Health & Medical Sciences
Within each cluster, there are multiple career pathways that represent a common set of skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a full range of career opportunities within that pathway. Career Clusters that relate to instruction in health and medical sciences include:
Career Pathways
Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security prepares you for service in public safety and security. Responsibilities include prevention of and protection from harm such as crime or natural disasters. Career opportunities range from public safety to legal services to homeland security.
Career Pathways
Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics prepares you for careers using science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. Jobs within this career cluster conduct in-depth research to provide solutions to a variety of technical problems within many different fields. A postsecondary degree and relevant work experience are necessary to succeed in this field.
Career Pathways
Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.
Health and Medical Sciences prepare students for careers in disciplines related to medicine, nursing, dentistry and other health occupations programs through therapeutic, diagnostic, rehabilitative, managerial and supportive services.
More about health and medical sciences courses...
- introduce secondary students to nursing, medical, dental, and other health occupations
- prepare students with basic skills for employment in nursing homes, clinics, medical and dental offices, hospitals, homes, and certain public health settings
- facilitate entry into advanced health occupations programs that require post-high school education leading to state licensure, certification, registration, or national credentialing
- enable students to become more knowledgeable consumers of health services.
The occupational preparation programs prepare students for entry-level positions in a particular health field or for advanced training in health occupations at the technical and professional levels.
More about entry-level positions...
- nursing – certified nurse's aide or licensed practical nurse
- medical – medical assistant, emergency medical technician or surgical technologist
- dental – dental assistant
- other health occupations – physical or occupational therapy aide, respiratory therapy assistant, rehabilitation aide, dietary aide, laboratory aide, geriatric aide, home health aide, housekeeping aide, sterile supply aide, transportation aide or veterinary assistant.
Local school divisions determine the structure of Health and Medical Sciences courses. Programs may be offered in two- or three-hour blocks or in a one-hour block the first year and a two-hour block the second year.
Virginia Board of Nursing Regulations
- Nurse Aide Education Program – Instructional Personnel Form (Word)
- Nurse Aide Education Program Skills Record (Word)
- Nurse Aide Education Program Curriculum (Word)
- Criminal History Background Checks
Course Revisions
The following courses were revised for implementation during the 2018-2019 school year. All curriculum frameworks are available through VERSO from the CTE Resource Center:
- Medical Assistant I (8345)
- Medical Assistant II (8346)
- Sports Medicine I (7660)
- Sports Medicine II (7662)
Note: The Opioid Competencies have been added to the Health and Medical Science courses regarding Executive Order 29 establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse education.
- Dental Careers II (8329)
- Emergency Medical Technician II (8334)
- Emergency Medical Telecommunications (8337)
- Health Assisting Careers (8331)
- Home Health Aide (8364)
- Introoduction to Health and Medical Sciences (8302)
- Medical Laboratory Technology II (8378)
- Mental Health Assisting Careers (8332)
- Nurse Aide II (8362)
- Patient Care Technician (8303)
- Pharmacy Technician II (8306)
- Physical/Occupational Therapy II (8366)
- Practical Nursing II (8358)
- Radiologic Technology II (8376)
- Respiratory Therapy II (8373)
Instructional Resources
- Health & Medical Sciences Course Listing-This is a Word document.
- Essential Competency List for Health & Medical Sciences (Virginia's CTE Resource Center)
- Administrative Planning Guide for Health and Medical Sciences
- Industry Credentialing
- Equipment Resource Guide – See Equipment for CTE Programs
- Governor’s Health Sciences Academies
- Project Lead the Way
Career & Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
Virginia Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)Promotes career opportunities in the health care industry to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. For more information, visit the CTSO web page.
-This is a PDF document.
Work-Based Learning Guide (PDF)
WBL is a school-coordinated, coherent sequence of on-the-job experiences that are related to students’ career goals and/or interests, are based on instructional preparation and are performed in partnership with local businesses, industries or other organizations in the community. For more information on WBL methods of instruction, visit Work-Based Learning.
-This is a PDF document.
Federal and State Labor Laws for Youth Work-Based Learning – Know the Rules-This is a PDF document. (PDF) is a resource that compares federal and state labor laws for nonagricultural and agricultural occupations, parental exemption, and prohibited and hazardous occupations as they relate to youth work-based learning.
Revised EMT Guidelines – The High School Based Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Educational Program Guidelines (PDF) 
were developed jointly with the Office of Emergency Medical Services to unify state and national standards, establish consistent EMT program standards, to ensure high-quality programs are implemented in high schools and technical centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Also see Superintendent’s Memo 119-16.
Additional Resources
Outside Resources
- Virginia Health Regulatory Boards:
- Virginia Health and Medical Sciences Educators Association (VAHMASEA)
- Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)
- Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education (Virginia ACTE)