Ways High School Students Can Plan for a Career in Healthcare

Dreaming of a healthcare career? Begin your journey before you graduate from high school. While the path to becoming a healthcare professional may feel intimidating, strategic preparation can set you up for success. Here are a few ways to create a solid foundation across academics, experiences, and personal skills to prepare you for an impactful career.

Building an academic foundation

Science and math classes form the cornerstone of your preparation, but communication skills are also important. Focus on developing strong writing and public speaking abilities, as you’ll need to communicate complex medical information to patients, families, and colleagues. If your high school offers a medical terminology course — or you can take one through dual enrollment at a local community college — it’ll give you a great head start. So will these other classes.

Biology is the gateway to understanding human anatomy, physiology, and disease processes.  Chemistry teaches you the biochemical processes in the human body and even how medications work. Physics introduces you to other scientific principles used by medical technologies. Take honors, AP, or IB biology courses for college-level preparation.

Math may seem distant from healthcare, but it’s also a critical skill for calculating medication dosages and interpreting medical research, for example. Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus will sharpen your analytical abilities. Statistics can help you later when you’re understanding population health trends and medical research methodologies.

Experiences outside the classroom

Academics comprise just one piece of the puzzle. Extracurricular activities and hands-on experiences are important, too. Get real-world exposure by volunteering at a local hospital, clinic, nursing home, veterinary office, or community health organization. You’ll gain insights into different healthcare environments and demonstrate your commitment to helping others.

Organizations like Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) also offer opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals. You can connect with like-minded peers through competitions, workshops, and leadership activities and learn about various healthcare career paths. Similarly, you can participate in science clubs, take first aid training, and get your CPR certification to enhance your practical skills (and resume).

Job shadowing is another powerful tool. Contact local healthcare professionals — doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, physician assistants, occupational therapists, etc. — and ask to shadow them at work. This firsthand experience gives you a better idea of each job’s responsibilities and can help you decide whether you want to pursue it.

Leverage your network; guidance counselors, teachers, and family can connect you with opportunities, too. Seek diverse experiences — even those not directly medical — to build transferrable skills like teamwork, communication, and empathy. 

If you’re 16, you can earn a basic EMT certification (and full certification when you’re 18). The minimum age in some states for a certified nursing assistant (CNA) is 16, although many employers require you to be 18. Both certifications offer hands-on medical experience and training while you earn your credentials.

Explore entry-level roles in medical offices or clinics to learn about healthcare’s administrative and operational aspects. 

Polishing your competencies

Technical knowledge alone doesn’t make a well-rounded healthcare professional. You need soft skills, too, like communication, active listening, and empathy. Healthcare is fundamentally about human connection and compassionate care, after all!

To sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, practice analyzing complex information, identifying challenges, and developing solutions. You’ll get lots of opportunities in your high school career, especially if you take college prep, honors, and AP-level courses. 

Look into summer programs, like pre-college healthcare, clinical laboratory science, or healthcare administration/management courses. You’ll also learn teamwork in these programs, as healthcare is an industry where professionals from different disciplines collaborate to provide comprehensive patient care.

The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) publishes a list of premed competencies that all incoming medical students are expected to have. You’ll develop and polish these skills as an undergrad, but you can also start working on them in high school. They include:

• Cultural awareness
• Empathy and compassion
• Ethical responsibility to self and others
• Reliability and dependability
• Resilience and adaptability
• Human behavior
• Living systems
• Quantitative reasoning
• Critical thinking
• Scientific inquiry

Preparing for your undergraduate degree… and beyond

As your high school graduation date nears, start researching programs aligned with your healthcare career goals. Look for universities with strong pre-med, nursing, or specialized healthcare tracks. Check for programs offering research opportunities, clinical experiences, and mentorship programs.

Standardized tests and college applications also require early preparation. Start studying for the ACT or SAT well in advance. You can take the PSAT as a sophomore to get a sense of what to expect. Then, plan to take a few practice tests in the summer between 10th and 11th grade and take advantage of some of the available online study resources. Bonus: Many are free!

Continuous learning and exploration

Stay curious and engaged in the healthcare world. Whether you want to be a surgeon or physical therapist, research and develop cancer treatments, or join the veterinary team at a zoological garden or aquarium, you can:

• Read medical journals or articles relevant to your interests
• Watch documentaries 
• Attend health conferences
• Volunteer in your community
• Enroll in summer programs

The dynamic healthcare field is constantly evolving, and your ability to grow and adapt will be a great asset. Remember that your journey isn’t a marathon — it’s a sprint. Each experience, each course, and each volunteer hour is a step toward your goal. Stay motivated, be patient with yourself, and never stop learning.

The healthcare world awaits the next generation of dedicated, compassionate, driven professionals. Your high school years are the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for a meaningful, impactful career.

Want more tips and insights? Check out our full Guide to Your Future In Healthcare here.