Healthcare and Medical Job Titles and Descriptions
There are a variety of jobs in healthcare, and an increasing need for people to fill these positions. Some are clinical jobs, such as doctors, nurses, and surgeons.
Others are technical jobs, such as phlebotomists and radiologists. A number of positions are healthcare support occupations, which involve helping other clinicians. These include home health aides, occupational therapy assistants, and physical therapy aides.
Finally, there are a number of administrative jobs. These range from upper-level administrative jobs, like a medical director, to jobs like hospital administrative assistants. There is a relatively new type of medical profession that combines the role of a medical doctor with that of a hospital administrator, known as hospitalist. It is therefore hard to place it in just one category.
Because there are so many aspects of healthcare, there are a variety of medical job titles.
Discover five high-demand healthcare jobs, along with reviewing a longer list of healthcare job titles.
Popular Healthcare Job Titles
Below is a detailed list of five healthcare occupations that will likely be growing over the next five to ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Home Health Aide: Home health aides help people who are elderly, ill, or disabled perform everyday activities. They might also give clients medicine or check their vital signs. Most home health aide workers work in clients’ homes, and others work in retirement communities.
Nurse Practitioner: Nurse practitioners diagnose and treat patients. Unlike registered nurses (RNs), they do not have to work under the direct supervision of a physician. NPs must complete a master’s or doctorate program.
Occupational Therapist: Occupational therapists (OTs) help disabled, ill, and injured people to perform everyday activities, such as getting dressed or getting around the kitchen. They work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and more. Most OTs have either a master’s or a doctorate in occupational therapy, as well as a state license. However, occupational therapist assistants (who assist OTs) need only an associate’s degree, and occupational therapist aides (who also assist OTs) need only a high school diploma.
Physical Therapist: Physical therapists (PTs) help injured or ill people manage their pain and move around. They diagnose physical problems, teach patients exercises, and provide hands-on therapy. Most physical therapists have a doctorate. However, physical therapist assistants (who assist PTs) need only an associate’s degree, and physical therapist aides (who also assist PTs) need only a high school diploma.
Physician Assistant: A physician assistant (PA) practices medicine. They diagnose patients, give treatments, prescribe medicine, and more. They work under the supervision of a licensed physician. PAs attend physician assistant programs and must be licensed.
Administrative Healthcare / Medical Job Titles
Without planning and administrative input, it would be difficult for doctors and other medical professionals to deliver their services. Some people in administrative roles are responsible for scheduling appointments, while others may be in charge of running an office, nursing home, or hospital. Some job titles include:
- Account Executive
- Account Manager
- Accountant
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounting Manager
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Medical Assistant
- Administrator
- Admissions Clerk
- Admissions Director
- Analyst
- Assistant Administrator
- Assistant Admissions Director
- Assistant Director of Nursing
- Bereavement Coordinator
- Billing Manager
- Billing Specialist
- Business Analyst
- Case Manager
- Chief Financial Officer
- Claims Examiner
- Claims Specialist
- Clerk
- Clinical Coordinator, Recovery Services
- Coder
- Coding Educator
- Computer Analyst
- Computer Programmer
- Consultant
- Coordinator
- Customer Service Representative
- Director of Nursing
- Director of Operations
- Director of Rehabilitation
- Executive Assistant
- Executive Director
- Financial Analyst
- Front Office Clerk
- Health Facilities Surveyor
- Health Services Manager
- Healthcare Administrator
- Healthcare Management
- Healthcare Specialist
- Hospice Administrator
- Hospital Administrator
- Information Technology Specialist
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Medical Administrative
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant or Receptionist
- Medical Associate
- Medical Billing Specialist
- Medical Claims and Billing Specialist
- Medical Coder
- Medical Manager
- Medical Office Assistant
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Office Specialist
- Medical or Health Services Manager
- Medical Receptionist
- Medical Records Clerk
- Medical Records Director
- Medical Records Technician
- Medical Sales
- Medical Secretary
- Medical Technologist
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Mobile Director of Nursing Services
