Health Educator Career
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In the health educator career, health educators work to encourage the individuals and community to live a healthy life. They educate the people to on how to prevent disease, injuries and other health problems. They provide information related to healthy life such as nutrition, types of exercises, how to avoid contagious diseases, and the healthy habits. Their main job is to conduct programs and presentations on importance of health for different people. They also conduct interactive sessions with school children, college students and adults and share their knowledge with them.
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Tasks:-
In the health educator career, the tasks that are carried out differ according to the type of organization. They are as follows:-
- Healthy educators working in medical care facilities mostly work directly with patients and their families. They first need to understand the health problem, then they advice medications or surgeries to patients to diagnose the problem.
- Those who are working in school conduct programs related to health and make the children aware of the number of diseases. Health educators conduct presentations and interaction sessions with school children and discuss current health issues. Others, who are interested in teaching, may also teach subjects like science or physical education.
- Health educators working in colleges and universities often conduct programs on health life, diseases spreading through sex, awareness of AIDS, cancer and many other programs. Their main job is to take interactive sessions and make sure that students are aware of the importance of health. They also conduct programs related to addictions like alcohol, smoking and drugs and how to lead a healthy life.
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Qualification:-
In the health educator career, the basic qualification needed for entry-level jobs is a bachelor's degree. However, some employers may need bachelor's degree with some years of experience in similar field. Some of the employers may also need the candidates to be certified as Health Educator Specialists. A master's degree is necessary for senior and responsible positions. Courses like human development, psychologists, health diet, and foreign language are also beneficial.
Other necessary skills:-
In the health educators career the other skills that are necessary are as follows:-
- Extensive communication (both oral and written) skills. They need written skills as they need to prepare documents and presentations. They should be good speaker as they also conduct health programs for different communities.
- Creative and imaginative as they need top prepare presentations.
Place of work:-
In the health educator career, the place of work differs with the type of work. The healthy educators in school spend most of their time in classrooms. Others spend their time in offices. However, the health educators have to travel extensively to conduct programs and present them to different people at different places.
Generally the health educators work for 40 hours a week. However, based on the programs, presentations and meetings; that may have to work even on weekends and evenings.
Job Opportunities:-
In the career as health educators, they have a wide scope as counselors. They are needed in different organizations. They are as follows:-
- Medical and surgical hospitals
- Local and state governments
- Schools, colleges and universities.
- Non-profit organizations
- Other businesses to provide counseling
Remuneration:-
In the career as health educators, the salary differs according to the employer. Those working in medical and surgical hospitals, local and state governments are paid handsome salaries as compared to other employers. The salary for entry-level jobs is comparatively less, but goes on increasing with years of experience. Some of them who work independently also get good profit based o the number of programs conducted.
Job Progress:-
In the career as health educators, candidates with a bachelor's degree are usually selected for entry-level jobs. They plan and evaluate programs instead of implementing the programs. After completing the internship, they become permanent. With years of experience, or those having master's degree are selected for higher level and responsible positions. They get promoted as supervisors or conduct programs independently. Some of the health educators may also get promoted as professors or researchers.
Employment forecast:-
In the career as health educators, the employment is expected to grow faster in comparison to other occupations. The expected rise in cost of health care will increase the demand for health educators. The world is becoming aware of the illnesses like Swine flu, lung cancer, HIV AIDS, and skin cancer, and many more such illnesses. The people are aware that they should prevent such diseases as it is said, “Prevention is Better Than Cure.” Therefore they need advice and suggestions on how to live a healthy life, what exercises to perform, what kind of food should be included in regular diet, and the habits that lead to health living. Thus, the demand for health educators is expected to increase tremendously in coming years.