How High School Students Can Prepare for Healthcare Careers

Wondering how high school students can prepare for healthcare careers? Maybe you were inspired by a genuinely caring nurse during a hospital stay. Or maybe you’ve always wanted a job where you could help people. No matter what sparked your interest in the medical field, one thing is certain: it’s never too early for high school juniors and seniors to start exploring different career paths.

Volunteer programs, community college courses, and healthcare internships for high school students are ideal ways to start building a resume. Below, you’ll find six strategies to help you prepare for a future career in healthcare.

Discover how your interests and skillset can guide you toward different healthcare careers, and how to begin your journey after high school.

Key Takeaways:

• Your school counselor can help you narrow down potential career paths and guide you toward courses that will enhance your college application.
  
• Gain hands-on experience through volunteer programs, career fairs, internships, and other healthcare opportunities for high school students.
  
• Research dual enrollment, scholarships, and financial aid programs to support your post-high school education.

1. Talk to Your School Counselor

High school counselors are a fantastic (and often underused) resource for juniors and seniors beginning to consider life after graduation. Counselors are well-versed in local healthcare career programs, dual enrollment opportunities, volunteer positions, job shadowing experiences, and scholarships. They often have contacts at nearby hospitals and community colleges as well. Your counselor can help you understand your options and guide you toward courses that align with your long-term healthcare career goals.

Here are several ways they can help:

• Partnership Opportunities: Many Virginia high schools already have partnerships with nearby community colleges, local hospitals, and healthcare organizations that offer career fairs and healthcare opportunities for high school students. Your counselor likely knows more about what’s available than a generic Google search will turn up.
• Career Assessments: Are you drawn to direct patient care? Research? Administration? A quick conversation can help you identify which healthcare careers might best align with your interests and strengths. Your counselor may also have access to career interest assessments and aptitude tools that will match your skills, personality, and goals with different career paths.
• Course Selection Guidance: Counselors can help you determine which health and science classes will best prepare you for college-level healthcare programs. Successful completion of these courses can give you a competitive edge as you complete your college applications and update your resume.
• Dual Enrollment Information: If you’re interested in taking college courses while you’re still in high school, your counselor can help you understand what requirements you need to meet and how to enroll.

You don’t need to walk into this meeting with your entire career mapped out. Telling your counselor, “I’m interested in a career in healthcare,” is plenty of direction for them to start connecting you with local resources. 

2. Attend Career Fairs

Career fairs give high school students the chance to speak with professionals in healthcare roles they’re curious about. You might get the chance to ask a surgical nurse what experiences best prepared them for the surgical wing, or you might get to ask a respiratory therapist about the most challenging aspects of their job.

Here are some places to find healthcare-focused exploration programs in Virginia:

• Youth Programs and Career Exploration Days: Some major Virginia health systems host youth programs and career exploration days so students can gain hands-on medical experience. Contact your local Virginia hospitals directly to ask about upcoming student events. Look for the hospital’s Human Resources department, Volunteer Services office, Community Outreach department, or Workforce Development coordinator.
• Career Fairs: Eastern Virginia Career College hosts community events that sometimes include high school career fairs attended by local hospitals and healthcare organizations. These events often feature hands-on demonstrations, informational booths, and the chance to talk to professionals about their career paths.
• Career ChoICE Youth Expo: The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) hosts an annual Career ChoICE Youth Expo, Southern Virginia’s premier career exploration event. The Expo connects over 4,500 middle and high school students with local industries and future career opportunities each year.
  

We recommend that you arrive at these events with 2-3 questions for each healthcare professional you’re likely to meet. You might ask what drew them to their role or what they’d recommend for someone just starting to explore their options. Most people love talking about their careers and will appreciate your genuine interest.

3. Dual Enroll in Community College Courses

Dual enrollment means taking college-level courses while you’re still in high school. That may sound overwhelming, but most high school juniors and seniors find these classes to be entirely doable. 

Dual enrollment is one of the smartest moves you can make if a healthcare career is on your vision board. It gives you the opportunity to knock out prerequisite science courses, like anatomy and physiology, before you ever pay full tuition for them. Getting ahead on prerequisite courses can save you time and may even reduce your tuition costs by thousands of dollars.

Getting started with dual enrollment is simpler than you might think:

1. Meet with your high school counselor to discuss your goals and find out if your school has partnerships with local community colleges.
2. Review available dual enrollment courses and confirm which ones fit your graduation and eligibility requirements.
3. Register for these courses with assistance from your counselor.
4. Pass your classes to earn credits that count toward your high school diploma and your future college degree.