- Office Assistant
- Office Clerk
- Office Manager
- Operations Manager
- Patient Access Supervisor
- Patient Care Associate
- Patient Services Representative
- Patient Services Technician
- Pharmaceutical Sales
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
- Program Director
- Program Manager
- Programmer
- Programmer Analyst
- Project Manager
- Quality Coordinator
- Receptionist
- Recruiter
- Regional Sales Manager
- Safety Surveillance Associate
- Sales Associate
- Sales Manager
- Sales Representative
- Secretary
- Senior Programmer Analyst
- Social Services
- Software Developer
- Software Engineer
- Staffing Coordinator
- Supervisor
- Transcriptionist
Clinical Healthcare / Medical Roles
Clinical roles include people who have attended medical or nursing school. Here are some of the job titles for these roles:
- Ambulatory Nurse
- Anesthesiologist
- Audiologist
- Behavioral Health Charge Nurse
- Bereavement Counselor
- Cardiac Catheterization Lab Nurse
- Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse
- Cardiovascular Technologist
- Charge Nurse
- Chiropractor
- Counselor
- Dentist
- Dermatology Nurse
- Dialysis Nurse
- Doctor
- Emergency Room Nurse
- Endoscopy Nurse
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Flight Nurse
- Genetic Counselor
- Home Health Nurse
- Hospice Counselor
- Hospice Nurse
- House Supervisor Nurse
- Intensive Care Nurse
- Interventional Radiology Nurse
- Labor and Delivery Nurse
- Lead Registered Nurse
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Licensed Vocational Nurse
- Medical Surgery Nurse
- Microbiologist
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse
- Nurse
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing Assistant
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
- Occupational Therapist
- Office Nurse
- Oncology Nurse
- Operating Room Nurse
- Optician
- Optometrist
- Orthodontist
- Orthotist
- Outreach RN
- Paramedic
- Pediatrician
- Pediatric Endocrinology Nurse
- Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Perioperative Nurse
- Pharmacist
- Prosthetist
- Physician
- Podiatrist
- Post Anesthesia Nurse
- Postpartum Nurse
- Progressive Care Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
- Public Health Nurse
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Registered Nurse (RN) Case Manager
- Registered Nurse(RN) Data Coordinator
- Registered Nurse (RN) First Assistant
- Registered Nurse (RN) Geriatric Care
- Registered Nurse (RN) Medical Inpatient Services
- Registered Nurse (RN) Patient Call Center
- Registered Nurse (RN) Student Health Services
- Registered Nurse (RN) Telephone Triage
- Registered Nurse (RN) Urgent Care
- Registered Nurse (RN) Women’s Services
- Restorative Nurse
- Registered Medical Assistant
- Respiration (Inhalation) Therapist
- School Nurse
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Surgeon
- Telemetry Nurse
- Therapist
- Veterinarian
- Veterinary Assistant
- Veterinary Technologist
- Wellness Nurse
Support Healthcare / Medical Roles
Do not underestimate the importance of people in support roles – they’re essential to proving medical services. See healthcare support job titles:
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Clinical Liaison
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Clinical Research Associate
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Clinical Reviewer
- Clinical Specialist
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dietitian
- Exercise Physiologist
- Health Educator
- Home Health Aide
- Hospice Aide
- Massage Therapist
- Nurse Aide
- Nurse Clinical Educator
- Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Informatics Analyst
- Nurse Manager
- Nurse Paralegal
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Orderly Attendant
- Pharmacy Clerk
- Pharmacy Technician
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Physician Aide
- Physician Assistant
- Psychiatric Aide
- Radiation Therapist
- Recreational Therapist
- Regional Kidney Smart Educator
Technical Healthcare / Medical Roles
Also playing a key role are the technicians who take blood, do sonograms and perform other medical tasks.
- Athletic Trainer
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Clinical Liaison
- Clinical Nurse Manager
- Clinical Research Associate
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Clinical Reviewer
- Clinical Specialist
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dietitian
- Exercise Physiologist
- Health Educator
- Home Health Aide
- Hospice Aide
- Massage Therapist
- Nurse Aide
- Nurse Clinical Educator
- Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Informatics Analyst
- Nurse Manager
- Nurse Paralegal
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Orderly Attendant
- Pharmacy Clerk
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Physician Aide
- Physician Assistant
- Psychiatric Aide
- Radiation Therapist
- Recreational Therapist
- Regional Kidney Smart Educator