Welcome to the UCI Division of Career Pathways health professions resource page for pre-health students. This comprehensive resource is designed to provide you with valuable information, webinar recordings, guides, organizations, and other resources to help you navigate your journey toward a career in the health industry.
Advising for Pre-Health Students
Start building a strong application for medical or other health professional schools early. Take advantage of these advising options:
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UC Irvine Dunlop School of Biological Sciences Pre-Health Advising
Any and all majors can receive expert pre-health advising from the Bio Sci academic advisors. Set up an appointment to meet with a pre-health advisor or attend a pre-health workshop. -
Division of Career Pathways Career Advising
Explore your options and get one-on-one career planning help tailored to your interests in the health field.
Health Industry Specific Resources (Listed Alphabetically)
Explore industry-specific information and resources for various health professions below. These resources provide up-to-date information about careers, education requirements, and professional development opportunities.
Panel: Allied Health Therapist Careers (Panel: Audiology, PT, OT, SLP)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Allied Health Therapist Careers Panel
Considering a PhD in the Sciences? Interview with UCI Biomedical and Medical Engineering PhD student Tri Andrew Phan
- Access the On Demand Recording for Interview with Current STEM PhD Student
Virtual Career Spotlight: Career Chat with Hospital Child Life Specialist
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Chat with Hospital Child Life Specialist
American Chiropractors Association: A non-profit organization representing the chiropractic profession in America. The "What is Chiropractic" section explains the profession, offers key facts and lists qualifications for working in the field.
American Dental Association: The ADA is the professional organization for dental health professionals. The Education/Careers page contains career-related information including career brochures and fact sheets for dentistry, dental hygiene, dental assisting, and dental laboratory technology.
Career Panel: DDS, Ophthalmologist (MD), Nephrologist (DO), Occupational Therapist CDS Panel: Healthcare
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Panel with DDS and Other Health Professionals
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Career Resource Pages: Several pages of information on how to become a dietician/nutritionist tailored to specific populations, e.g. international students, DPD graduates, career changers, high school students. There are also career and professional development resources like employability articles and a job board.
NutritionEd: Provides prospective students and future professionals the tools to assist them in reaching their career goals in the nutrition, dietetic and health and wellness fields. There is also information about career specialties, salaries, state requirements, schools, and jobs.
Explore Health Careers: Reliable, up-to-date information about health professions. Information about a wide variety of health careers, professional profiles, and the latest issues in health care.
American Massage Therapy Association: This is the professional association for Massage Therapists. Visit the Career Guidance section to access the Career Path Quiz and career information.
Association of American Medical Colleges: Educational information for medical students and professionals. The Students page features a tool to help students navigate their journey from pre-med through residency.
American Medical Association: This site has “Education” and “Life and Career” tabs with information for individuals at any stage in their medical education/career. Users will find tips and resources for aspiring med students, individuals pursuing residency, graduates, and practicing physicians.
New England Journal of Medicine Career Center: A job board, articles, and free downloadable career guide publication for physicians. The guide covers topics like typical schedules, compensation information, and classified ads for opportunities.
Career Panels
Career Panel: Ophthalmologist (MD), Nephrologist (DO), Occupational Therapist, DDS CDS Panel: Healthcare
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Panel with Ophthalmologist and Other Health Professionals
Career Panel: Nurse (RN, MSN) and Quality Assurance Specialist, Pediatrician (MD) (CHOC)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Panel with Pediatrician and Other Health Professionals
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing Students Pages: Provides education and career-related information for individuals interested in pursuing nursing degrees from the RN to graduate degrees.
- American Nurses Association Career & Credentialing: This section of the ANA website contains a “career center” with a free job board, professional development resources, and certification/credentialing information.
- Best Nursing Degree: A nursing education resource, featuring a directory of over 2,300 nursing schools. The site also includes information about nursing careers, how to become a nurse, and features a New Nurse Survival Guide.
- Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow: In-depth profiles of nursing occupations, career and life management resources, education resources, and job outlook articles.
- Nursing Careers and Specialties for RNs: Use this site to obtain information on careers within the nursing field such as how to become one, the specialties within nursing, salaries and requirements, continuing education for career growth, and more.
- Nursing Salary Guide: Accurate and up to date salary and career information for a range of nursing specialties. Salary data for all states in the US including Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, LPN
- TopNurse: "Top Nurse Info" helps those interested in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) find training programs. Many of these programs are free as they are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor or state equivalent agencies. The site has state-by-state pages that list all training locations in a given state as well as their contact information. It also provides free training materials for those preparing to take the CNA exam, which is a requirement in order to become a licensed CNA. We have free practice tests for each section of the CNA exam, as well as supplemental training materials that can be used while taking CNA classes – all of which are free.
Career Panels
Pathways to Nursing
- Access the On Demand Recording for Pathways to Nursing
Career Discovery Series: Nursing
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Discovery Series on Nursing
Spotlight on a Career in Nursing
- Access the On Demand Recording for Spotlight on Nursing
Career Panel: Nurse (RN, MSN) and Quality Assurance Specialist, Pediatrician (MD) (CHOC)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Panel with Nurses and Other Health Professionals
American Occupational Therapy Association: AOTA is the professional organization for occupational therapists. Select the Education & Careers tab for online career and employment information including video clips from occupational therapy students.