Many dual enrollment courses are designed to be “stackable,” meaning the certificates you earn build on one another as you continue your education. This means you could graduate high school with workforce-ready credentials already in hand, or have an already solid foundation as you begin working toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

4. Volunteer With Healthcare Organizations

Volunteering is one of the best ways to get healthcare experience in high school. It helps you figure out whether a certain setting or type of work is actually a good fit. It also builds real experience that enhances your college and scholarship applications and gives you something to talk about during interviews.

Here are two ways to get started:

• Explore Local Hospital Websites: Find volunteer opportunities by visiting the websites of local hospitals. Look for a Volunteer Services page or contact the Volunteer Services office directly.  For example, high schools ages 16 and up can volunteer in roles such as assisting staff with direct patient care in departments like radiology, rehabilitation, outpatient surgery, and more through the Volunteer Services Group at VHC Health. Start planning early, as applications for volunteer programs typically open several months in advance. 
• Look into Other Healthcare Organizations: Look beyond hospitals to uncover more healthcare opportunities for high school students. Reach out to nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, blood donation organizations, free clinics, hospice, and public health departments that often rely on local volunteers.

Even a few hours of volunteering each month can help you build confidence, develop professional skills, and discover where your interests truly lie.

5. Apply for Internships

Healthcare internships for high school students take volunteering a step further. They provide a more structured learning experience so you can observe healthcare professionals at work and better understand how hospitals operate.

Some Virginia hospitals and health systems offer high school–level programs, though they’re often called internships, junior or teen volunteer programs, or shadowing rather than formal internships. These opportunities may focus on specific careers or introduce you to multiple departments so you can explore roles you may not have considered.

Here are a couple of paths to consider:

• Mini-Medical School: The University of Virginia School of Medicine offers a Mini-Medical School program to high school juniors and seniors interested in exploring healthcare careers. This 7-week program lets you experience research labs, patient interviews, and more to give you a behind-the-scenes look at Virginia’s health system and careers.
• Junior Volunteer Program: Some Sentara hospitals offer Junior Volunteer Programs for high school students looking to gain firsthand experience in a hospital setting. Through programs like Internship Day, students can explore the operating room, laboratories, and radiology departments while learning about different healthcare careers.
• Summer Teen Patient Engagement Program: Designed for high school students who have completed their sophomore year, UVA Health’s two-week program introduces a variety of hospital departments. Participants will develop foundational knowledge of healthcare environments and patient-centered care.
• Shadowing: Wythe County Community Hospital offers shadowing, open to high school students wanting to learn about different healthcare professions and their roles.

If you’re unsure where to begin, On Board Virginia’s guide to hospital internships in Virginia explains how to find internships, prepare a strong application, and make the most of your experience. While most hospital internships are only available to college students and recent college graduates, understanding how to find and prepare for internships now can help you build a stronger application in the future.

6. Research Financial Aid and Scholarships

Looking into financial aid and healthcare scholarships for high school seniors is a great idea for anyone looking to save money on books and tuition. Starting early gives you more time to prepare your applications and make sure you meet submission deadlines.

Here are some financial opportunities to explore:

• Federal Financial Aid Programs: These programs can significantly reduce your healthcare education costs. Be sure to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during your senior year. Your FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal grants, work-study assistance, and state financial aid programs.
• Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP): The VGAP provides financial aid to eligible residents who graduate high school with a GPA of at least 2.5. Depending on eligibility, you could receive $500 or more toward the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other educational expenses.
• G3 Financial Assistance: Virginia students who meet income and in-state eligibility requirements may qualify for G3 funding. This funding can reduce tuition costs for individuals in select high-demand career training fields, including healthcare.
• Virginia Commonwealth Award: This need-based financial assistance award is available to eligible undergraduate students admitted to public two- or four-year colleges in Virginia. Funds help cover tuition and fees for the academic year, with amounts that vary based on financial need and available funding.
• Local Scholarships: Many hospitals, healthcare foundations, civic organizations, and community foundations offer scholarships for students pursuing careers in healthcare. Ask your high school counselor to help you identify scholarship opportunities. Many applications become available during senior year.

You can also read our guide to funding your healthcare education in Virginia for information about scholarships, financial aid, employer tuition assistance, tuition reimbursement programs, Virginia state grants, and more.

Take the First Step Toward Your Healthcare Career

Now you know how high school students can prepare for healthcare careers. But it’s important to know that you don’t have to have your entire future mapped out today. Start with just one or two strategies, like scheduling a meeting with your counselor or researching career fairs in your area. As your healthcare interests start to take shape, consider enrolling in science courses at your local community college or applying to volunteer with a nearby hospital.

Each step you take will help create a strong foundation for your future career in healthcare. Remember: there are always jobs in the medical field for passionate professionals looking to make a difference in the lives of their patients and communities.

Ready to take the next step? Search Virginia healthcare degree programs that span everything from administrative support and medical assisting to nursing, massage therapy, and more.