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What medical certifications can I get while in high school?
Hi,
I'm a rising high school sophomore and have aspirations of going into the medical field. I was wondering about things to do over the summer and thought getting a few certifications in would be helpful. Which ones would you recommend?
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6 answers
Updated
Audrey’s Answer
Hi Shrishti,
As mentioned before, the kind of training and certifications you can get as a high schooler are CPR, Basic Life Support, and First Aid training. The American Red Cross usually offers them, and typically cost money but are incredibly useful.
Some high schools or school districts with vocational programs may offer EMS or nursing classes, sometimes for college credit. I would look into the offerings by your school to see if there are any of those kinds of programs in your school district. Other classes that help would be AP or dual-credit classes, especially in subjects like chemistry, biology, and psychology, and possibly classes in anatomy if your school offers them. They won't help you this summer, but if you're serious about a medical career, they're a great way to get ahead early academically.
If you're interested in pursuing medicine, I also recommend volunteering and shadowing. These look really good on college applications, especially if you're pursuing a medical or pre-medical degree program. Volunteering can be at a variety of places that help your community, but especially places like food banks, homeless shelters, hospice centers, or retirement homes. I also recommend looking into local events and fundraisers for charities that are related to medical research or hospitals. Shadowing involves going to clinics or hospitals and watching doctors, nurses, or other medical staff perform their duties. Researching local hospitals or clinics in your area that have shadowing programs and taking advantage of those opportunities are a great way to get experience with the medical system and get a better understanding of your interest.
I hope this helps!
As mentioned before, the kind of training and certifications you can get as a high schooler are CPR, Basic Life Support, and First Aid training. The American Red Cross usually offers them, and typically cost money but are incredibly useful.
Some high schools or school districts with vocational programs may offer EMS or nursing classes, sometimes for college credit. I would look into the offerings by your school to see if there are any of those kinds of programs in your school district. Other classes that help would be AP or dual-credit classes, especially in subjects like chemistry, biology, and psychology, and possibly classes in anatomy if your school offers them. They won't help you this summer, but if you're serious about a medical career, they're a great way to get ahead early academically.
If you're interested in pursuing medicine, I also recommend volunteering and shadowing. These look really good on college applications, especially if you're pursuing a medical or pre-medical degree program. Volunteering can be at a variety of places that help your community, but especially places like food banks, homeless shelters, hospice centers, or retirement homes. I also recommend looking into local events and fundraisers for charities that are related to medical research or hospitals. Shadowing involves going to clinics or hospitals and watching doctors, nurses, or other medical staff perform their duties. Researching local hospitals or clinics in your area that have shadowing programs and taking advantage of those opportunities are a great way to get experience with the medical system and get a better understanding of your interest.
I hope this helps!
Updated
MARY’s Answer
There are many certifications that will help you. You can search online for any one that interest you. The BLS, CPR and ALS courses are available on some websites. More are available, I'll recommend you search on Coursera, Udemy and Allison website. I hope I answered your question
James Constantine Frangos
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James Constantine’s Answer
Hey there, Srishti!
You're a high school sophomore with dreams of a career in the medical field, right? That's awesome! Spending your summer getting certified in a medical field can be a fantastic way to pick up some useful skills and experiences. Here are a few medical certifications you might want to think about:
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): This one's a wonderful opportunity to get some real-world experience in the medical field and learn the essentials of patient care. All you need to do is complete a training program and pass a certification exam to become a CNA.
2. Emergency Medical Responder (EMR): If emergency medical services pique your interest, this certification could be perfect for you. It'll teach you how to provide basic life support and emergency care.
3. Phlebotomy Technician: If you're fascinated by blood sampling and lab testing, a phlebotomy technician certification could be the right choice. You'll learn how to collect blood samples and carry out basic lab tests.
Not only can these certifications give you valuable experience and boost your resume, but they can also serve as a stepping stone to further your education and career in the medical field.
To back up my suggestions, here are three authoritative reference books:
1. "The Complete Guide to Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant" by the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA)
2. "Emergency Medical Responder: A Guide to the Profession" by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)
3. "Phlebotomy Essentials: A Guide to Blood Sampling and Laboratory Testing" by the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
I hope you find this information useful! Just remember to always check out the certification requirements and training programs in your area before you decide to pursue any certifications.
You're a high school sophomore with dreams of a career in the medical field, right? That's awesome! Spending your summer getting certified in a medical field can be a fantastic way to pick up some useful skills and experiences. Here are a few medical certifications you might want to think about:
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): This one's a wonderful opportunity to get some real-world experience in the medical field and learn the essentials of patient care. All you need to do is complete a training program and pass a certification exam to become a CNA.
2. Emergency Medical Responder (EMR): If emergency medical services pique your interest, this certification could be perfect for you. It'll teach you how to provide basic life support and emergency care.
3. Phlebotomy Technician: If you're fascinated by blood sampling and lab testing, a phlebotomy technician certification could be the right choice. You'll learn how to collect blood samples and carry out basic lab tests.
Not only can these certifications give you valuable experience and boost your resume, but they can also serve as a stepping stone to further your education and career in the medical field.
To back up my suggestions, here are three authoritative reference books:
1. "The Complete Guide to Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant" by the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA)
2. "Emergency Medical Responder: A Guide to the Profession" by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT)
3. "Phlebotomy Essentials: A Guide to Blood Sampling and Laboratory Testing" by the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
I hope you find this information useful! Just remember to always check out the certification requirements and training programs in your area before you decide to pursue any certifications.
Updated
Abhishek’s Answer
Certified diabetes educator course from the international diabetes federation, basic biochemistry and physiology courses present on coursera, etc.
But if you really are interested in medical field then study physiology, Biochemistry and Anatomy from Kaplan or from YouTube. Read research paper.
See medical field is still a place where knowledge is more significant than certificate. You can join some conferences ans seminars also.
Hope it helps.
But if you really are interested in medical field then study physiology, Biochemistry and Anatomy from Kaplan or from YouTube. Read research paper.
See medical field is still a place where knowledge is more significant than certificate. You can join some conferences ans seminars also.
Hope it helps.
Updated
John’s Answer
I recommend an EMT course. Check your local HS, Community College, or EMS service to see if one is available near you. It's a nice introduction to the medical field and something you can use to make some money while continuing your education.
Updated
Vincent’s Answer
Some of my friends did CNA courses at a local community college and they were able to work as a CNA in high school. I would also look at internships in labs if you are interested in medicine. Fred Hutch, UW Medicine, Seattle Children's, Institute for Systems Biology all have programs for high school/college students interested in science.