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Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
Other titles employers use
Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Clinical Professor · Instructor · Lecturer · Occupational Therapy Professor · Pharmacology Professor · Physical Therapy Professor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise laboratory sessions.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.1 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.6 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.0 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 44%
- A master's degree 36%
- A four-year degree 12%
- A two-year degree 5%
- A certificate or some college 3%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Computer based training software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 30,860
- Job openings each year
- 2,780
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 25.0%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 30,860 | 2,780 | 25.0% |
| New York | 26,500 | 480 | 22.0% |
| California | 15,100 | 1,350 | 22.8% |
| North Carolina | 14,840 | 1,360 | 29.4% |
| Illinois | 13,770 | 1,190 | 16.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,170 | 1,060 | 16.9% |
| Maryland | 12,130 | 1,120 | 30.7% |
| Colorado | 10,630 | 1,000 | 36.8% |
| Florida | 10,500 | 950 | 26.7% |
| Connecticut | 9,050 | 820 | 25.3% |
| Wisconsin | 9,030 | 810 | 23.7% |
| Ohio | 7,730 | 670 | 16.4% |
| Virginia | 6,960 | 610 | 19.6% |
| Georgia | 6,710 | 600 | 23.3% |
| Missouri | 6,550 | 570 | 19.1% |
| Tennessee | 6,050 | 560 | 31.2% |
| Michigan | 4,760 | 410 | 18.1% |
| Utah | 4,670 | 450 | 44.1% |
| Indiana | 4,620 | 410 | 20.9% |
| Oregon | 4,500 | 400 | 22.3% |
| Massachusetts | 4,090 | 380 | 29.4% |
| Washington | 3,850 | 400 | 17.7% |
| Arizona | 3,520 | 310 | 23.1% |
| Oklahoma | 3,240 | 270 | 12.9% |
| Minnesota | 2,800 | 250 | 19.1% |
| Iowa | 2,580 | 230 | 25.9% |
| West Virginia | 2,490 | 220 | 19.7% |
| Arkansas | 2,390 | 210 | 20.1% |
| Nebraska | 2,330 | 190 | 3.6% |
| New Mexico | 2,280 | 210 | 26.0% |
| Mississippi | 2,040 | 180 | 23.6% |
| District of Columbia | 1,830 | 160 | 19.6% |
| Louisiana | 1,700 | 150 | 22.3% |
| South Carolina | 1,290 | 120 | 27.7% |
| Vermont | 1,250 | 100 | 4.2% |
| Nevada | 1,050 | 100 | 25.0% |
| Kentucky | 880 | 80 | 18.9% |
| Puerto Rico | 860 | 80 | 28.4% |
| Kansas | 820 | 70 | 20.6% |
| Maine | 800 | 70 | 12.7% |
| Montana | 510 | 50 | 21.4% |
| Idaho | 450 | 40 | 28.6% |
| North Dakota | 430 | 40 | 13.2% |
| New Hampshire | 410 | 40 | 17.1% |
| Rhode Island | 410 | 40 | 20.6% |
| Delaware | 360 | 30 | 33.3% |
| Wyoming | 260 | 20 | 30.0% |
| South Dakota | 220 | 20 | 22.2% |
| Alaska | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,751
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 1,192
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Boise State University
- Degrees each year
- 520
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
University of California-San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 1,461
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of California-Irvine
- Degrees each year
- 1,215
- Admit rate
- 26%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- Degrees each year
- 687
- Admit rate
- 65%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,452
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of Maryland-College Park
- Degrees each year
- 741
- Admit rate
- 45%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Compare every college offering combined medical residency/fellowship programs