Appendix B
Health Professions Table
The committee includes the professions listed in Table B-1 in its scope of health professions. The committee reviewed those professions classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 as “healthcare practitioner and technical occupations,” “health technologists and technicians,” and “healthcare support occupations.” The scope of professions was further defined based on the highest level of formal education—those professions not requiring a baccalaureate or higher degree were not selected and are crossed out in Table B-1.
For each profession that fits within the committee’s scope of health professions, Table B-1 also lists the approximate size, average amount of required annual continuing education (CE) credits, and average amount charged per credit. Cost per credit indicates the average amount charged by the major professional society and does not include the costs incurred by employers, private CE providers, or commercial support. It is important to note that the cost per credit ranges dramatically based on CE provider, from being free to costing upwards of $1,000 per course. These data were generally collected through personal communications with professional societies.
TABLE B-1 Health Care Occupations Identified in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009
Occupation |
Minimum Degree |
No. in Profession |
Average No. of Credits |
Cost per Credit |
Health Care Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
||||
Audiologists |
Doctorate |
12,826 |
12.5 |
$39a |
Chiropractors |
Doctorate |
65,000 |
17 |
$17 |
Dentists, General |
Doctorate |
141,315 |
18 |
$28-$42 |
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons |
Doctorate |
7,044 |
18 |
$28-$42 |
Orthodontists |
Doctorate |
10,184 |
18 |
$28-$42 |
Prosthodontists |
Doctorate |
3,404 |
18 |
$28-$42 |
Optometrists |
Doctorate |
33,000f |
18 |
$20-$27 |
Pharmacists |
Doctorate |
230,000 |
15 |
$30 |
Physicians and Surgeons |
Doctorate |
816,727 |
28 |
$30 |
Clinical Psychologist |
Master’s, Doctorate |
39,731 |
16 |
$15-$20 |
Physical Therapists |
Master’s, Doctorate |
175,488 |
30 |
$30 |
Occupational Therapists |
Master’s |
101,560 |
12 |
$27.50 |
Speech-Language Pathologists |
Master’s |
118,270 |
12.5 |
$39 |
Social Workers |
Master’s Bachelor’s, many require |
555,000 |
12.5 |
$0-$50 |
Physician Assistants |
Bachelor’s/PA program |
79,980 |
25 |
$30 |
Registered Nurses |
Bachelor’s, Associate’s, or diploma |
2,909,357 |
12 |
$8-$10 |
Radiation Therapists |
Bachelor’s, Associate’s with certificate |
18,110 |
12 |
$8 |
Dietitians and Nutritionists |
Bachelor’s |
57,000f |
15 |
$50 |
Recreational Therapists |
Bachelor’s |
25,000f |
10b |
$17.50-$75 |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Health Technologists and Technicians |
||||
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists |
Bachelor’s |
167,000f |
12c |
$12 |
Orthotists and Prosthetists |
Bachelor’s |
5,490f |
18b |
$7-$15 |
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists |
Bachelor’s |
45,000f |
15 |
$15 |
Athletic Trainers |
Bachelor’s |
17,000f |
23d |
$0-$25 |
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians |
Associate’s, certificate, Bachelor’s |
196,000f |
11e |
$8 |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Occupation |
Minimum Degree |
No. in Profession |
Average No. of Credits |
Cost per Credit |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Health Care Support Occupations |
||||
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |