Pre-Health Profession Tracks

What a Physical Therapist Does

Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. They are often an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.

Typical Duties

• Review patients’ medical history and referrals or notes from doctors, surgeons, or other health care workers.
• Diagnose patients’ functions and movements by observing them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns.
• Develop individualized plans of care for patients, outlining the patients’ goals and the expected outcomes of the plans.
• Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain, help them increase their mobility, prevent further pain or injury, and facilitate health and wellness.
• Evaluate and record a patients’ progress, modifying the plan of care and trying new treatments as needed.
• Educate patients and their families about what to expect from the recovery process and how to cope with challenges throughout the process.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of biology
• One year of anatomy and physiology
• One year of physics
• Psychology
• Math/Statistics
• 50 hours of volunteer work in PT settings

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions Handbook (PDF)

Application Information

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers information on accredited physical therapy programs.

Visit APTA.

The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Services (PTCAS) is a centralized application service that streamlines the admissions process for many PT programs.

Visit PTCAS.

What a Pharmacist Does

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications and provide information to patients about the drugs and their use.

Typical Duties

• Fill prescriptions to the proper amount based on physicians’ instructions.
• Check patients’ allergies, medical conditions, and other drugs they are taking to ensure that the newly prescribed medication does not cause adverse reaction.
• Instruct patients on proper use, side effects, and storage of prescribed medicine.
• Administer vaccinations, such as flu shots.
• Advise patients about general health topics, such as exercise and managing stress, and on other issues, such as what equipment or supplies would be best to treat a health problem.
• Work with insurance companies to resolve billing issues.
• Supervise the work of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in training (interns).
• Maintain patient and pharmacy records.
• Educate other health care workers about proper medication therapies for patients.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One semester of pre–organic chemistry
• One year of organic chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of biology
• One year of physics
• Math (precalculus or calculus)
• One year of English composition
• Economics
• Speech

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions Handbook (PDF)

Application Information

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy provides resources on the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS), pharmacy school admission requirements, and more.

Visit AACP.

What a Chiropractor Does

Chiropractors assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulating the spine and musculoskeletal system.

Typical Duties

• Review a patient’s medical history and listen to their concerns.
• Perform a physical examination to analyze the patient’s posture, spine, and reflexes.
• Provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy, which involves adjusting a patient’s spinal column and other joints.
• Give additional treatments, such as applying heat or cold to a patient’s injured areas.
• Advise patients on health and lifestyle issues, such as exercise and nutrition.
• Refer patients to other health care professionals if needed.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One semester of pre-organic chemistry
• One year of organic chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of biology
• One year of anatomy and physiology
• One year of physics
• Math (precalculus or calculus)
• One year of English composition
• Psychology

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions Handbook (PDF).

Application Information

Each chiropractic school has their own application processes.

Visit American Chiropractic Association.

What IS Diagnostic Medical Imaging?

Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians operate special equipment to create images or conduct tests.

Typical Duties

• Prepare patients by explaining the procedure to them and answering their questions.
• Prepare exam rooms and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment.
• Properly situate patients for imaging.
• Operate equipment to obtain diagnostic images or to conduct tests.
• Review images or test results to check for quality and adequate coverage of the areas needed for diagnoses.
• Analyze results for abnormalities and other diagnostic information and provide a summary of findings to physicians.
• Record findings and keep track of patients’ records.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of biology
• One year of anatomy and physiology
• One year of physics
• Math (precalculus or calculus)
• One year of English composition
• Psychology

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions handbook (PDF).

What an Optometrist Does

Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system, including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.

Typical Duties

• Perform vision tests and analyze results.
• Diagnose vision problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, and eye diseases, such as glaucoma.
• Prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other visual aids.
• As permitted by state law, perform minor surgical procedures and prescribe medications to correct or treat visual or eye issues.
• Provide treatments such as vision therapy or low-vision rehabilitation.
• Provide pre- and postoperative care to patients undergoing eye surgery.
• Evaluate patients for the presence of other diseases and conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and refer patients to other health care providers as needed.
• Promote eye and general health by counseling patients.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One semester of pre–organic chemistry
• One year of organic chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of biology
• One year of physics
• Math (precalculus or calculus)
• One year of English composition
• Psychology
• Statistics

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions Handbook (PDF).

Application Information

Optometry programs require the Optometry Admission Test.

Visit OAT.

What a Podiatrist Does

Podiatrists diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and perform surgery for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.

Typical Duties

• Diagnose and assess patients’ conditions by reviewing medical histories, performing physical exams, and reviewing X-rays and medical laboratory tests.
• Provide nonsurgical treatment for foot, ankle, and lower leg ailments, such as prescribing special shoe inserts (orthotics) to improve a patient’s mobility.
• Perform foot and ankle surgeries, such as removing bone spurs, repairing fractures, and correcting other foot and ankle problems.
• Advise and instruct patients about foot and ankle care and wellness.
• Prescribe medications.
• Refer patients to other physicians or specialists if they detect other health problems, such as diabetes or vascular disease.
• Conduct research, read journals, and attend conferences to keep up with advances in podiatric medicine and surgery.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One semester of pre–organic chemistry
• One year of organic chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of biology
• One year of physics
• Math (precalculus or calculus)
• One year of English composition

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions Handbook (PDF).

Application Information

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service® (AACPMAS®) is the AACPM’s centralized podiatric medical school application processing service.

Visit AACPM.

What a Veterinarian Does

Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health.

Typical Duties

• Examine animals to assess their health and diagnose problems.
• Treat and dress wounds.
• Perform surgery on animals.
• Test for and vaccinate against diseases.
• Operate medical equipment, such as X-ray machines.
• Advise animal owners about general care, medical conditions, and treatments.
• Prescribe medication.
• Euthanize animals.

Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook

Recommended Courses

• One year of general chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One semester of pre-organic chemistry
• One year of organic chemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of general biology (lecture and lab)
• Zoology (lecture and lab)
• Microbiology (lecture and lab)
• Genetics
• Biochemistry (lecture and lab)
• One year of general physics (lecture and lab)
• One semester of math
• One year of English composition
• Statistics

For more details on coursework, download the Pre-Health Professions Handbook (PDF).

Application Information

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) offers information on how to apply to veterinary school.

Visit AAVMC.