatrists remain in it until they retire.
    • Podiatrists need a State license that requires the completion of at least 90 hours of undergraduate study, the completion of a 4-year program at a college of podiatric medicine, and in most States, a postdoctoral residency program of at least 1 year.
    • Many podiatrists are solo practitioners, although more are entering partnerships with other podiatrists or other health practitioners; establishing a new practice will be most difficult in the areas surrounding colleges of podiatric medicine.
    • Podiatrists enjoy very high earnings.
  • Recreational therapists
    • Overall employment of recreational therapists is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations, but employment of therapists who work in community care facilities for the elderly and in residential mental retardation, mental health, and substance abuse facilities should grow faster than the average.
    • Recreational therapists should be comfortable working with persons who are ill or who have disabilities.
    • Opportunities should be best for persons with a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation or in recreation with a concentration in therapeutic recreation.
  • Registered nurses
    • Registered nurses constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.3 million jobs.
    • More new jobs are expected to be created for registered nurses than for any other occupation.
    • Job opportunities are expected to be very good.
    • The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma.
  • Respiratory therapists
    • An associate degree has become the general requirement for entry into this field.
    • Hospitals will continue to employ the vast majority of respiratory therapists, but a growing number of therapists will work in other settings.
    • Job opportunities will be very good, especially for therapists with cardiopulmonary care skills or experience working with newborns and infants.
  • Speech-language pathologists
    • Employment of speech-language pathologists is expected to grow rapidly because the expanding population in older age groups is prone to medical conditions that result in speech, language, and swallowing problems.
    • About half worked in educational services, and most others were employed by healthcare and social assistance facilities.
    • A master’s degree in speech-language pathology is the standard credential.
  • Veterinarians
    • Graduation from an accredited college of veterinary medicine and a State license are required.
    • Employment opportunities are expected to be very good, but competition for admission to veterinary school is keen.
    • Veterinarians should have an affinity for animals and the ability to get along with animal owners.
  • Health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other

See the Occupational Outlook Handbook in print.