Health Workforce

Health Professions and Occupations

The health professionals traditionally included in the health workforce are physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists. Each of these professions requires pra ctitioners to hold a license to practice. Some of the licenses are issued to cover practice in a single jurisdiction, usually a state; others may provide multistate licensure. Most require some form of national standardized pre-licensure examination.

The title “physician” is reserved for either doctors of allopathic medicine (MD) or doctors of osteopathy (DO). Both of these professions require formal postgraduate preparation beyond the baccalaureate degree and formalized professional practice or residency after licensure before independent practice is permitted. The area of practice selected will determine the number of years of residency training required.

Nurses represent the largest segment of the health professional workforce. Graduates of programs leading to the associate, baccalaureate, or entry master's degree may be eligible to take the licensing examination required to become registered nurses (RNs). Advanced education in nursing occurs at the master's and doctoral-degree levels. Advanced-practice licensure is available to nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists in some states. Nurses holding advanced-practice licensure have an expanded scope of practice over that of RNs. The scope is defined in state statutes and through professional accreditation and certification bodies.

Dentists are educated primarily at the postbaccalaureate level, with 4 years of professional education leading to either the doctor of dental science (DDS) or the doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degree. The curricula for both degrees are essentially the same, preparing the practitioner to coordinate oral healthcare for patients. Both degrees are considered first professional degrees with postgraduate clinical specialization and advanced internships and fellowships available.

Pharmacists are trained to distribute drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. The scope of practice for pharmacists is established at the state level and has been expanded in some states to include prescriptive authority and administration of immunizations. Education for pharmacy, once at the 5-year baccalaureate level, has moved to the 6-year doctoral level based on a 1989 decision by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). As in medicine, the doctoral degree in pharmacy (PharmD) is an entry-into-practice degree. An internship is also generally required. Pharmacists holding licensure prior to the change in educational requirements remain eligible to practice within their discipline unless state law precludes it. Some, however, see the former baccalaureate-level-prepared pharmacists forced to return to school to remain competitive in the workforce.

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