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Types of Employers and Work Settings
Healthcare jobs exist in many different kinds of organizations. You don’t have to work in a hospital to work in healthcare!
- Hospitals and healthcare systems: Hospitals treat all kinds of patients, from emergencies to surgeries. They need all kinds of skills, employ huge numbers of people in many roles including administrative, facilities, IT, and more. They are complex organizations that are open 24/7, with both shift-based work and traditional 9-to-5 work.
- Clinics and doctor’s offices: Smaller settings where people go for regular checkups and minor health needs. In addition to patient-facing work, offices include billing, scheduling, and records work.
- Nursing homes and assisted living: Places that care for older adults or people who need daily help, located across every community of the Commonwealth.
- Dental practices: Offices that provide oral health care, from routine cleanings to specialized procedures. These practices hire dental hygienists, dental assistants, administrative staff, and sometimes on‑site dental lab techs.
- Home health agencies: Companies that send workers to care for people in their own homes.
- Mental health centers: Places that help people with emotional and psychological needs.
- Pharmacies: Stores and departments that fill prescriptions and advise on medicine.
- Labs and imaging centers: Places that run tests like blood work or X-rays.
- Public health and government: Agencies that protect community health, like health departments.
- Insurance companies: Businesses that handle the payment side of healthcare. Some of this work may occur remotely or have telework options.
Types of Roles
Healthcare jobs generally fall into a few categories:
- Direct care: Working hands-on with patients (nurses, aides, therapists, doctors). These roles exist in many forms, with a wide variety of certifications needed. Some direct care roles are considered entry-level, with minimal training needed. Others require more training or schooling. Virginia has many earn & learn opportunities available to help you make a living and learn on the job.
- Support and technical: Running tests, handling equipment, or filling prescriptions (lab techs, pharmacy techs, radiology techs). This work occurs in clinics, offices, hospitals, labs and imaging centers, pharmacies, dental offices, nursing homes, and more!
- Administrative: Keeping the business running (billing, scheduling, medical records, management). This work occurs in clinics, offices, and hospitals, but also at the headquarters of major health systems, insurance companies, and other settings. If you aren’t sure about interacting with patients, or want to transfer your customer service, clerical, office management, or administrative skills, this is a great place to start.
- Wellness and prevention: Helping people stay healthy (health educators, dietitians, fitness specialists). These roles exist across the community.
What to Know About Finding a Job
A few things make healthcare different from other industries:
- Education and training vary a lot. Some jobs need only a few weeks of training, while others require many years of school. There’s a path for almost every level.
- Licenses and certifications matter. Many roles require you to pass an exam and get a license before you can work. Each state may have its own rules.
- Background checks are common. Because you work with vulnerable people, employers usually check your history.
- Demand is high. Healthcare keeps growing, so jobs are often easier to find than in some other fields.
- Schedules can vary. Some jobs are normal business hours; others include nights, weekends, or holidays since care never stops.
- Start small and grow. Many people begin in entry-level roles and move up as they gain experience and education.
Getting Started
If you’re just exploring, here are some good first steps:
- Think about whether you want to work directly with patients or behind the scenes.
- Consider the skills you already have and how they translate to different types of work.
- Talk to people who already work in healthcare.
- Explore the resources on this page to go deeper into how much schooling different roles require and resources available in Virginia.