Intro to H.O.T. Guide

Dear Students and Educators:

I am delighted to share updates in the sixth edition of the Health Occupations & Technology (H.O.T.) Guide—Careers in Connecticut. The pandemic clearly illustrates the need for a diverse and qualified healthcare workforce ready to tackle complexities in the face of a new and emerging health crisis. To that end, CT AHEC has added public health resources for educators which include lesson plans, rubrics and teaching guides. For learners, we’ve added scholarship information for those pursuing careers in public health.


The H.O.T. Guide is your map . . . and serves as a comprehensive guide to many of the health and biotechnology careers for which there is an educational program offered in Connecticut. This guide is specifically designed for those interested in learning more about health and biotechnology careers and educational opportunities for such careers in the state. The guide is also a great resource tool for educators and guidance counselors to share with their students as they start thinking about college and career choices.

One of the primary objectives of Connecticut Area Health Education Centers (CT AHEC) is to promote health careers, and this guide is just one of many projects CT AHEC is working on to fulfill this objective. The various AHEC regional centers throughout Connecticut plan and coordinate numerous programs aimed at exposing students and others to health careers as well as preparing learners for particular careers. Examples of such programs include: Youth Health Service Corps, Public Health Ambassadors, Biomedical Engineering Discovery Program, CT Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, CNA Pathways to College Program, Collegiate Health Service Corps, the Medical/Community Interpreter Program, and Community Health Worker Core Competency Training. All of these programs provide opportunities to learn more about health careers through hands-on experience and interaction with health care professionals.

The guide provides valuable information about planning for college, financial aid, enrichment programs, and educational opportunities in Connecticut. The H.O.T. Guide also answers the following questions for over eighty different health and biotechnology careers:

  • What will my job be like?
  • Where could I work?
  • What is the salary for this career?
  • What is the future of this career?
  • What type of education and/or training do I need?
  • Where can I get the education and/or training?
  • Do I need a license or certification for this career?
  • Where can I get more information?


Since 2001, CT AHEC has supported the guide—first in print and since the 4th edition, online. With over 19,000 page views per year, CT AHEC is proud to contribute to the promotion of health careers, including public health, through the publication of this guide. We hope that students and educators will find it to be a useful resource in learning about and planning for a “H.O.T. career in Connecticut.”



Sincerely,

Petra Clark-Dufner

Director, Connecticut AHEC Program

UConn Health

Answers To Your College Questions

We believe in you and the success of your future in Connecticut! We know that you are not alone in your search for answers to these important career questions. The H.O.T. Guide has been created for you and provides the information you need as you begin your journey.

  • Should I go to college?

    Yes! Start thinking and planning now for college. Even if you don’t know what you want to do, plan as if you will go on to further education beyond high school. Higher education, such as a 2- or 4-year college, a vocational-technical school or a specific career training program, is available to everyone. By continuing your education, you will have choices and a greater range of job opportunities. You will have options that you didn’t think were possible!

  • How can I pay for college?

    Financial aid, grants, loans and scholarships are available to more students now than ever before. Remember, every student’s financial situation is different. Don’t assume school will be too expensive. Check out the resources listed in the guide and see if your school counselor can help you to find out more.

  • Why consider a health career?

    The most rewarding experiences and satisfying careers are in health care. You can make a difference in the lives of people in your community! Connecticut needs more nurses, therapists, primary care doctors, biotechnicians, complementary health practitioners and medical support professionals to provide health care for its residents. The demand for health care professionals is growing so fast, you are virtually guaranteed a job after you complete college or a training program. Look inside this guide for information about specific careers in health.

  • Where do I start?

    Start with believing in yourself! Take the basic math such as algebra and geometry now to start building the foundation for more advanced math and science courses.

  • Who can help me?

    Many adults in your life want to help you to prepare for success after high school. They may be your parents, a family member, a neighbor, a teacher, a school nurse, or person of faith. Talk to them about what you want to do after high school. Ask them for their ideas. This guide can help you, too.


    There are many H.O.T. career options available to you in Connecticut. We wish you the best!


    Warmly,

    the AHEC Health Career Coordinators

How To Use This Guide

This site has been designed to guide you in your exploration of health careers. You can find advice in the Introduction and Information sections; in the Careers section, you can browse a comprehensive listing of Health Careers in Connecticut, with comprehensive details about each occupation. The careers are divided into sections such as these:


We hope that this site can answer your questions and guide you in your investigation of Health Careers in Connecticut. If you have further inquiries that this site is unable to satisfy, we’d be delighted to hear your questions and suggestions.


Is a Health Career For me? A Self-Assessment

We all think generally, about what we want to be “when we grow up.” This survey can help you focus on the characteristics of employment as you visualize your future in the health care workforce. The responses are personal to you and there are no right or wrong answers. This survey is a great step towards making decisions for a satisfying future in a career that meets your needs and desires. Check the response that best fits your vision of yourself in the world of work. As you read this guide, look for career descriptions that best match the interests, styles and needs you have checked. CONGRATULATIONS on taking a big step toward a rewarding future!

As I think about my future, I envision myself:

  • Working mostly with data (information, numbers, reports, statistics)
  • Working mostly with people (conversing, teaching, caring for)
  • Working mostly with objects or animals (equipment, machines, materials, pets)
  • Working in an office
  • Working in my home
  • Working in a store
  • Working in a laboratory
  • Working in a hospital
  • Working in an educational setting
  • Other (fill in your own vision)
  • Working fulltime (40 hours per week)
  • Working parttime (less than 35 hours per week)
  • Working structured hours (usually the same 7 or 8 hour schedule daily)
  • Working flexible hours (different time patterns of my choice)
  • Working structured, but varying hours (daily or weekly time patterns vary based on employer)
  • Working for a salary (being paid a set amount by the hour or month)
  • Working on a freelance or commission basis (paid based on productivity, regardless of time involved)
  • Having the same career or the same type of job throughout my work life
  • Having a series of related jobs with increasing responsibilities throughout my work life
  • Having a series of unrelated jobs throughout my work life
  • Working with and influencing people
  • Working alone without the responsibility of supervising others
  • Balancing demands of work and family
  • Committing myself to work without the flexibility needed for family life
  • Having security; earning an above average salary; donating to charities
  • Providing leadership; providing a service to others; obtaining a status
  • Exhibiting independence; experiencing variety; traveling
  • Other personally desired characteristics