Career Panels
Panel: Allied Health Therapist Careers (OT, PT, SLP, Audiology)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Allied Health Therapist Careers Panel
Career Panel: Occupational Therapist, DDS, Ophthalmologist (MD), Nephrologist (DO), CDS Panel: Healthcare
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Panel with Occupational Therapist and Other Health Professionals
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists: The professional organization for Orthotists and Prosthetists. The Career Info page contains information about careers in orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthics as well as educational programs, scholarships, and links.
Career Spotlight Session: Ronak Mistry, DO (Hematology/Oncology Fellow)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Spotlight on Hematology
UCI Alumna Spotlight Session: Grace Huizar UCI Alumna, Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Medical Student
- Access the On Demand Recording for UCI Alumna Spotlight on Osteopathic Medical School
American Pharmacists Association: This site can help you identify the pharmacy career option that is appropriate for you by providing information and guidelines you will need to carry out the process
Pharmacy is Right for Me: Created by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Pharmacy is Right for Me provides students, parents, and educators with interactive tools, resources, and testimonials about career opportunities in the field of pharmacy. Learn about the field of pharmacy, career paths, educational opportunities, fun facts, and more.
Career Panel
UCI PhD Student Spotlight: Pharmacology Featuring Yadhira Garcia, UCI alum and current UCI PhD student
- Access the On Demand Recording for PhD Student Spotlight on Pharmacology
American Physical Therapy Association: APTA is the professional organization for physical therapists. In addition to information about professional practice, patient care, advocacy and member news, the site contains career information about becoming a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
Career Panel
Panel: Allied Health Therapist Careers (PT, SLP, Audiology, OT)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Allied Health Therapist Careers Panel
Public Health: Career Discovery Series
- Access the On Demand Recording for Public Health Career Discovery Series
Panel: Careers, Public Health Alumni and UCI Grad Program in Public Health
- Access the On Demand Recording for Careers, Public Health Alumni and UCI Grad Program in Public Health
Career Panel: Quality Assurance Specialist, Pediatrician (MD) (CHOC), Nurse (RN, MSN)
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Panel with Quality Assurance Specialist and Other Health Professionals
American Society of Radiologic Technologists: The professional organization’s web site for radiologic technologists. Visit the Careers page to learn about the field of radiologic technology.
American Association for Respiratory Care: The American Association for Respiratory Care is the professional organization for respiratory therapists. The Careers page contains information about careers and career planning in respiratory therapy.
Journey to Become a Senior Research Scientist
- Access the On Demand Recording for Journey to Become a Senior Research Scientist
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional organization for Speech & Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Visit the Students page for information about careers in communication sciences and disorders.
Resources from NSSLHA Chapter at UCI:
- SLP/Au.D. Coursework (your guide to meeting all graduate school prerequisites within 4 years)
- Research Opportunities (explore various speech, language, and hearing labs on campus and how to get involved)
- Volunteering (local volunteering opportunities and national/regional)
Career Spotlight Recording
Career Spotlight Session: Speech and Language featuring Audrey Sugimoto, Speech and Language Specialist, Simi Valley Unified School District
- Access the On Demand Recording for Career Spotlight: Speech and Language
Gaining Experience
Access the On Demand Recording for UCI Student Panel: Gaining Clinical Experience
Access the On Demand Recording for Gaining Medical Scribe Experience
Access the On Demand Recording for UCI Student Panel: Gaining Research Experience
Access the On Demand Recording for Careers in Pediatric and Interdisciplinary Research
Health Graduate and Professional School Admissions
Access the On Demand Recording for Asking for LORs
Access the Biotech Graduate Programs Recording from KGI
Access the On Demand Recording for Creating the Pre-Health Resume
Access the On Demand Recording for Health Professions Requirements: Ask the Academic Counselor
UCI School of Medicine: Demystifying Medical School Admissions Session
- Access the On Demand Recording for Demystifying Medical School Admissions
- Download the PowerPoint for Demystifying Medical School Admissions
Case Western School of Medicine: Medical School Admissions Session
- Access the On Demand Recording for Case Western Medical School Admissions Session
Access the On Demand Recording for Interview with Successful UCI Medical School Applicants
Read about How to Get into Osteopathic Medical School on Accepted.com
Demystifying the Post Bac: Featuring Joon Kim, EdD of Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) and UCI Alumni
- Access the On Demand Recording for Demystifying the Post Bac
Post Bac Overview: Charles R. Drew University School of Medicine and Sciences
- Access the On Demand Recording for Post Bac Overview
Connect with UCI Medical Students: Michael Baham MS1 and Luigi Gonzales MS1
- Access the On Demand Recording for Q and A with Current UCI Medical Students
Virtual: Percival Guevarra, Writing Specialist, UCI Writing Center
- Access the On Demand Recording for Personal Statement for Health Professions
Virtual: Writing a Winning Personal Statement for Health Professions
- Access the On Demand Recording for Writing a Winning Personal Statement
Writing the Statement of Purpose
- View the Career Guide on Writing the Statement of Purpose (PDF).
Ketchum University
- Access the On Demand Recording for Ketchum University PA Admissions Overview
KGI (Keck Graduate Institute)
- Access the On Demand Recording for KGI PA Admissions Overview
Speaker: Lena Njoku, M.Ed
- Access the On Demand Recording for UC PRIME Pre-Health Pathways Overview
CV Samples
Test Prep and Practice Tests
- Peterson's Test Prep (UCI Libraries)
- Free from UCI Libraries for UCI students and affiliates. Create an account to use the practice tests