Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions (2010)

Chapter: Appendix B: Health Professions Table

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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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.

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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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
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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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

Pathology Assistants

Associate’s (NOT IN BLS)

N/A

N/A

N/A

Respiratory Therapists

Associate’s

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

Surgical Technologists

Certificate, diploma, Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Certificate, diploma, Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dental Hygienists

Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Certificate, diploma, Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Occupation

Minimum Degree

No. in Profession

Average No. of Credits

Cost per Credit

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Certificate, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dietetic Technicians

Vocational award, Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Psychiatric Technicians

Vocational award

N/A

N/A

N/A

Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

High school diploma

N/A

N/A

N/A

Opticians, Dispensing

High school diploma

N/A

N/A

N/A

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pharmacy Technicians

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Health Care Support Occupations

Occupational Therapist Assistants

Associate’s, certificate

N/A

N/A

N/A

Physical Therapist Assistants

High school diploma, Associate’s

N/A

N/A

N/A

Medical Assistants

Vocational school (1 or 2 yr)

N/A

N/A

N/A

Medical Transcriptionists

Postsecondary training preferred

N/A

N/A

N/A

Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants

High school diploma (aides)

N/A

N/A

N/A
Page 231 Cite Bookmark
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Psychiatric Aides

High school diploma

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dental Assistants

High school diploma

N/A

N/A

N/A

Home Health Aides

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Occupational Therapist Aides

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Physical Therapist Aides

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Massage Therapists

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Medical Equipment Preparers

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pharmacy Aides

None

N/A

N/A

N/A

NOTE: N/A = Not applicable.

aThis is the average cost of an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Professional Development distance learning program.

bFor national certification.

cOnly 12 states and Puerto Rico require licensure (CA, GA, HI, FL, LA, MT, ND, NV, NY, RI, TN, WV).

dOnly 32 states require continuing education credits.

eOnly 28 states require continuing education credits.

fData from Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Page 231 Cite Bookmark
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Page 232 Cite Bookmark
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Health Professions Table." Institute of Medicine. 2010. Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12704.
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Page 232
Next Chapter: Appendix C: International Comparison of Continuing Education and Continuing Professional Development
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