Healthcare Practitioners and Support Workers - Vital to Our Economic Health

Healthcare jobs are diverse in their duties, wages, and educational requirements but typically fall into one of two categories – practitioners or support. 

Healthcare practitioners include workers like registered nurses, physicians and surgeons, pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and dental hygienists. Statewide, practitioners account for two-thirds of all healthcare jobs.

These jobs also demand a tremendous educational commitment. Nearly 40 percent require at least a master’s degree to be considered competitive for a position, with nearly 30 percent requiring a doctoral or professional degree.

Practitioners alone cannot treat, cure, and manage healthcare for all people at all times. This requires a larger, coordinated network of support staff including nursing assistants, medical assistants, home health aides, dental assistants, and massage therapists.

It should be noted that jobs in healthcare support are more likely to be part-time than in the practitioner field. Most jobs require some type of non-degree postsecondary training to be competitive for a position.

For more on healthcare practitioners and support workers, see Jill Cuyler-Crook's full article: Healthcare Practitioners and Support Workers - Vital to Our Economic Health.